New Ford Bronco hints at next-gen Ranger ute

Fresh four-wheel-drive takes on Jeep’s Wrangler with hi-tech solutions and gives a sneak peak at the next tough Ford ute.

Australians look set to miss out on the new Ford Bronco four-wheel-drive, but key technology from the machine will make it into the next-generation Ranger ute.

Ford captivated off-roading enthusiasts around the world by revealing its new Bronco on Tuesday, heralding the return of a favourite nameplate and the introduction of a genuine rival to Jeep’s Wrangler.

The 2021 Ford Bronco four-wheel-drive builds on the heritage of Ford’s original.

The Blue Oval says the Bronco will only be built in left-hand-drive, which makes it off limits to Australia. A handful of local conversion businesses will no doubt find a way to import the Bronco and convert it to right-hand-drive for wealthy enthusiasts who must have one.

Elements of the Bronco will carry over to the next Ford Ranger ute, which shares its underpinnings.

Built for adventures off the beaten path, the Bronco brings impressive ground clearance along with steep approach and departure angles, water-wading depth and the ability to remove its doors and roof for open-air motoring.

The Ford Bronco comes in three-door and five-door form.

Entry-level versions feature the same 2.3-litre turbo engine as American versions of Ford’s Ranger Raptor (a motor found in the new Ford Focus ST), while premium models get a 2.7-litre turbo V6 which makes about 230kW and 540Nm.

That petrol V6 would be a fine fit for Ford’s Ranger Raptor, which currently makes do with just 157kW produced by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine.

As with the Ranger, the Bronco drives all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission with a low-range transfer case. A new seven-speed manual option has an ultra-low first gear for off-road use.

High-tech off-road toys are likely to flow through to other models, such as the Ranger.

The marketing folks who gave us the “Raptor” have been hard at work in the Bronco, which features a choice of “GOAT” driving modes (short for “goes over any terrain”, “HOSS” underpinnings (a high performance off-road suspension system) and even a “Sasquatch” pack bundling together desirable off-road options. The “Wildtrack” option pack will be familiar to Ranger fans, while a new “Black Diamond” trim pays tribute to tricky ski runs and the “Badlands” has a desert vibe.

American Ford customers can choose from a range of models.

Tech that could make it to Australia includes a one-pedal system designed to make off-road driving easier, taking a page from the Nissan Leaf’s e-pedal. Clever torque vectoring tightens its turning circle on slippery surfaces, race-bred Bilstein shocks offer improved body control at speed, and a clever off-road navigation system encourages owners to access recognised trails.

Owners can also track their progress off-road with video and GPS data before sharing journeys on social media.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make an appearance, as does a new digital dash which could feature in the Ranger.