The born-again 2020 Ford Bronco has been unveiled to US dealers, who were also told it will be available in two-door and four-door forms, and with a removable roof and doors.
According to Automotive News, Ford revealed to its top-selling dealers at a conference in Florida last month that its long-awaited answer to the Jeep Wrangler will top a whole new family of Bronco models when it goes on sale in North America late next year.
Based on the same Australian-engineered T6 ladder frame that underpins the Ford Everest, the new Ford Bronco will be launched in late 2020 -- just months after an all-new ‘Baby Bronco’ based on the same new rear/all-wheel drive platform that underpins the next Escape and Explorer.
The four new Ford SUVs, which could also be preceded by a new-generation F-150 pick-up as soon as early next year, will be followed by an all-new Bronco-branded ute based on a small car platform, bringing the number of models in the Bronco family to three.
However, none of these five new Ford models have been confirmed as global models produced in left- and right-hand drive and indeed Ford has already stated it has no plans to sell the Bronco in Australia.
Ford announced it will revive the Bronco at the 2017 Detroit motor show and since then a shrouded teaser shot and leaked images have confirmed it will not simply be a modified Everest.
Now the Blue Oval has used a Palm Beach dealer meeting to reveal an early two-door Bronco prototype and plans for a "family" of rugged off-road vehicles to come from 2020.
According to Automotive News, the Bronco family will include a four-door version, the ‘baby’ Bronco, which was also shown to dealers along with its upcoming Mustang-inspired electric crossover, and – later -- a small monocoque pick-up.
Like its most direct rival from Jeep, the Bronco will feature a removable hard-top and removable doors that can be stored in the vehicle's cargo area.
sources also said the Bronco’s side mirrors will be attached to the A-pillars so they remain in place when the doors are taken off -- unlike the Jeep Wrangler’s.
Reviving a model name that Ford killed off in 1996, the Bronco will be produced at the Michigan Assembly Plant alongside the Australia-designed Ranger ute, which was released in the US in January.
Ford told dealers it will be available in the US by late 2020, as soon as three months after the ‘baby’ Bronco, with AN sources saying the compact Bronco ute won’t join them on sale until “at least” 2021.
Names for the two compact Bronco models are yet to be announced.