After 2019 Baja Tease, Ford’s New Bronco Set For Release

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Ford has announced that an all-new Bronco brand, including a fresh line of SUVs, as well as off-road driving schools and an owner/enthusiast community, will be officially unveiled on July 13.

In November, Ford introduced the Bronco R race prototype just ahead of the Baja 1000—in a livery inspired by Rod Hall’s race-winning vehicle 50 years earlier—as a precursor to Bronco’s upcoming world premiere.

In terms of specs, the race prototype featured a modified Ford T6 architecture that has served as the base for the production model. Bronco R also included an independent front suspension with 14 inches of travel and a production-based five-link rear chassis design with up to 18 inches of travel, plus custom FOX shocks, 17-inch beadlock-capable aluminum wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires.

Its design further included “a roll cage on a production-style frame, and a five-piece lightweight body on top,” noted Brian Novak, Ford Performance off-road racing supervisor, last fall. “For the endurance needs of Baja’s 1,000 grueling miles, we built in a limited number of race-focused parts. But even the twin turbos of the EcoBoost engine are representative of what the production Bronco will offer.”

View Ford’s accompanying 58-second Bronco R clip here.

As part of this month’s rollout, the OE’s Bronco team will establish what it calls “Off-Roadeo outdoor adventure playgrounds” in four locations across the US beginning in 2021. Owners and enthusiasts, Ford says, will be able to test the new vehicles in “challenging terrain.”

In addition, a new online community dubbed “Bronco Nation” (thebronconation.com) will allow drivers to interact and share off-road experiences, trail maps, vehicle information, event calendars, and more.

Additional information can be found at ford.com.

Photo courtesy of Ford

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