The reports, rumors, and speculations about the 2016 Ford Bronco began on April 1, 2014. Since it was an April Fool’s Day, many rightfully assumed it to be a hoax.
For some reasons, Ford Motor Company did not bother issuing a statement to either confirm or deny the reports about the upcoming revival of its iconic truck brand, which was last seen in 1996, when it stopped production after 30 years in the market.
Since then, there have been plenty of rumors and speculations about the specifications, design, and capabilities of the supposed 2016 Ford Bronco. Bereft of any confirmation from the American carmaker itself, it just turned out as that – speculations.
In fact, there have been plenty of websites or blogs about the 2016 Ford Bronco that sprouted like mushrooms since April 1, 2014 so one would really wonder if the vehicle is just a figment of imagination, how can they come up with such specifications that are right on cue for a vehicle in Ford’s truck class.
The rumors and reports about the 2016 Ford Bronco only prove that car enthusiasts the world over are almost dying to see what the 21st century Bronco would look like when it finally comes out of the market.
Subsequently, there were also reports about a supposed 2017 Ford Bronco, which only put the 2016 Ford Bronco in the hot seat as being a hoax. Because a carmaker would surely not come out with a refreshed version of its truck brand that was out for 20 years, and then follow it up with a new iteration less than one year later.
Official announcement from the carmaker
It was only in February this year when Ford Motor Company finally announced in public that it would be launching four new sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the next four years, which means from next year until 2020.
However, the American car manufacturer did not disclose the names of the SUVs nor did it mention anything about specific release dates of each of the upcoming product offerings.
What Ford said about the new SUVs in its press release is that those upcoming additions to its SUV lineup will be intended for millennials and baby boomers, which account for about 160 million among the world’s population.
Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president of marketing, sales, and service, explained during a breakfast meeting last month of the Midwest Automotive Media Association that the growth in SUV sales is expected to continue not only in the US but all over the world.
And that is the reason why Ford will be venturing into the segment with four new SUVs in the next four years. LaNeve also said that the American carmaker is currently not competing in the segment.
The announcement by Ford Motor Company has sparked speculations that one of those four SUVs might be the long awaited return of the iconic Bronco last seen 20 years ago.
That being said, since the release of any of the four SUVs is not going to be this year, there is not going to be any 2016 Ford Bronco at all.
The Ranger and the Bronco
SUV enthusiasts and critics believe that the latest Ford Bronco will be released by 2020. In fact, it actually got word from a supposed reliable source that Ford will be making a $700 million investment to re-tool its Michigan assembly plant to produce the US-spec Ford Ranger and release it in 2018 and the Ford Bronco for rollout in 2020, details Auto Evolution.
Accordingly, Ford Motor Company will actually put $9 billion investments as part of its agreement with the United Auto Workers to help maintain the employment of some 8,500 workers at the company’s assembly plant in Michigan and in 21 other facilities around the country.
Based on the renderings of the upcoming Bronco, the vehicle will feature straightforward and uncluttered designs that combine visual cues from the Gen I and Gen II Broncos of the past.