As early as the second quarter of last year, reports of the coming of the 2016 Ford Bronco has already been circulating. This news thrilled sport utility vehicle (SUV) enthusiasts almost to no end.
The vehicle will likely roll out this year after 20 years in hiatus, the Ford Bronco model that is.
The 2016 Ford Bronco looks very different from the last Ford Bronco that was produced by the American automaker from in 1996. It’s also different from what the world has seen in 2004 when Ford introduced a concept car which it called the Early Bronco.
The Broncos designed by Ford in a span of 30 years from 1966 to 1996 is divided into two classifications. The models from 1966 to 1977 are called the early Broncos, while those variants from 1978 to 1996 are called full-sized Broncos.
Sometime in 1966, Ford announced the discontinuation of the production of the Ford Bronco since the company was already about to position its successor with the other four-door SUVs in its class
The full-size Broncos and successor, the Ford Expedition were produced at Ford’s truck manufacturing facility in Wayne, Michigan.
During the 2004 North American International Auto Show, Ford introduced the Bronco concept car which showed resemblance with the early Bronco but with so much power within. The concept car was powered by a 2.0-liter intercooler turbodiesel 14 engine and features six-speed manual transmission. It also showcased an intelligent 4WD system for improved stability and better fuel economy.
For some reason however, Ford dropped the project when the 2013 Ford Escape was introduced.
The all-new Bronco
The all-new 2016 Ford Bronco was actually derived from the design of the very popular Ford Atlas and with what the Atlas did several years ago, the all-new Bronco could actually reinvigorate the specialized two-door 4×4 SUV market again, according to Four Wheeler.
While the Ford Expedition may have been the successor of the early Ford Broncos, it does not mean that the 2016 Ford Bronco will also be the successor of the Ford Expedition.
Ford will still continue the production of the Expedition amid the roll out of the all-new 2016 Bronco and onwards.
With its brute and brawny appearance, the 2016 Ford SVT Bronco is an off-road monster that is running on an all-wheel drive.
SVT in the model name means Special Vehicle Team, which is an arm of Ford responsible for the development of the company’s highest-performance vehicles.
The 2016 Ford Bronco was not built sooner because apparently, the only way the project could be approved is it was to be manufactured as an SVT vehicle. But with the success of the Ford SVT Raptor, the production of the Bronco was delayed.
Production of the SVT Raptor is ending in 2015 so it is now the turn of the 2016 Ford Bronco to take centerstage. If it lives up to expectations of making a huge impact on the 4×4 SUV market, then production of the Bronco will be here for a good long while.