Bam! Jeep unveils its Gladiator Farout concept vehicle. Whap! Ford counters with five — count ‘em, five — show-vehicle versions of its new Bronco.
Ford calls its show versions “family adventure concepts” designed to demonstrate how the Bronco offers personalization, performance and off-road utility.
Oh, and while unveiling its concepts, Ford announced that the first of four Bronco Off-Roadeo “playground” locations will open in the summer of 2021 at Austin, Texas, and also that the Bronco R will compete again this fall in the Baja 1000 off-road race.
The company also said that more than 165,000 people have put down their $100 deposits on the new off-roaders.
Production of the new Bronco begins in early 2021 and Ford said it will have more than 200 factory-backed accessories for the vehicles as it arrives in dealer showrooms. It showcased those accessories on its adventure concepts:
4-door Outer Banks Fishing Guide — This version is designed for the professional fishing guide along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Ford said. Accessories include a Bestop Sunrider first-row soft top, factory-style concept roof rails and crossbars, Yakima LockNLoad Platform roof rack, and a custom-made fishing pole and seat perch that fit between the fender-mounted “trail sights.”
2-door Trail Rig — “Designed to be the ultimate hardcore trail rider, this custom build is based on the two-door Badlands series,” Ford said. “It begins with a Ford Performance modular front bumper, tube doors, beadlock-capable wheels and 40-inch Rigid LED lightbar. A Ford Performance by Warn winch helps rescue your lesser-equipped 4×4 friends. On top, factory roof rails are augmented with a Yakima Platform roof rack system with mounts for a shovel, and Ford Performance by Warn recovery kit and recovery boards.”
Bronco Sport Trail Rig — This version is for “adventurers looking to elevate their off-road trekking in a small, rugged 4×4, the Bronco Sport Trail Rig amps up the Badlands series model by adding 31-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires, a one-inch lift kit, plus Ford Performance by Rigid LED off-road lights mounted to a front nudge bar. On top, a Yakima LockNLoad Platform roof rack and off-road gear mounts are designed to carry gear like a high-lift jack kit, Ford Performance recovery boards and jerry cans.”
Bronco Sport TOW RZR — Based on the Badlands series Bronco, this setup has towing and cargo accessories including Yakima HD Bar crossbars and OffGrid medium cargo basket and a Class II Trailer Tow Package with 2,200 pounds of capacity to tow such off-road runners as the all-new Polaris RZR XP Turbo 1000, which was unveiled along with the customized Bronco.
Bronco Sport Off-Roadeo Adventure Patrol — Another concept based on the Badlands series, this one has a Yakima LockNLoad Cargo Platform with such recovery gear as a high-lift jack, recovery boards and jerry cans. It also has the Rigid off-road lightbar, an interior Yakima bike rack, and an integrated target for landing a drone.