Last year was important for Ford Argentina, since it presented the new generation of its Ranger pickup, a model that is manufactured in the country. But 2024 is also of utmost relevance, since it involves the renewal of its icons. The first of them is the arrival of the Bronco, a legendary 4×4. Then it will also be the turn of the new Mustang and the renewed F-150.
All-terrain vehicles began to become fashionable in the 90s. But when they became all the rage, they stopped being 4x4s. These are specific models, designed for a specific task: having the ability to go where others cannot. And that is what the new generation of the Ford Bronco proposes, a warrior prepared to fight any battle.
In Clarion We had a first contact with this brand new vehicle that arrives in Argentina in one of its most extreme configurations: version Wildtrak with the Sasquatch package, the name given by the native North American people to the mythological character Big Foot.
It is worth clarifying that it has nothing to do with the Bronco Sport, an SUV that Ford developed taking advantage of the rebirth of its iconic 4×4. The Bronco Sport, even with good qualities for moving off the asphalt, is a primarily urban and road model.
The Bronco, on the other hand, is a really hard. Its architecture features a robust stringer chassis, as if it were a pickup truck. In fact, it is basically the cRanger Hasis. Due to these and other characteristics, the comparison with the Jeep Wrangler, its direct competition, is inevitable.
Makes way when walking
The model that arrives here does so with a V6 biturbo engine of 2.7 liters and 334 horsepower and 562 Nm of torque. It is combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission and includes a transfer case, which allows the engine’s power to be multiplied to go through difficult terrain.
Its system offers simple traction, automatic 4×4, 4×4 high and 4×4 low, in addition to being able to select the front and rear differential lock.
Despite being designed to give everything off-road, on the asphalt it feels safe.The angles offered by its configuration, with the wheels very close to the limits of the body, allow it to face almost any obstacle. In addition, it has great ground clearance and its fording capacity is very high.
As if that were not enough, and despite its rustic appearance, the Bronco is super technological and all that equipment is put at the service of off-roading. That arsenal of software that is combined with good mechanics is under the umbrella of what Ford called G.O.A.T., acronym for goat in English, in reference to its traction capacity over complicated terrain, the meaning of which is Goes Over Any Type of Terrain: Passes over any type of road.
Beyond marketing, the system includes good off-road aids. Among the well-known programs to apply depending on the terrain (Sand, Mud, Slippery or Low; the latter helps to travel quickly on broken terrain), there are some interesting ones to analyze.
The inside doesn’t look as rustic as the outside, especially because of its large screen. 2. The instrument panel is half analog and half digital, with a result that is not good: the reading is unclear and the design is difficult to get used to.One of them is the one called Trail Controlwhich works like a off-road cruise control. A speed can be programmed to maintain it on the course and the system will recognize how much to accelerate when faced with each obstacle. It must be said that it is an assistance for novice drivers, since a good part of the enjoyment of a trip is driving.
The one that is interesting is what Ford calls Turn Trail Assist and helps maneuver in tight spaces. What the system does after activating it is brake the inner wheel on the side you want to turn to, significantly reducing the turning radius.
On the road it feels docile and very easy to carry. You don’t have to “manage it.” The soundproofing is also good and only after 120 km/h do you start to feel aerodynamic noise. What is permanent is the rolling noise, explainable by its enormous wheels. There is quite a bit of merit here since its roof and doors can be completely removed.
Varied double-drive menu.Despite being tough where there are no roads, its technological content is high: with a large screen on the center console, a high level of driving assistance systems and connectivity through the app Ford Passwhich allows, among other things, to make updates remotely.
After a heavy tax bombardment, this exclusive model is sold at $ 161.042.400, a lot even for what it represents. In any case, it will be the next “hit of the summer” in the Argentine dunes.
Datasheet
- Largo: 4.813 mm
- Width: 2,200 mm (w/mirrors)
- Alto: 1.913 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,949 mm
- Weight: 2,348 kg
- Trunk: 1,008 dm3
- Fuel tank: 79 liters
- Angle of attack: 43.2°
- Departure angle:37°
- Ventral angle: 26.3°
- Ground clearance: 292 mm
- Engine: Nafta, 2.7L V6 biturbo
- Power: 334 HP
- Torque: 562 Nm
- Transmission: Automatic, 10 speeds
- Traction: 4×4 connectable
- Maximum speed: 165 km/h (limited)
- Acel. 0-100 km/h: 7.2 seconds
- Average consumption: 14 L/100 km
equipment
- ABS brakes and stability control
- Airbags frontales
- Front side airbags
- Curtain airbags
- adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency brake
- Lane keeping system
- blind spot radar
- Bang&Olufsen audio system
- 12” touch screen
- Apple CarPlay y Android Auto
- Dual zone air conditioning
