rmc523 Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Looks like they're testing some sort of Chinese market Bronco Sport: Mysterious Ford Bronco SUV Spotted Testing In China 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Well, it is not Bronco Sport but something similar. The steering wheel logo clearly indicates it is a Bronco something... It could be a replacement for Escape in China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted May 6 Author Share Posted May 6 25 minutes ago, bzcat said: Well, it is not Bronco Sport but something similar. The steering wheel logo clearly indicates it is a Bronco something... It could be a replacement for Escape in China. That's why I said "unique" Bronco Sport. You know, this just made me think - we have been discussing a longer wheelbase BS - this looks like just that (though obviously adding a few inches to the existing BS would be easier than a new model). Interesting either way... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 10 minutes ago, rmc523 said: we have been discussing a longer wheelbase BS - this looks like just that (though obviously adding a few inches to the existing BS would be easier than a new model). Interesting either way... Yep. It might actually have a small 3rd row like the Chinese edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 I dunno the interior hard points from what I can see are completely different then the Bronco Sport and the Escape. The headlights are completely different too. Could this possibly be a CE1 CUV? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 (edited) So I did some more digging and looking at photos and whatever this Bronco is, its based off the Lincoln Nautilus/Ford Mondeo Sport platform, at least going by its interior. I have a Bronco Sport and had a last gen Escape and my parents have a current gen one and you'd be amazed at how much they share in minor details with the interior-they look "different" but things like storage places or hard points are the same. This Bronco has a very similar center console/arm rest to the Nautilus and Mondeo Sport. The dash could be a modified Nautilus dash with just a 12 inch screen in the middle. The steering wheel is similar to what is on the Mondeo Sport with a Bronco center. Edited May 7 by Sherminator98 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 10 hours ago, Sherminator98 said: I dunno the interior hard points from what I can see are completely different then the Bronco Sport and the Escape. The headlights are completely different too. Could this possibly be a CE1 CUV? It's definitely unique from Bronco Sport, I just went with the headline, plus it's more similar to BS than Bronco as a vehicle type. I'd assume this rides on C2.....remember, that platform underpins BS, Escape, Corsair, Maverick, Nautilus, and Chinese Edge, in addition to Mondeo/Evos, so a variety of sizes. The other shot that I didn't post showed the orange power cables AND a tailpipe, so this likely has Nautilus' powertrain. I'm guessing this slots somewhere between our Bronco Sport and the Bronco size-wise. I doubt we'll get this exact product, but I think something similar would be a good Escape replacement (minus the rear spare).....that said, I would be concerned about cannibalizing BS sales if both were Bronco branded. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 How sad we must look at other countries' future Ford produces to look for some excitement...😑 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 28 minutes ago, rmc523 said: I'm guessing this slots somewhere between our Bronco Sport and the Bronco size-wise. I doubt we'll get this exact product, but I think something similar would be a good Escape replacement (minus the rear spare).....that said, I would be concerned about cannibalizing BS sales if both were Bronco branded. I don't think it would be that big of an impact-IMO it would be an Escape/Edge replacement. It solves the "boring" issue those two products have. The Bronco Sport is 172" long, the current Escape is 180", the Edge is 188 and the Bronco is 191" or so for a 4 door model. The Nautilus/Mondeo Sport is 193. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 23 minutes ago, ANTAUS said: How sad we must look at other countries' future Ford produces to look for some excitement...😑 100% agree.... 12 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said: I don't think it would be that big of an impact-IMO it would be an Escape/Edge replacement. It solves the "boring" issue those two products have. The Bronco Sport is 172" long, the current Escape is 180", the Edge is 188 and the Bronco is 191" or so for a 4 door model. The Nautilus/Mondeo Sport is 193. Right, but I think part of BS's appeal is that it's different from Escape, even if a bit smaller. If this model is bigger with similar styling, I'd imagine many buyers might go with the larger product. But I guess it all depends on where it falls size wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeluxeStang Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 11 hours ago, Sherminator98 said: I dunno the interior hard points from what I can see are completely different then the Bronco Sport and the Escape. The headlights are completely different too. Could this possibly be a CE1 CUV? I thought the same thing, but I think the CE1 utility with look a little more like this rendering from a Ford design article minus the futuristic side glass that's body colored. Something that's still boxy, but a bit more futuristic. I think this mule is c2 based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92merc Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 New Bronco Sport MAX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 PLUG IN?............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 I think that this maybe actually the 2nd gen Bronco Sport. Size wise, it is definitely bigger than current Bronco Sport. But next gen Bronco Sport would need to get bigger anyway because of CAFE so we can't rule out this is the next gen. The current one is 5 years old (production started in Fall 2020) so given Ford's typical 7 year model cycle, we could be seeing the next gen in 2026-27. Maybe Ford moved the redesign cycle up a bit because it will start in China first to replace Escape (and also because they don't have the current gen Bronco Sport). The first generation of compact C2 vehicles are reaching the end of their service life... The first two we already know will not be replaced Focus is in its 7th year and it is going away by end of the year. Escape is entering its 6th year and we already know it will expire in 7 years without a replacement. Bronco Sport in entering its 5th year and Ford hasn't said jack about its replacement but we know it will have one because it is part of the Bronco family tree which is protected from the axe. Maverick is entering its 4th year and just got a midcycle update. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 This will make a much better edge/escape replacement. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeluxeStang Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 6 minutes ago, akirby said: This will make a much better edge/escape replacement. Here me out. The larger size, the very boxy shape... call it the flex. The flex is one of those models with a very strong cult following as far as three row crossovers go. I look at this, and see the flex name working well on it, and appealing to a lot of consumers. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 2 hours ago, DeluxeStang said: Here me out. The larger size, the very boxy shape... call it the flex. The flex is one of those models with a very strong cult following as far as three row crossovers go. I look at this, and see the flex name working well on it, and appealing to a lot of consumers. So you want to ditch a 50+ yr old Ford Iconic name that exudes toughness for a great but quirky vehicle name that only lasted 10 years? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorpsychology Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 2 hours ago, DeluxeStang said: Here me out. The larger size, the very boxy shape... call it the flex. The flex is one of those models with a very strong cult following as far as three row crossovers go. I look at this, and see the flex name working well on it, and appealing to a lot of consumers. Nnnaaahhh... The Flex was beautiful in an English Bulldog sense; affable, family friendly, somewhat odd proportions. I had one. A Flex, not a pug. More room than the Explorer and the SEL had the best combo of options that Ford has ever marketed, IMO. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorpsychology Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 16 minutes ago, akirby said: So you want to ditch a 50+ yr old Ford Iconic name that exudes toughness for a great but quirky vehicle name that only lasted 10 years? 10-4. "Flex" was an unfortunate name choice. Fairlane was the name of the 2005 concept that became the Flex; should've kept that name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeluxeStang Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 20 minutes ago, akirby said: So you want to ditch a 50+ yr old Ford Iconic name that exudes toughness for a great but quirky vehicle name that only lasted 10 years? Who said anything about ditching the bronco name all together? You still have the normal bronco, and the bronco sport. But we often have conversations on this site of not diluting sub-brands by having too many spin-offs of a particular name. If we want to replace the edge and to a lesser extent, the escape, with whatever this is, calling in a bronco in the states would likely result in greater consumer confusion. Calling it flex ties into another one of Ford's iconic products without diluting the bronco sub-brands, or confusing buyers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 (edited) 38 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said: Who said anything about ditching the bronco name all together? You still have the normal bronco, and the bronco sport. But we often have conversations on this site of not diluting sub-brands by having too many spin-offs of a particular name. If we want to replace the edge and to a lesser extent, the escape, with whatever this is, calling in a bronco in the states would likely result in greater consumer confusion. Calling it flex ties into another one of Ford's iconic products without diluting the bronco sub-brands, or confusing buyers. This is most likely the replacement for the current Bronco Sport - making it larger for CAFE compliance. So calling it Flex would kill the Bronco Sport name. Edited May 8 by akirby 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeluxeStang Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 36 minutes ago, akirby said: This is most likely the replacement for the current Bronco Sport - making it larger for CAFE compliance. So calling it Flex would kill the Bronco Sport name. This could be the next bronco sport if they end up on offering multiple lengths, a short and extended wheelbase. Have we heard anything about that?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 37 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said: This could be the next bronco sport if they end up on offering multiple lengths, a short and extended wheelbase. Have we heard anything about that?. It’s been said over and over that short wheelbase is a huge CAFE liability. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Didn't we hear from Ford, that they were wanting to do less 2 row crossovers, and focus more on 3 rows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeluxeStang Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 5 minutes ago, akirby said: It’s been said over and over that short wheelbase is a huge CAFE liability. Why not introduce a series of hybrids, especially now that Ford offers an AWD hybrid on the maverick, and slot those into the next gen BS to reduce emissions instead of making the vehicle larger? Most BS buyers I've talked to bought a BS because they liked the way it looked, and it's compact size that made it easy to park and live with. Stretching the wheelbase throws off the proportions and makes the vehicle harder to maneuver. There has to be a better way to meet CAFE standards that don't involve butchering the design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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