New Bronco - press conf from Ford

[Scoop]

You may be right Gary. The camo wraps really mess up the relationships, but it does look larger than the baby one...;D;D;D

We’re at BJ and talked to some Ford folks. This is the real Bronco under all that camo!

I’m glad I decided on building a driver EB instead. I know no official reveal has come out yet but IMO >> The Challenger is the only vehicle that successfully matched it’s vintage body style. This Ford Flex/Expedition look does not give a Bronco vibe. If they are not going after the EB look at least use the current F150 or Super Duty front end to get the truck look back.

Wait till you see the 2 door.

 

[73azbronco]

Yeah until they pull the spyware off, that fake looking jeep hood is fake. Most of it is, so we cannot see it.

 

[DirtDonk]

I personally like the Flex.

I loved the look. Especially cool the color options they made available at the time. Not sure if you can still get all the original color combos, but they had some really unusual ones.

I actually wanted to buy one, but when I saw the fuel economy ratings I lost most of the interest. Very disappointing.
Not that everything has to get 50mpg for me to like it, but for a modern vehicle of this size, with an engine of engine and relative lack of power (I thought at least) I expected better mileage and performance numbers.

I still drive trucks and Broncos that suck the gas, but that's to be expected.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Hmm, just looked at them again and see there's a 365hp engine option! Pretty sure I didn't see that available a few years ago when I was paying attention.

Paul

 

[Bonefizz]

I had a Flex for several years. It was a great car. At the time I had three kids in car seats and it was a better option than a minivan. I traded it in, however, when I started having transmission issues at 85k miles.

 

[ep67bro]

Neighbor has a Flex and loves it. His has the 3.5 ecoboost in it and is all wheel drive . It is very fast and has been trouble free. This is his second one, his first one he put over 150K on it with no problems. The flex was built on the Taurus platform so it shared the same motors and drive train. It also is why it will not be built anymore since Ford is no longer going to make the Taurus.

 

[StampedeOffroad]

I don't know how reliable my info is but my good friend is a big wig at Ford in the product planning side and he tells me there are three sizes and Bronco is going to be it's own Brand like the Mustang is now with the Mach-E.

The BroncoBronco people here would care most about, then two small machines based off the same platform as the Escape will carry the Bronco name -- one is the 'baby' crossover Bronco (Maverick/Sport), and the third that most people forget is the unibody pickup Bronco (Courier).

 

[Skiddy]

Neighbor has a Flex and loves it. His has the 3.5 ecoboost in it and is all wheel drive . It is very fast and has been trouble free. This is his second one, his first one he put over 150K on it with no problems. The flex was built on the Taurus platform so it shared the same motors and drive train. It also is why it will not be built anymore since Ford is no longer going to make the Taurus.

My 09 Taurus has 208K on it now, still has factory brakes just oil changes and tires is all I have done to it. oh I did change the plugs once

 

[roundhouse]

the Ford Flex 4x4.

That would be the new expedition
It looks just like a flex with a lift kit

Why are they styling everything after a car that didn’t sell ?
Of course ford never advertised it
Not one single time

 

[roundhouse]

Where do you come up with this utter bullshit? %)

You’re saying for didn’t have a problem with the 6.0 diesel ?

http://www.powerstrokehub.com/6.0-power-stroke-problems.html

And that lots and lots of 5.4s didn’t spit out the spark plugs because ford thought three threads were plenty to hold it in ?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.consumeraffairs.com/amp/news04/2007/05/ford_techs_spark_plugs.html

And that the 3 valve 5.4s don’t break off the spark plugs when you remove them ?
It happens so much that every auto parts store sells a tool to get the broken chunk out of the engine !

http://www.fordproblems.com/spark-plug-stuck/

And that they didn’t recall millions of vehicles because the cruise control would catch on fire ?

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/091014-ford-expands-cruise-control-switch-recall

And that the timing chains don’t stretch ?

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v...oost/518806-dreaded-timing-chain-stretch.html

The aluminum fuel pump driver bolted directly to the steel frame on the 150s and expys is a known problem .
Any high school science teach could have told Ford that bolting aluminum directly to steel would cause corrosion , but all the engineers at ford weren’t smart enough to know it .

The ford coil packs fail all the time ,
It’s a known defect
They fail So often that every auto parts store carries a shelf full of them
They fail so frequently I carry a spare one in my expedition


Every expedition and explorer ive ever been in that’s more than a few years old has a broken and constantly clicking rear blend door

Won’t even get into how ford covered up and lied about knowing the exploder rollover was a problem and they secretly replaced the tires and speed limiter on explorers in the Middle East and South America but denied any knowledge of a problem .

These are all well documented defects that any first year engineering student would know better than to build

 

[Seventee]

No, you said:

Ford will never be able to make a vehicle as reliable as a 4runner and that’s not even considering how well the runners and FJcruisers hold their value
Ford can’t even build an car that the spark plugs won’t spit out or snap off
Or stretch the timing chains and blow the engine

Which is complete bullshit. Ford makes plenty of reliable vehicles that don't spit plugs or blow engines. You are hanging on to a lot of old news there, and now wringing your hands on something that hasn't been built. We get it, you hate Ford, so don't buy one. Your ridiculous rants get old though. %)

Here's some news: Toyota will never build a truck to compete with Superduty.

I can honestly say our '12 Focus at 105,000 is more reliable than our '05 Matrix was at 75,000. That $800 'yota fuel pump and $90 special spanner wrench chapped my arse.

And apparently your beloved Toyotas still are experiencing fuel pump problems, as 700,000 were just recalled. "The pumps can stop operating, the company said, leading to engine failure. If a vehicle stall occurs while driving at higher speeds, this could increase the risk of a crash," the company said.

And do you remember the infamous Toyota truck frame rot recall?

 

[Jeepster]

Every vehicle has issues.

Many years ago there used to be a web site called "The Burning Ford".......its been taken down.

 

[77Bronco636]

I have faith the Ford will do the Bronco justice!! It may not fit the needs of everyone, but feel it will be worthy of the “Bronco” name and will be a capable off road vehicular with modern wants of todays market. Just my opinion here but have a feeling its gonna be super cool and eagerly awaiting seeing one!!

 

[Tugross302]

Local dealer friend of mine said the two door model is great. He thinks this will be his hottest seller in his 30 years as a dealer.

 

[matts460]

man so many rants about recalls and issues on various Ford models on a Ford forum. There are sooo many recalls and warranty extensions on all the Toyota models its crazy. SOOO anyway I really hope the new 2door Bronco its the spot just like the 05 Mustangs did. Everybody else has been offroading with IFS in the there trucks/suv's for years now, and hey if they make a scaled down version of the Raptor IFS in Bronco that would be cool. But I have also seen the issues that come with trying to lift the IFS, and its just so much easier to lift a straight axle. But most of these wont be extream offroad truck either just like back when early Bronco's new.

 

[rsharpnm]

A 2-door short wheel base jeep (or Bronco) may excel at parking in tight lots, but believe me, a 4-door jeep with it’s longer wheel base will out wheel a 2-door in almost all situations. Most jeeps by far that you see modified and on the trails are 4-doors. Black Bear Pass is about the only trail where I’d prefer a 2 door and that’s only when on the switch backs.

I beg to differ. Stock for stock, the 4 door is a hopeless turd compared to a 2 door. The 4 door is constantly dragging its belly and is much more difficult to maneuver, not to mention the weight penalty. I rented a 4 door JK once in Moab with a 2" spacer lift and 33" tires, and it shocked me how many things it would scrape and drag over that I would never give a second thought going over in a similarly modified TJ.

Modified on 35-37" tires (assuming you are locked into keeping the stock wheelbase) it is a bit of a 6 in one, half dozen in the other scenario. The 2 door will eat the 4 door's lunch on tight, technical, boulder-strewn trails like I typically run, but the 4 door will have an advantage on really steep climbs in open areas with gentle break overs (Moab).

Well a wrangler 2 door with blown out axles to the corners will take a 4 door on easy, and have about 700lbs less weight to drag around. I agree an apples to apples the 4 door is the thing on generic climbs and for families, but anything beyond is really a caged rok crawlers domain. 2 Door still rules the roost for family of two offroading.

This. In my opinion 100-110" is the sweet spot (105"-110" if your focus is more on steep climbs and water falls than technical boulders). Obviously little to no front or rear over hang is ideal, which you won't get with a reasonable wheelbase in a 4 door. 118" (JL Unlimited) is just too long. Sure, there are plenty of very capable JL Unlimiteds out there, but their length is a hinderance.

Exactly. Agree a 2 door with blown out axles (read longer wheel base) is the best. My crawler Bronco has a stock length body and a 103” stretched wheel base. Love it and it works well. But take 2 similarly built Rubicons, a 2 door and a 4 door, with say 3 1/2” lift and 35-37” tires and both stock wheel bases, the 4 door will do better in most situations except for turning radius and break-over angle. I’ll be looking to buy a 4 door with whatever off-road model they offer.

I can’t wait for someone to take a new 2 door Bronco and blow the axles out AND install solid axle 60’s front and rear. It will happen and it will be awesome!!!

I'd personally still take the 2 door in that scenario. The 4 door doesn't really start to run away from a stock wheel base 2 door until you get into the 37"+ tire level.

 

[73azbronco]

man so many rants about recalls and issues on various Ford models on a Ford forum. There are sooo many recalls and warranty extensions on all the Toyota models its crazy. SOOO anyway I really hope the new 2door Bronco its the spot just like the 05 Mustangs did. Everybody else has been offroading with IFS in the there trucks/suv's for years now, and hey if they make a scaled down version of the Raptor IFS in Bronco that would be cool. But I have also seen the issues that come with trying to lift the IFS, and its just so much easier to lift a straight axle. But most of these wont be extream offroad truck either just like back when early Bronco's new.

My 2013 jeep which I love, is driving on a hand grenade motor, with a factory extended warranty to 10 years and 100,000 miles. Bad intake castings. Mine seems OK.

 

[73azbronco]

I beg to differ. Stock for stock, the 4 door is a hopeless turd compared to a 2 door. The 4 door is constantly dragging its belly and is much more difficult to maneuver, not to mention the weight penalty. I rented a 4 door JK once in Moab with a 2" spacer lift and 33" tires, and it shocked me how many things it would scrape and drag over that I would never give a second thought going over in a similarly modified TJ.

Modified on 35-37" tires (assuming you are locked into keeping the stock wheelbase) it is a bit of a 6 in one, half dozen in the other scenario. The 2 door will eat the 4 door's lunch on tight, technical, boulder-strewn trails like I typically run, but the 4 door will have an advantage on really steep climbs in open areas with gentle break overs (Moab).



This. In my opinion 100-110" is the sweet spot (105"-110" if your focus is more on steep climbs and water falls than technical boulders). Obviously little to no front or rear over hang is ideal, which you won't get with a reasonable wheelbase in a 4 door. 118" (JL Unlimited) is just too long. Sure, there are plenty of very capable JL Unlimiteds out there, but their length is a hinderance.



I'd personally I'd still take the 2 door in that scenario. The 4 door doesn't really start to run away from a stock wheel base 2 door until you get into the 37"+ tire level.

In snottsdale, we give the cursory high five to 4 door mall crawl speed bump jeeps, and a wave to the real jeepers in two doors. I've had both 2 and 4 door, would do a 2 door again. BTW I've owned 6 Broncos, and 4 jeeps.

 

[68ford]

Ahem...

Best way to fight ISIS, give them your 6.0s and 6.4s, easiest target is a non moving target ;D

 

[Gupster88]

We all know International is to blame for those crap 6.0 and 6.4s . Ford got snart and started building their own motors again and they have been great. I do not believe the dust has settled yet on the legal battles between Ford and International for those crap engines they built for them. I owned multiple of each of those and was ready to look at Dodges . Then Ford came out with their own motor and have had no issues what so ever with the 10 or so we are running now. I would run a 6.7 in Bronco if I could.....