Ford Opens A New Round In China With Electric New Energy Bronco

Bronco New Energy. (Photo: Ford)

Marking serious steps in the face of fierce competition and expanding the electric vehicle line in the world's largest automotive market, Ford presents the new Bronco New Energy powered SUV for the Chinese market.

Bronco New Energy carries two environmentally friendly options from fully electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions.

In terms of appearance, launching Car and Driver, Thursday, July 17, Bronco New Energy combines the tough aura of Bronco Sport with a masculine touch of the style of "Big Bronco", complete with full-size spare tires hanging on the back door. Although Ford has yet to provide certainty as to whether this model will visit the United States (US) and other markets, its Chinese debut reinforces the signal that the future of the Bronco line could turn to the electrification era.

In terms of performance, the electricity variant is very promising equipped with a 105 kWh battery which can cover a distance of up to 650 km in one charge, based on WLTP standards.

While the PHEV version is also no less attractive to combining 44 kWh batteries with gasoline engines serving as a range-extender. This combination allows a purely electric distance of up to 220 km, and a total range of up to 1,200 km when the fuel tank and battery are fully charged.

Although Ford has not disclosed the details of the engine's power and performance, a number of leaks show the presence of an all-wheel drive system (AWD) and the "Badlands" emblem on one of the units. This hints at the possibility of off-road variants with special capabilities, such as in other Bronco models.

The official launch of the Bronco New Energy in China itself is scheduled to take place later this year. Meanwhile, loyal Bronco fans in the global market and of course the US can only hope that the long-awaited hybrid version will soon arrive in its homeland.