Add Bronco To Today's Ranger Return Rumor

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Ford may bring back the Bronco name as a Ranger-based SUV if production returns to the U.S. in 2018, Bloomberg is reporting.

The Bronco would be based on a mid-sized pickup frame, unlike the current Explorer. A Bronco could be targeted at Jeep, either Grand Cherokee — or Wrangler.

Ford ended production of its Bronco in 1996.

According to the Bloomberg report, both Ranger and Bronco could be built at Ford’s plant in Wayne, Michigan, which will lose production of the C-Max and Focus to Mexico in 2018. Adding the production of those trucks to that plant would replace production to appease the United Auto Workers during contract negotiations.

It’s unclear how the addition of a Bronco would fit into the Ford lineup, but I’m guessing Mark Stevenson has a good idea.


Aaron Cole
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  • APaGttH APaGttH on Aug 26, 2015

    I just don't see this happening given other vehicles of this ilk are being killed off. IIRC the only real vehicle left in this space is the 4Runner - correct? The xTerra is dead and no one else is in the game.

    • Luke42 Luke42 on Aug 26, 2015

      A big part of the reason I didn't buy a new compact pickup truck in 2006 (when I'd just put my Ranger through the ringer and was looking for an upgrade) and again in 2011 (when my 2-door Ranger was just not cutting it) was that everyone was selling the same generation of truck I already had. So, I kept my Ranger until it didn't work anymore -- and then I got something that did work. A modernized 4-door Ranger with an electronically controlled AWD system would have fit my needs well enough that i would have bought it in both 2006 and 2011. Now I drive a minivan, which is a surprisingly good 3/4 ton truck. Now that I've admitted to myself that I'm a minivan dad, I have two fantastic classes of vehicle to choose from. P.S. I also owned an Escape and an F-150. I hated driving the F-150 - docking that barge in parking spots and lifting cargo up over my sternum to get it into the bed just pissed me off every time I drove it, and the tractor-style 4WD was a poor match for the conditions in which I actually drive (electronic AWD is *way* better forwmy purposes). The Escape solved the problem I bought it to solve and I respect it for that, even though I didn't particularly like it's attempts to emulate the F-150's truckish styling, truckish ride, and truckish NVH. My Ranger was more pleasant than any of them.

  • Luke42 Luke42 on Aug 26, 2015

    I miss the 1998 Ranger that got me through my 20s. I got rid of it because it was deeply obsolet my the time I sold it in the winter of 2011. I replace it winh a new Ranger, because a new one would still have been obsolete, and also bacause my needs changed when I became a dad. I'll take a good long look at the new Ranger. My next car purchase is likely to be an electric ca. EVs will take care of my driving on most days, but there's room in my driveway for a vehicle that will do everything the EV can't. If that EV ends up being as capable a family car as Model X is rumored to be, then my 2nd very well be a Ranger or a diesel GMC Canyon. If the EV is less capable (like the Leaf), then I'd better keep my old minivan. These are interesting times indeed!

    • JohnTaurus JohnTaurus on Aug 26, 2015

      What exactly is so "obsolete" about it? What reason could it not be driven any longer? My daily driver isnt even OBD-II compliant, yet somehow it still gets me where I want to go. Weird, huh? I could see it if you had a 1960s truck with an Inline 6 and a low-geared 4 speed, as it tops out at about 60-65 mph (I forced a 1965 F-100 to go 70 once. Only once because it felt like it wouldve exploded into a million pieces at that speed had I tried it again). It gets poor mpg, it can be hard to find parts for, it may have trouble using ethenol fuel as it tends to destroy carbs, it also could be difficult to start in cold weather. That would be "obsolete" and not practical for driving on modern freeways, but so long as the Ranger was reliable (and they usually were), I dont see why it would be too obsolete to drive today. Parts are easily and cheaply on hand at any auto parts store (hell, they probably still have Rangers in their fleets, I know my local O'Rilies does), it can keep up with traffic, it isnt especially bad on fuel, its fuel injected so it starts easily in cold weather and ethenol-containing fuel wouldnt degrade the system (if it had the 3.0L V-6, its an FFV anyway), I can think of no reason why a 2011 or 1998 Ranger couldnt be driven for many years to come. Perhaps it wasnt flashy enough for you? Everyone driving around in their new body style CRVs and Fusions made you feel inadequate? I think thats more of a personal problem than a vehicle problem. If it was your vanity that made you get rid of it, that's not the truck's fault. Getting rid of it because it isnt a pratical family vehicle is logical, but you made a point of saying the reason you didnt buy a new one was because it was "still obsolete".

  • Skor Skor on Aug 26, 2015

    If I had the cash, I'd buy a 'new' old Bronco. Google 'Icon BR Series' and see for yourselves.

    • NoGoYo NoGoYo on Aug 26, 2015

      The fact that there is no Icon Scout or Blazer is pretty disappointing.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Aug 27, 2015

    Agree, the older Rangers are still good trucks and are fairly easy and inexpensive to maintain. The same is true with my 99 S-10 even though it was discontinued over a decade ago. The mpgs are not too bad with the I-4 and a 5 speed manual.

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