QOTD: Where to Bump Up the Brawn?

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Ford is anything but a conversation killer these days. Love their ideas or hate them, the boys and girls at the Blue Oval seem pretty confident that they know what works in the near automotive future.

One ploy is the bold step of splitting a model in two. No longer will one mainstream crossover attempt to be most things to most people. Instead, you’ll get the Escape, newly urbanized for the 2020 model year, and a similar-sized (but not shaped) platform mate gunning for a more rugged set of buyers. Two vehicles, one brand, one segment.

If this becomes a trend, where should it strike next?

We’ve told you about the 2020 Escape already, but Ford’s keeping details of its so-called “Baby Bronco” under wraps for now. Designed to capitalize on the upcoming body-on-frame Bronco, the smaller, Euro Focus-based compact crossover will apparently do its best to mimic its larger, more capable brother.

One hopes there’s more to it than just squared-off Bronco-esque proportions and prodigious body cladding. We saw what happened when Toyota took its RAV4 and gave it the TRD treatment. Leg day at the gym, essentially. Toyota’s RAV4 TRD boasts the same ground clearance and overhangs as the RAV4 Adventure, with sturdier shocks and meatier tires to make the markup worthwhile.

Even after being contacted, Ford wouldn’t fill us in on the 2020 Escape’s ground clearance, which wasn’t listed in a spec sheet that touted the revamped model’s car-like prowess and cargo-carrying, gas station-dodging versatility and efficiency. In terms of traversing rocks, it’s hard to say where the starting point in this Jekyll and Hyde two-fer really is. Suffice it to say, the Baby Bronco can’t hack it on looks alone; real off-road capability had best be in the offing.

If Ford pulls in more buyers with two versions of what’s essentially the same vehicle, industry rivals make take note. Looking around the auto landscape, where else do you see this strategy paying off? More specifically, where do you want to see it pulled off?

Which model deserves an alter ego?

[Images: Ford Motor Company]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 45 comments
  • SuperCarEnthusiast SuperCarEnthusiast on Apr 09, 2019

    Do not know what is taking so long to release the new Bronco? It suppose to be in dealer showrooms now in 2022 while the baby Bronco will be released in 2020 for 2021 dealer showrooms. The new Bronco was announced by Ford back in 2014 and was suppose to be in showrooms right now!

    • Rocket Rocket on Apr 09, 2019

      It was the UAW that outed the Bronco early. As for what's taking so long, it's going to be built on the next generation Ranger platform, which wasn't even under development at the time.

  • Hubcap Hubcap on Apr 09, 2019

    Here's one I'd like to see. A new Fiero. Mid-engine, 2500 lbs and powered by the 330 hp V6 from the Camaro. Make the platform versatile enough so that it can also handle a mid-engine sedan, a la the Corvair.

  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
Next