A few months ago, the world started seeing reports showing prototype photos of a new Ford Bronco meant for China. The vehicle looked somewhat like a Bronco Sport, but something was off — it looked a bit bigger, and there clearly was something different going on with the powertrain. Now we know what that car was — this new Electric/EREV Ford Bronco, a vehicle that I think would be awesome for the U.S. market.
I’m not saying this thing would sell well, I’m just saying it would be awesome, as EREVs are the best one-car solution for folks who can charge at home or at work. They don’t take up a ton of battery resources, they allow you to daily-drive on electricity alone, but they let you handle your edge cases with a compact internal combustion engine instead of a giant, heavy, expensive extra 50+ kWh worth of battery.
But I’ve already preached the gospel of EREVs (I daily-drive one myself), so let’s get onto the details of China’s new Ford Bronco, which come to us courtesy of our beloved China-expert-contributor, Tycho De Feijter, who got this info from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s filings.
Let’s start by checking out the exterior, which looks… like a Ford Bronco Sport up front:
Here’s what the current U.S.-spec Bronco Sport looks like, for reference.
Styling is similar, and yet distinct, and though it’s hard to get an understanding of the scale, I get the impression that China’s Bronco may be a big larger. Let’s have a look out back:
The back is very cool, because it actually looks less like the rear of a Bronco Sport…
…and more like the backside of the big body-on-frame Bronco we get stateside:
As for the specs, we’re going to quote Tycho’s tweet here:
he Ford Bronco is made in China by Jiangling (JMC) -Ford. Until now, it was an ICE-only car. But no more. Soon, Ford will add two new versions to the Bronco line-up: an EV and an EREV. The EV gets an AWD power train with a 130 kW motor at the front and a 202 kW motor at the rear. The top speed is 170 km/h. The LFP Blade battery is sourced from BYD Findreams. It has a 650-kilometer range. The EREV gets a 110 kW 1.5 turbo liter range extender + two electric motors: 130 kW front and 180 kW rear. The LFP battery comes from BYD Findreams again. EV range is 220 km and combined range is 1220 km. The top speed is also 170 km/h.
Tycho also mentions a new ADAS system with LIDAR above the windshield and sensors on the fenders.
Tycho mentions that the new Bronco should hit the Chinese market later this year.
Overall, I love the idea. 135 miles of all-electric range, and when that runs out, a little 1.5-liter turbo range extender cuts on so you can drive to Yellowstone or Mt. Rushmore for your annual family vacation — it’s fantastic. I’ll be curious to see what this thing costs, and what the delta is between the 400-mile EV and the 135-mile EREV.
All Images: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology/Ford
Bring on the EREV’s!
EREV full size SUVs simply make too much sense for automakers to make them. Imagine an EREV Tahoe that could be optimized either for ev range or towing. the electric motors could be rwd or 4 hub motors and there could be a totally reasonable sized battery pack in the base (not the monstrosity that the hummer ev or escalade iq has) and then the V8 (or V6!) could use cylinder deactivation and run on half cyls to charge the battery or you could put it in tow or sport mode to give it full grunt to tow your boat or smoke some tires.
While we’re at it add the ZR1XX hybrid drivetrain in the Escalade!
Here to joke about “ADAS system” … a.k.a. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems System… great to use if you’d like some assistance when drinking a hot chai tea on the way to the ATM machine.
Definitely an improvement over the US Bronco Sport, although if this is indeed the next gen to sold here, I’m sure Ford will find a way to retain the kick up in the roofline even though I think it looks better without it.