Ford Bronco likely for Australia

It’s looking increasingly likely that the Ford Bronco will soon be sitting in Australian showrooms, but before you get grand ideas about scaling the nation’s toughest trails, it won’t be THAT Bronco, the US off-road icon.

Ford CEO Jim Farley told media at the recent Detroit Auto Show that “The Bronco line-up is filling out globally, and I don’t think the media has caught onto that yet...we have great plans globally for Bronco.”

This will mean different things in different parts of the world. In the US the traditional ladder-frame off-roader will continue alongside the smaller Bronco Sport SUV, while in Europe a new plug-in hybrid SUV sharing the Kuga platform is set to be built in Spain.

However, should they arrive, Australian Broncos will be a very different proposition. The Ford Bronco Basecamp was revealed in 2025, a monocoque SUV co-developed with and built by Ford’s Chinese partner Jiangling Motors Corporation Limited.

Unlike the similarly car-based US Bronco Sport, though, the Bronco Basecamp is a very sizeable SUV.

Measuring 5025mm long, 1960mm wide and 1815mm tall with a 2950mm wheelbase, the Basecamp's dimensions are almost identical to that of the Everest, though it is only offered with five seats.

Where the Bronco Basecamp differs greatly is under the skin. In its Chinese homeland it is offered as either a pure-electric or range-extender hybrid with battery packs supplied by BYD.

The EV uses a 105.4kWh battery to feed an electric motor on each axle for a total of 332kW and a maximum range of 650km, though this is calculated using Chinese’s CLTC method which is much more lenient than WLTP.

A less powerful rear electric motor limits the range extender version to 310kW, while its 43.7kWh battery can be recharged using the 110kW 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine for a claimed maximum range of 1220km, of which 220km can be electric.

Once again, these figures are CLTC claims, which tend to be 15-25 per cent higher than WLTP figures.

Regardless, the Bronco Basecamp would help reduce Ford Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard penalties, offsetting the fines generated by its V6 diesel Rangers and Everests.

In a statement Ford Australia said: “The Bronco New Energy is an exciting addition to the global Ford line-up, adding a new energy drivetrain to one of the world’s most iconic nameplates.  

“Ford Australia is always evaluating options to expand our line-up for customers, but we have no news to share about future products at this time.”

Will Australian consumers accept a Chinese-made electric Ford Bronco?