{"id":27579,"date":"2021-07-01T10:50:23","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T14:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=27579"},"modified":"2021-07-01T10:50:23","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T14:50:23","slug":"payne-five-cool-things-about-the-ford-bronco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/payne-five-cool-things-about-the-ford-bronco","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Five cool things about the Ford Bronco"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ford has reached into its classics stable for another retro-hit.<\/p>\n

Following the runaway success of on-track performance coupes like the Mustang GT350 and Ford GT, the 2021 Bronco takes Ford capability off-road. But for all\u00a0its nostalgic styling touches, the new\u00a0truck-based ute is a thoroughly modern affair that bristles with state-of-the-art tools (and 200 more accessories to choose from) to make the Bronco a delight to drive on- and off-road.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Five cool\u00a0things about the Bronco:<\/p>\n

1) Buttons galore.<\/strong>\u00a0Jump into the Bronco and behold its simple interior design bristling with more button-operated appliances than your kitchen. These buttons unlock drawer-fulls of capability. At the car\u2019s center is the rotary Terrain Management System with GOAT mode (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) selector \u2014 stuffed with\u00a0buttons for 2-wheel-drive (rear-based), 4-wheel-drive-high, 4-low\u00a0or\u00a04-Auto depending on your type of terrain.<\/p>\n

Spin the GOAT and Bronco’s eight available modes (NORMAL, ECO, SPORT, SLIPPERY, MUD\/RUTS, SAND, BAJA, ROCK CRAWL) will automatically select their\u00a0own drivetrain preference. Or you can select your own. At the GOAT\u2019s center is an (available) button for Trail Control\u00a0\u2014 a sort\u00a0of adaptive cruise control for low speed off-roading so you can concentrate on steering.<\/p>\n

\"2021<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

On the steering wheel are buttons to operate Trail Control (which works up to 20 mph off-road), on-road cruise control, voice commands for Ford\u2019s excellent SYNC 4 infotainment\u00a0system\u00a0and instrument menu controls.<\/p>\n

Atop the dash is another bank of (up to six) buttons conveniently located so you don\u2019t take your eyes of the road. I recommend Bronco owners take their mules to Holly Oaks ORV Park (or a similar off-road park wherever you live) to experience these buttons. Operated on the fly, they can transform your drivetrain by locking the differentials (for better off-road grip), increasing rotation with Trail Turn Assist, even disconnecting the front sway bars to negotiate rocks.<\/p>\n

2) Open-air driving.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThat looks like a toy,\u201d said my sons when I texted them photos of my Bronco test. Grown-up toys, no doubt. Bronco engineers designed the ute\u00a0with Legos in mind so you can easily\u00a0remove its modular\u00a0pieces. Go on, take the aluminum doors off to get closer to nature. You\u2019ll need some muscle\u00a0(they weigh 50 pounds each), but you only need deal with three screws (toolkit included) \u2014 then bag the door and stow\u00a0it in back (four-door models\u00a0only). Roofs are easy, too.\u00a0The soft-top pops\u00a0loose with two latches, then just peel it back like a sardine can.<\/p>\n

If the open-air lifestyle appeals to you, option the washable\u00a0vinyl seats. They come\u00a0with plugs in the foot well so you drain muddy water.<\/p>\n

\"Powerful<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

3) Engine choices.\u00a0<\/strong>Speed is at the core of Ford’s DNA going back to Old Man Henry\u2019s racing to attract investors in 1903. Bronco options a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6 shared with F-150, but the base 300-horsepower 2.3-liter turbo-4 will do just fine, thank you. Yes, that’s the same 2.3-liter turbo architecture found in Ford\u2019s legendary Focus RS hot hatch and the whip-quick Mustang HiPo. Mated to a similar 10-speed tranny found in the beastly-fast F-150 Raptor (manual also available), the turbo-4 growls aggressively when you put your boot in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually prefer the 2.3. It’s lighter\u00a0up front for better maneuverability,\u201d said King of the Hammers\u00a0off-road\u00a0race star Loren Healy as he flung a Bronco sideways around Ford’s Austin Off-Roadeo course. Such standard options\u00a0make the Bronco a treat no matter which of the seven\u00a0trims you pick, for example …<\/p>\n

4) Sasquatch package.<\/strong>\u00a0Available on every trim beginning with Base, Sasquatch lives large. The giant 35-inch tires are paired with capable Bilstein shocks\u00a0to give Bronco formidable off-road chops,\u00a0and a formidable presence. A Sasquatch-equipped\u00a0two-door Bronco\u00a0is one of the coolest looking cars on the road. Like having your own personal monster truck.<\/p>\n

\"With<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

5) High-tech.\u00a0<\/strong>Technology is the defining attribute of the current auto generation, and the Bronco is dripping with it. Right out of the box,\u00a0the $31,000\u00a0Bronco features a standard\u00a0digital\u00a0instrument display\u00a0rich in tech. Roll the GOAT\u00a0selector and each mode is illustrated with slick\u00a0graphics.<\/p>\n

Also standard is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android\u00a0Auto. Chart a destination on your phone, enter Bronco\u00a0and the console screen will automatically navigate the route\u00a0(as well as read your\u00a0play lists, texts, etc.). If you\u2019re an off-road geek, opt for the 12-inch console screen with its array of camera views \u2014 360-degree, front\u00a0and rear corners, more \u2014 to help you navigate the gnarliest off-road rocks and gulches.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Ford Bronco: inspired by the ’60s, cutting edge\u00a0in\u00a0the ’20s.<\/p>\n

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ford has reached into its classics stable for another retro-hit. Following the runaway success of on-track performance coupes like the Mustang GT350 and Ford GT, the 2021 Bronco takes Ford capability off-road. But for all\u00a0its nostalgic styling touches, the new\u00a0truck-based ute is a thoroughly modern affair that bristles with state-of-the-art tools (and 200 more accessories […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27579"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27579"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27580,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27579\/revisions\/27580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}