Flex based Bronco?

"The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123" (mattp123)
02/10/2014 at 12:06 • Filed to: cras

PS9 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for the Flex. I thought it would be neat to see a more rugged, tall sitting, two door version. And maybe call it a Bronco. So I Photoshopped it.

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Purists will call it blasphemy, but let's face it... They killed the truck based Explorer and we'll probably never see a truck based Bronco again. This might be the only way to get a Bronco revival. Maybe call it a Bronco iii to lessen the blasphemy. If Subaru can beef up regular Imprezas and Legacies and give us the XV Crosstrek and Outback, then Ford could do the same.

I mean they kinda did think about bringing it back for a minute...

DISCUSSION (41)

Dusty Ventures > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 01:09

I like it

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 01:12

I was hoping you'd follow through, I dig it.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ
02/08/2014 at 01:16

Thank you.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Dusty Ventures
02/08/2014 at 01:17

I would drive one if they made it.

thedevilinside > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 01:51

Is the XV Crosstrek a good car? I know nothing about them so I can't say if I would like Ford making a Bronco in the same way Subaru made the Crosstrek.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > thedevilinside
02/08/2014 at 02:02

It's alright. Underpowered. Definitely not an off-roader, but I assume better on dirt trails and snow than a regular Impreza thanks to extra clearance. I'm not sure if anything else is different than a regular Impreza.

oldirtybootz > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 02:02

Kinja'd!!!

Here ya go.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > oldirtybootz
02/08/2014 at 02:03

Kinja'd!!!

I say sir, what's all this?

Enginerrrrrrrrr > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 02:46

Give us a hardcore version like a Raptor (maybe the Bucking Bronco?) and I would go for it. As a higher Flex, I don't see it as the offroader it was. The Flex just seems piddly to me, the styling is kinda soft for an offroader.

puddler > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 05:45

i don't even know where to start...

RotaryLover > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 05:57

It's probably gonna get 8 MPG.

samssun > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 06:29

How about we make an Explorer Sport Trac based on this? Then everybody gets the small(ish) truck they want...

oldirtybootz > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 08:03

A Bronco I did years ago based on the Explorer America concept.

Sn210 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 08:29

That's awesome! I loved the concept, I think you did a pretty good job mashing the two up

Frenchlicker > Enginerrrrrrrrr
02/08/2014 at 10:01

I believe Hennesey has what you want, albeit with too many doors though. And I would assume a heftier price tag than most would want.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > RotaryLover
02/08/2014 at 11:35

Less is more.

bobkustofawitshz > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 11:45

That looks awesome. I'd buy it if they made it. The grey concept is cool, but a little too much for my tastes. I've always loved the Flex styling; I think it's one of the cleanest, sharpest looking designs Ford has and I wish they'd take that styling and run with it. Kind of reminds me of the beloved mid-90's F-series & Bronco.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > oldirtybootz
02/08/2014 at 11:53

I wish they would have given us the Explorer America concept over this thing:

Kinja'd!!!

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 13:00

My 2 cents: Before a Bronc comes out, Ford needs to figure out the Ranger situation in the States. After that they can play on that short frame.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
02/08/2014 at 13:12

Agreed. A truck based Bronco would be ideal. This was more of a what if/quick fix.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 13:16

Oh I getcha. It's a nice render & I like the flex, I think it's a great exercise of modern (interior) design in the automotive culture.

I always like talking of the possibility of a new Bronco. I think that Ford could really put a strangle-hold on the extreme off-road market. I drive a Tacoma, but I'm really a Ford guy and wouldn't mind seeing SVT Ranger and Bronco editions.

Shiftright > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 15:03

That looks pretty good.

RazoE > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/10/2014 at 12:07

Just give it some round headlights like the concept, and we're ready to go.

HammerheadFistpunch > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/10/2014 at 12:13

You know what? I dig it, there is nothing that says a unibody can't be a great off roader. its not ideal sure, but if they can make it work with the XJ Cherokee, KL Cherokee grand Cherokee, range rover and several others...why not? The flex platform is doomed though isn't it? The only real problem I see is that a 2 door suv was easy and made sense in the truck based days, but in the unibody days, its a whole new car, not just a shortened frame and a few less doors, so they would have to see a real case to make it.

$kaycog > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/10/2014 at 12:24

Nice job on PS. I really like it!

lone_liberal > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/10/2014 at 12:29

Wouldn't this basically be a two door Explorer? Or are the Flex and Explorer not on the same platform?

offroadkarter > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/10/2014 at 12:47

If ford brings the bronco back, my resale is going to go from 4-5 grand to 1500 over night

they better not fuck this up

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/10/2014 at 12:49

I prefer my raptor based rendering for the Truck Yeah! contest!

I just think it should be truck based, still good work! I do like the boxiness of yours.

Kinja'd!!!

It's a "Porch-uh" > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/10/2014 at 13:00

What do you get making it "truck-based?" Does body-over-frame give you something that unibody does not for serious off-roading?

I'm embarrassed to ask this as a truck owner.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > It's a "Porch-uh"
02/10/2014 at 13:07

Well, it gives you more structural rigidity and more ability for lifting.

The current Flex platform is shared with the Taurus, Explorer, and MKS. While I'm not saying it's NOT capable, the AWD system is not anywhere as capable as a full on 4x4 system.

Most Jeeps are unibody based so it's not like it would destroy it, they would just need to upgrade to a 4x4 system instead of it's current AWD. I think the F150 is set up better (especially a Raptor based one) for offroading/brute toughness.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
02/10/2014 at 13:20

A Ranger based Bronco you say? Brilliant!

Kinja'd!!!

It's a "Porch-uh" > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/10/2014 at 13:43

Good points. Assuming Ford would want to raid the parts bin as much as possible, it would probably be tough to adapt the Flex platform to take solid axles and a transfer case.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > It's a "Porch-uh"
02/10/2014 at 13:51

That's my biggest concern with it. And actually towing too. If I had that serious of an offroader I'd want a 5k+ towing rating. Those crossovers rarely break through that barrier.

It's a "Porch-uh" > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/10/2014 at 14:00

Explorer is just 5K.

Also, that platform doesn't look like it will take a longitudinally-mounted engine/transmission, so it would always be FWD-biased with AWD. Lame.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > It's a "Porch-uh"
02/10/2014 at 14:03

#1 reason I dislike the new Explorer (and I'm a Ford guy lol).

But all of them are doing it now. If you were going to aim towards the original bronco, it wouldn't matter as long as it was sincerely capable off road. If you were doing the bigger "OJ" bronco, it would need towing capability as well because what's the point of a giant SUV if you can't even pull with it?

Though, if you're aiming toward original small Bronco, it would be fine. Same theory as the new Cherokee.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > $kaycog
02/10/2014 at 21:45

Thanks!

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > HammerheadFistpunch
02/10/2014 at 21:48

True. Unibody could work if they plan ahead for a rugged application. I just have no idea if the Flex platform would be a good place to start for a true off-roader. Probably not.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/10/2014 at 21:53

Both would be nice. Depends if Ford tries to go for the smaller first gen, or larger second through 5th gen. But if they ever do bring back the Bronco in unibody form, I just hope they at least call it the Bronco iii to be up front and admit it is a new branch of a different path rather than a true successor.

bob and john > offroadkarter
02/11/2014 at 05:39

sell asap then XD

offroadkarter > bob and john
02/11/2014 at 08:31

I can't, my BMW is to unreliable to rely on every day lol

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/11/2014 at 09:19

That's fair. The Bronco II was closer to the original Bronco, so maybe a III would indeed be wiser.

Really just depends on their market. I think the problem is they have the Escape in that smaller SUV market so they won't want two of them.