An electric version of the Ford Bronco has been launched in China, but the iconic SUV – electric or otherwise – remains off the cards for Australia for now.
Made by Ford and Jiangling Motors, the Ford Bronco New Energy is exclusive to China, where it’s scheduled to go on sale later this year, and isn’t planned for global markets.
An MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) filing – a legal requirement for a manufacturer to sell a vehicle in China – shared by outlets including Motor1 revealed both battery-electric and range-extender (EREV) versions.
The name New Energy is appropriate given the Chinese auto industry refers to electrified vehicles – including plug-in hybrids, EVs and EREVs – collectively as ‘New Energy Vehicles’.
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Despite playing a role in the development of the current-generation Ford Bronco – and its sharing of considerable parts with the Ranger and Everest – Ford Australia has no official plans to offer any version of the Bronco here.
When asked about the latest status on Bronco for local showrooms, a spokesperson for the automaker told CarExpert it had “no news to share”.
The Bronco is currently sold in the US where top models run V6 petrol engines, while lower-spec versions use the same 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine as the Ranger PHEV sold in Australia but without the plug-in hybrid system.
The MIIT China filings reveal the EV Bronco gets a 202kW powertrain using a 105.4kWh LFP (lithium-iron phosphate) ‘Blade’ battery – from Tesla rival and battery maker, BYD – for electric range of 650km on the CLTC cycle.
The EREV produces 180kW and uses a 43.7kWh LFP Blade battery for a claimed 220km electric-only driving range on the CLTC cycle.
An EREV use a combustion engine as an electricity generator to power up the battery, rather than sending drive to the wheels – and, in the Bronco New Energy’s case, can also be plugged in for a top up.
The US Bronco uses the same ladder chassis as the Ford Ranger, but the Bronco New Energy uses a car-like monocoque frame instead, like the smaller Escape-based Bronco Sport sold in the US.
While it looks the part, with the same 2950mm wheelbase as the long-wheelbase petrol-powered Bronco, the China model’s 5025mm length is 215mm more than the US-market four-door Bronco. That makes it the biggest Bronco yet.
It’s considerably heavier, too, with the EV Bronco tipping the scales at 2631kg and the EREV at 2511kg – 268kg more than the US Bronco Raptor, the heaviest model offered there.
Ford CEO Jim Farley earlier this year said the US automaker would be moving towards EREV powertrains after massive losses on EVs, with the technology moving beyond the brand’s China models from 2027.
In Australia, Ford dropped the Puma small crossover SUV – including plans for the battery-electric Puma Gen-E – in 2024, while the slow-selling Mustang Mach-E electric SUV remains in showrooms.
An electric version of the Transit large commercial van and smaller Transit Custom are also part of the Australian lineup.
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