A couple of weeks ago, Ford's European division released a teaser image with the announcement of five new rally-inspired models. Since then, a few details have been trickling out from the company directly and via some European car news outlets. Those details confirm some of our suspicions, and they leave us pondering what it could all mean for the American market, if anything at all. Let's dig in.Ford Another Member Of The Bronco Family Is On The Way One of the vehicles in the teaser was obviously a Bronco of some sort. Only Bronco models have such a distinct round running light signature. Ford itself confirmed that it will be a Bronco model, and it will also be "multi-energy," so electrification will absolutely be included. Whether it will be available as a full EV, or as something ranging from a conventional hybrid to a range-extended EV, is still unclear. Production for the new Bronco will start in 2028 in Valencia, Spain. Currently, that factory builds the Ford Escape's European twin, the Kuga.FordIt also seems that this new Bronco will not be the Chinese-market Bronco Basecamp, though. British car news outlet Autocar quoted Ford Europe's CEO Jim Baumbick as saying this Bronco will be "sized for the European market," and the Bronco Basecamp is a fair bit larger than the Kuga and Escape built at the Spanish factory. Autocar also suggests that this new Bronco will be based on Ford's C2 platform, just like the aforementioned models, but we're not completely convinced.The existing Bronco Sport is also based on that platform, so if Ford wanted or needed a C2 Bronco, it already has one. The C2 platform hasn't been used for anything smaller than a Ford Focus, either, so it seems as though Ford wouldn't be able to go much smaller on the platform than, say, the Bronco Sport. Still, the platform does support plug-in hybrid powertrains like that in the Escape. However, we wouldn't rule out some new platform being introduced with more powertrain and size flexibility, especially as the C2 will be a decade old when this new Bronco enters production. Ford's Really Leaning Into Off-Road Stuff FordIt's becoming clear that Ford's interest in off-road capability isn't just in regard to American trucks and SUVs. With that teaser, Baumbick talked about its new vehicles all being developed with rally car sportiness and ability in mind. He and the head of Ford Europe's passenger car program, Christian Weingärtner, also told Autocar that the company intended to connect this driving experience with the brand's long history in rally racing.Apparently, Ford even wants to be "the Porsche of off-road." This all would certainly fit with another quote from Baumbick that came along with the announcement of its new models: "We’re taking the untamed spirit and soul of the Mustang and fusing it with the legendary, "go-anywhere" toughness of the Ranger Raptor."The first vehicles to demonstrate this rally-inspired idea will appear, according to Autocar, in 2028 as a subcompact hatch and matching crossover, followed by a pair of presumably larger crossovers by the end of 2029. The subcompacts will apparently be developed jointly with Renault on the platform underpinning the Renault 5, and the other crossovers will be another joint project with Geely. CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters: One of the first questions to ask about all these new Fords is whether any will come to America. We can pretty safely rule out the Renault-based products at least. Neither Renault nor Nissan have built any vehicles on that platform that have been designed for US safety requirements, and we wouldn't expect Ford to go out of its way to make any needed changes, especially with what will surely be small, low-cost, and small-margin vehicles. The models co-developed with Geely have a better chance for our market, being larger, but we still wouldn't count on them, even if they end up being built in Europe and not China.Ford The Bronco could have a shot, though. It would still have the hurdle of being built in Europe with higher production costs and then tariffs, but it would probably have the most margin built in to handle it. It would certainly be easier to introduce to America than the Chinese-built Basecamp, and it could bring a greener option to the Bronco lineup in the US. Maybe Ford could even add some production to the Bronco Sport's factory in Mexico. Maybe it could even be a next-generation Bronco Sport.As for Ford's desire to have sporty off-road models beyond trucks and SUVs, we could see that spreading to America. Even before Ford Europe announced its rally-inspired models, Ford's home team launched the Mustang Mach-E Rally with a similar mindset and even styling: chunky tires, extra fog lights, and sporty dynamics for pavement and dirt. We've heard rumors of an off-road-oriented traditional Mustang, too, which sounds like a Flat Rock-built 911 Dakar, or "Porsche of off-road," to us.
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