The iconic Ford Bronco is returning after a quarter-century, as a part of Ford’s all-new outdoor lifestyle brand of 4×4 adventure SUVs.
And it’s being introduced on national TV on July 13, across multiple networks, channels and streaming services. It’s the first time ever prime-time product reveal for Ford, and maybe for any automotive company.
Ford Bronco is regarded by many as the first SUV, a 4×4 designed for families to explore remote corners of America, including off-road.
Ford Bronco Brief History
It was launched in 1965 and marketed until 1996. Some reliable old Broncos are still on the road.
The first Bronco was assembled using its own chassis, and later used a chassis derived from the best-selling Ford F-150. All Broncos featured four-wheel-drive powertrains, and early models included a CB radio, an auxiliary gas tank, a power take-off, a winch and a post-hole digger.
The Bronco stayed in production for 30 years, seeing a total of five generations, and growing from what was considered in 1966 to be a compact SUV to eventually share height and width specs with the Ford F-150 truck.
The Ford Bronco was manufactured at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan – also where the new models will be built.
Probably the most famous Ford Bronco in history is the one OJ Simpson used when he famously led police on a low-speed chase through Los Angeles in his white Ford Bronco in 1994. He had been charged with two counts of murder, of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Ford originally had scheduled the TV reveal for July 9th, but moved it to the 13th after realizing the 9th is OJ’s birthday.
New Ford Bronco
Rumor has it the rugged new Bronco will be a midsize SUV, with both the traditional two-door model and a new four-door.
It is expected to be similar to the Ford Bronco Type R prototype, shown here.
More intel is being revealed on July 6th, before the national TV broadcast on July 13th.
Ford initially planned to reveal its all-new Bronco 4×4 SUV lineup in June at the revamped, outdoor-inspired North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and showcase the new models at the New York International Auto Show a few weeks later.
But when the coronavirus pandemic prompted both auto show organizers to cancel the shows for 2020, Ford team redesigned the reveal strategy for the hotly anticipated Bronco debut.
Current and future Bronco owners as well as off-road fans and outdoor enthusiasts can find out more on the Bronco Nation website, www.thebronconation.com,
Bronco fans can reserve their 2021 Bronco model for $100 each, starting Monday, July 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET at www.ford.com.
Ford will share additional content featuring the Bronco lineup’s capabilities and new features on its own social media channels.
Ford Bronco is an icon that has captured people’s imaginations and inspired them to explore the most remote corners of America and the world since the 1960s,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. “As a new era for Bronco begins, we’re proud to tap the strengths of epic adventurers like Jimmy Chin and Disney storytellers to help bring Bronco to life and inspire millions of people to get out into the wild.”
Ford Bronco TV Reveal
Ford Motor Company will reveal the all-new Ford Bronco lineup across Disney’s broadcast, cable, digital and streaming properties at 8pm on Monday, July 13.
Three custom 3-minute films will air on ABC, ESPN and National Geographic, in each network’s first commercial break, and all three films will be available on demand on Hulu the following day
Academy Award-winning director and acclaimed cinematographer, photographer and professional climber, Jimmy Chin, collaborated with Disney CreativeWorks, Disney’s award-winning creative agency, to co-create network reveal stories with the Ford team.
Here’s how each network’s custom film will reveal the all-new Bronco family:
- ABC
- Bronco will be featured in a 3-minute film starring country music singer Kip Moore during “CMA Best of Fest,” the Country Music Association’s three-hour concert experience, airing Monday, July 13 (8:00–11:00 p.m. ET).
- ESPN
- Film featuring a different Bronco model and professional climber Brooke Raboutou will air during “SportsCenter.”
- National Geographic
- Academy Award-winning director and acclaimed cinematographer, photographer and professional climber Jimmy Chin will spotlight another Bronco during “National Parks: Yosemite.” Additionally, Chin will judge a hashtag challenge contest and appear in an Instagram Story featuring the Bronco on NatGeo’s Instagram account.
- Hulu
- On Tuesday, July 14, all three custom films will be available on demand on Hulu. The films will be available to viewers through interactive ad formats, and within a curated collection of outdoor and survival-themed content aligned with the Bronco lifestyle.
- Ford Channels
- In addition to the films created for ABC, ESPN and National Geographic, Ford also will share additional special content with fans on its YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on July 13 – including additional details on the performance strengths of each new Bronco model.
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