Earlier this year, Ford held a presentation where
they teased a handful of new models including the Bronco, Baby Bronco, Explorer
ST and Mustang Shelby GT500. While that’s typically where the story ends, the automaker
has released the full presentation and it’s packed with new – although slightly
old – photos.
Kicking things off, the presentation includes
pictures of the 2020 Escape and Escape Hybrid. Both models are shown underneath
a sheet, but the images suggest the crossover will have a sportier roofline, an
upward sweeping character line and a more rounded design.
The redesigned Escape has already been spotted by
spy photographers and it expected to be offered with a handful of engines
including a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. The model could also offer a 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder with up
to 180 hp.
Since we’ve already see the Explorer a handful of
times, we’ll skip to the image of the so-called Baby Bronco. The original
teaser showed the model’s front end, but this picture shows the crossover from
the side.
The new perspective reveals a strong resemblance to
the 2020 Bronco as both have a flat roof, a short hood and an similarly raked
windscreen. While standard Bronco appears to be a two-door Jeep Wrangler
competitor, the Baby Bronco has four-doors and will be noticeably smaller than
its larger counterpart. The model also eschews the rear-mounted spare tire in
what is presumably a nod to practicality.
Another interesting slide shows five crossovers and
notes hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains will be offered across the SUV
lineup. Ford has already confirmed plans to offer hybrid versions of the
Bronco, Escape and Explorer, but there’s no word on which models are in the
picture.
The two models on the far right appear to be the
Explorer, so this could mean the model will be offered as both a hybrid and a
plug-in hybrid. The image could also be a simple mockup without any specific
meaning.
Getting away from the teasers, one of the slides
confirms Ford will introduce four new nameplates. There’s no word on which
models the company is talking about, but two of them are likely the Baby Bronco
and the Mach 1 / Performance Battery Electric Utility.
The Focus Active could potentially count for
another, while the rumored Fusion sport wagon might be the fourth. That’s far
from certain at this point, but many of the company’s upcoming products – such
as the Bronco and Ranger – are simply rivals and not new nameplates.