The locally-made Ford Bronco is scheduled to launch across China between March and May next year and has been snapped testing under a thin veil of camouflage.
The new-age Bronco has been a huge success for the manufacturer and it is bringing it to China through its joint venture with Jiangling Motor (JMC). Final pricing details have not yet been announced but it is expected to start at around ¥300,000 or $41,300.
We were provided our first look at the Chinese-made Bronco in September thanks to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). These photos revealed that very few visual alterations have been made to it, a wise design decision on Ford and Jiangling’s part given how widely praised the Bronco’s design has been. Perhaps the most obvious change is the addition of a small ‘Ford’ badge above the large ‘Bronco’ lettering on the front grille, used because the Bronco name isn’t as well known in China as it is in the U.S. and other markets.
Read: Chinese-Built Ford Bronco Breaks Cover With New Badges And 271 HP Engine
Photos Autohome
It is unclear how many variants will be offered in China but photos from the MIIT showed at least two distinct four-door configurations, one of which appeared to be rocking the same wheels and large off-road tires of some U.S. models. Car News China reports that the local Bronco will measure between 4,800-4,825 mm (189-190 inches) long, 2,070 mm (81.5 inches) wide, and 1,990 mm (78.3 inches) tall, making it slightly taller and wider than the U.S. model.
A single spy image of the Bronco’s interior has also surfaced. Like the exterior, it appears identical to the U.S. model, complete with the same large infotainment screen, digital instrument cluster, flat-bottom steering wheel, meaty shifter, and a grab handle on the center console.
A key difference with the Chinese model is the engine. It will be offered solely with a turbocharged 2.3-liter built through the Changan Ford joint venture. This four-cylinder is good for 271 hp and 336 lb-ft (455 Nm) of torque, less than the 2.3-liter available in the U.S. Mated to this engine will be an eight-speed automatic as opposed to the 10-speed ‘box of the U.S. model.
