China-made Ford Bronco hits the road for real-world tests

Launch of Jiangling Motors-made Ford Bronco set between March – May 2024

Back in September, we got our first look at the Ford Bronco made by its PRC partner Jiangling Ford. Based on the images and details released by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the China-made Ford Bronco will look just like the one made in the US.

Two months later, Ford is already conducting real-world tests of the locally-produced Bronco in China. This was made possible after Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) supposedly received permission from the government to mass-produce the Bronco in the People's Republic. The market launch is reportedly set between March to May 2024.

With a launch date set in Q1 or early Q2 next year, it's not surprising to see the Blue Oval is already busy conducting tests of the Bronco, albeit covering the SUV in a camouflage livery. Despite wearing a disguise, the aforementioned Bronco still looks the same as the one revealed a few months ago. It gets the same boxy exterior along with the signature Bronco spelled out on the grille, the wide wheel arches, and 17-inch Goodyear off-road tires.

The spy photographers also managed to get a good look at the interior of the China-made Bronco. Much like the exterior, the cabin is the same as the ones manufactured in the US. It gets the same gear selector, the three-spoke steering wheel complete with the Bronco logo, and a wide touchscreen infotainment system.

As mentioned before, the PRC-made Ford Bronco will be powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. The turbocharged engine is supposedly rated to crank out 275 PS with 455 Nm of torque. It will then be paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission which makes it different from the US-made Bronco which gets a 10-speed automatic.

Once it's officially launched in China, the Ford Bronco will likely go head-to-head with the likes of the Tank 300. And with the Tank 300 set to be launched in the Philippines later this month, we wonder if Ford Philippines plans on bringing the Bronco here via the PRC. After all, Ford PH already gets the Territory (AKA Equator Sport) from Jiangling Motors.

Source: Autohome via Car News China