Ford is brining the Bronco back in 2020. And, as part of its larger mission to take the fight to Jeep directly, the Baby Bronco will compete with Jeep’s smaller offerings, like the Renegade and even, to a lesser degree, the Subaru Crosstrek. But what will it look like? Ford released a dark teaser image when it announced the Baby Bronco, and we put our artist to the task of bringing it into the light.
Blending contemporary Ford styling cues found on other crossovers, like the Escape and EcoSport, with what we saw in the teaser, gives us an idea of what to expect from the Baby Bronco. More rugged aspects, like the front skid plate and recovery hooks, communicate the crossover’s offroad intentions, as do the aggressive tires, body cladding, and short overhangs.
There’s a lot we can gather just from the vehicle’s size, class, and probable competitors. The Renegade is almost certainly what Ford will benchmark for the Baby Bronco, especially because it sits in that sliver of daylight between EcoSport and Escape. And EcoSport, despite the bodycladding, isn’t capable of anything beyond the lightest dirt-road duty. We expect the Baby Bronco, despite being built on a car-like unibody architecture with a transversely-mounted engine, to have the kind of scrambling capabilities to mix it up with the Renegade.
It’d make sense for Ford’s Escape to get larger in its next generation, so size will probably be close to the contemporary Escape. That means it could be similar in size to the current Jeep Compass, while lining up in the market with the slightly smaller Renegade. The EcoBoost 2.0-liter engine recently offered in the Escape is a good fit as at least one of two possible engines. Less likely but still possible is the new three-cylinder that sees duty overseas. This could be a great vehicle to introduce and federalize that “Dragon” I3 with, as it’ll likely sell in enough volume to absorb the costs associated with federalizing it.
While there’s a Trailhawk version of the Renegade, and Ford is quite openly trying to occupy the offroading space, don’t expect to be chasing Wranglers up rocky gullies in the Baby Bronco. We expect a light-duty all-wheel-drive system with some traction and software tricks to do a semblance of legitimate offroading, but nothing like a real low-range transfer case or true locking differentials. That said, the ability to lock the center differential to provide some extra traction by forcing a more balanced front-rear power split is certainly possible. We also expect independent suspension front and rear. The 6-speed automatic used in the Escape is likely to show up in the Baby Bronco, unless Ford develops a transaxle with more gears to slot below its recent 10-speed unit.
We’re using reasoned guesses here as to what the Baby Bronco will look like, based on the market, Ford’s parts inventory, the current lineup, and the competition. Ford might pull a number on us and switch up the target market for the Baby Bronco, adding or removing size or capability. We’ll know more when there’s a production preview concept to look at.
But we think Ford is smart to target the Renegade, which has moved around 8,000 units a month on average over the last year or so. If anything, Ford’s late to the party, which might prompt them to invest in wilder styling or unique features to stimulate interest. We can’t wait to see what the finished product will look like.
]]>https://briefnews.eu/ford-baby-bronco-comes-alive-in-these-exclusive-renderings/feed/0Jeep Wrangler pickup renderings: Latest imaginings of the Scrambler
https://briefnews.eu/jeep-wrangler-pickup-renderings-latest-imaginings-of-the-scrambler/
https://briefnews.eu/jeep-wrangler-pickup-renderings-latest-imaginings-of-the-scrambler/#respondWed, 04 Apr 2018 16:02:29 +0000http://briefnews.eu/jeep-wrangler-pickup-renderings-latest-imaginings-of-the-scrambler/
The Jeep Wrangler-based JT pickup, which everybody refers to as Scrambler (boy, we’re going to be surprised if that isn’t the real name), doesn’t hit the showroom floor until April 2019. That is a long time to wait. What’s an impatient nation of Jeep fans to do in the intervening year? Speculate on what it looks like, of course.
Jeep Scrambler Forum has sent renderings of the truck our way, shown in the photo gallery above. They depict the Scrambler in two scenes and in four classic colors: Sarge Green, Hella Yella, Sting-Gray and Firecracker Red. The illustrations, we’re told, are based on “spy photos, CAD leaks and insider tips we’ve received.”
Compare these latest renderings with a set of renderings that ran back in June on JL Wrangler Forums. (We’re reprising a gallery of them below, along with a gallery of spy shots.) You’ll note some differences between them and the latest renderings, a key one being the seeming absence of that kink (Jeepmeister kink?) where truck cab meets bed.
See what other differences you can spot. It’ll be a good way to help pass the time until next April.
]]>https://briefnews.eu/jeep-wrangler-pickup-renderings-latest-imaginings-of-the-scrambler/feed/02019 Hyundai Santa Fe previewed in official renderings
https://briefnews.eu/2019-hyundai-santa-fe-previewed-in-official-renderings/
https://briefnews.eu/2019-hyundai-santa-fe-previewed-in-official-renderings/#respondTue, 30 Jan 2018 17:11:03 +0000http://briefnews.eu/2019-hyundai-santa-fe-previewed-in-official-renderings/ As we near its official reveal in Geneva, Hyundai is trickling out more teasers of the 2019 Santa Fecrossover SUV. This time, instead of a dark photo, the company released a pair of renderings of the new family car. From what we can tell, it’s like a huge, subtle Kona.
At the front, we can see the SUV version of Hyundai’s corporate “Cascade” grille complete with mesh insert instead of the slats found on Hyundai cars. The most obvious connection between this and the Kona are the headlights. It appears illumination may be split between slim, angry lamps high up, and a set of extra lamps lower in the fascia. The front fascia also looks more upright and tough than that of the current model. From what we’ve seen in spy photos, the front fascia seen in the rendering will translate very closely to real life.
The illustrations also suggest the new Santa Fe will have much more sculpted, detailed flanks, too. Bolder plastic cladding shows up on the rocker panels, complete with contrasting aluminum brightwork. Another nod to the Kona shows up in the wheel arches. The creases rise up at the back, similar to the Kona’s plastic flares. The rendering also shows a crease just below the windows running along the length of the Santa Fe. Looking at the last teaser image of the actual crossover, this crease is quite prominent.
At the rear, the plastic cladding continues along the bottom. The hatch also looks more sculpted than the plain slab of the current model. It also appears to be raked forward more. But the forward rake is countered by the window line on the sides that rises upward.
As mentioned with the front fascia, comparing these renderings to spy shots and the previous teaser, it looks like the production Santa Fe will look very much like it does here. Only the exaggerated things like the ultra-slim windows and massive wheels with rubber-band tires will be altered by the hands of rational, practical engineers. As such, the Santa Fe should be a pretty handsome family hauler, and a slightly bigger one than its predecessor, when it makes its debut at the Geneva show in March.
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https://briefnews.eu/2019-hyundai-santa-fe-previewed-in-official-renderings/feed/02019 Kia Forte renderings reveal a sedan with Stinger style
https://briefnews.eu/2019-kia-forte-renderings-reveal-a-sedan-with-stinger-style/
https://briefnews.eu/2019-kia-forte-renderings-reveal-a-sedan-with-stinger-style/#respondThu, 11 Jan 2018 15:37:07 +0000http://briefnews.eu/2019-kia-forte-renderings-reveal-a-sedan-with-stinger-style/
Kia has revealed renderings of a redesigned, sleeker third-generation Forte compact sedan that it will display at the Detroit Auto Show next week. And with the attention the Stinger sport fastback has been receiving, it’s not surprising that the Forte would take its cue off that swept-back look as well.
The 2019 Forte makes a radical departure from the previous generation’s former, more conventional compact-sedan look, keeping a version of Kia’s tiger-nose grille, and gaining a number of design cues in the sheetmetal, lower valance and headlights that Kia calls “muscular” and “dynamic.” Galleries for the Stinger and previous Forte design are below for comparison.
The Stinger resemblance is extended to the interior, with has an open, horizontal look.
Kia doesn’t say if the car will come as a hatchback — or with this body style, a liftback, again like the Stinger. Based on the second rendering above, it would appear not. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility of a liftback version.
And that right there is about all we know. We’ll find out more next week in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show.
The Forte runs neck-and-neck with the Soul as Kia’s sales leader in the U.S., closing out 2017 with nearly 118,000 Fortes delivered. Kia has always gone after a younger buyer, and now it looks to be gunning for a more sophisticated buyer, too.
]]>https://briefnews.eu/2019-kia-forte-renderings-reveal-a-sedan-with-stinger-style/feed/0McLaren 720S GT3 race car shown off in renderings
https://briefnews.eu/mclaren-720s-gt3-race-car-shown-off-in-renderings/
https://briefnews.eu/mclaren-720s-gt3-race-car-shown-off-in-renderings/#respondTue, 21 Nov 2017 19:05:17 +0000http://briefnews.eu/mclaren-720s-gt3-race-car-shown-off-in-renderings/ Just as McLaren 650S had its racing version, the 650S GT3, its 720S successor will be joined by a 720S GT3. McLaren announced the new race car and provided renderings of the finished product. Compared to the road car, the 720S GT3 will have a much larger front grille along with vents in the top of the hood and front fenders. At the back, the rear grille will also expand, and the dual exhaust outlets will migrate to the car’s center. Naturally, the race car will have all manner of canards, wings and diffusers to aid aerodynamics, too.
As for the mechanicals, McLaren didn’t reveal too much. It will have a race-prepped version of McLaren’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. It’s connected to a six-speed sequential transmission and powers the rear wheels. The body and chassis are made with liberal amounts of carbon fiber, and it has an adjustable suspension. The car will make its racing debut in 2019, and will be available through select McLaren dealers. In North America, those include dealers in Dallas, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, Newport Beach, Calif., and Scottsdale, Ariz.
McLaren also announced some new racing programs, the most interesting of which is the Pure McLaren-GT one-make race series. It will take place at European race tracks and is open to owners of McLarens with International D driving licenses. Those owners don’t need race cars, either, as McLaren provides the cars, maintenance and prep work. The series starts in 2018. The other program McLaren announced was a driver development program to help advance young drivers in their racing careers. The company signed on four drivers to race in GT4 events.
]]>https://briefnews.eu/mclaren-720s-gt3-race-car-shown-off-in-renderings/feed/0Here are the latest renderings of the new JL Jeep Wrangler
https://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-latest-renderings-of-the-new-jl-jeep-wrangler/
https://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-latest-renderings-of-the-new-jl-jeep-wrangler/#respondThu, 21 Sep 2017 20:50:46 +0000http://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-latest-renderings-of-the-new-jl-jeep-wrangler/
The design, like every new Wrangler, is simply an adaptation of what came before it. These new renderings pull some new cues seen on the most recent set of Wrangler spy shots. The new model packs LED headlights, taillights and running lights. The Rubicon model looks to have fog lights embedded into the bumper. The vented Rubicon hood looks like it carries over. The Sport model is the entry level Wrangler. As such the renderings ditch some things like body-color fenders and roof and alloy wheels.
The JL Wrangler has been in development for years, so expect to see the full production model sometime in the next few months.
]]>https://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-latest-renderings-of-the-new-jl-jeep-wrangler/feed/02019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Spy Photos: Real Photos, Not Renderings
https://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-1500-spy-photos-real-photos-not-renderings/
https://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-1500-spy-photos-real-photos-not-renderings/#respondThu, 16 Feb 2017 04:33:59 +0000http://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-1500-spy-photos-real-photos-not-renderings/–––––––––––––––––— Car and Driver BlogCar and Driver Blog
]]>https://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-1500-spy-photos-real-photos-not-renderings/feed/02019 Chevrolet Silverado Spied: Real Photos, Not Renderings
https://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-spied-real-photos-not-renderings/
https://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-spied-real-photos-not-renderings/#respondThu, 16 Feb 2017 03:34:54 +0000http://briefnews.eu/2019-chevrolet-silverado-spied-real-photos-not-renderings/
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What It Is: Although the current-generation Chevrolet Silverado 1500 only dates back to the 2014 model year, the bow-tie brand’s half-ton pickup rides on an older architecture and is showing its age. Case in (minor) point: Not a single Silverado 1500 trim is available with a push-button ignition system. The 2019 model year, though, will bring a new Silverado 1500 with modern technology and possibly even a handful of aluminum body panels atop its steel frame. READ MORE ››