New Ford Bronco 2021 detailed: Jeep Wrangler rival emerges alongside Renegade-fighting Bronco Sport

Ford has revealed the sixth-generation Bronco off-roader, which is based on the Australian-developed T6 ladder-frame platform used by the Ranger ute.

But in bad news for local buyers, a Ford spokesperson told CarsGuide the retro Bronco won’t be produced in right-hand drive, meaning we won’t see it Down Under.

They also said the Bronco’s new monocoque sibling, the Bronco Sport, won’t be sold in Australia. These models would’ve targeted Jeep’s Wrangler and Renegade respectively.

Launching in the US in the second quarter of next year, the Bronco is offered in two- and four-door body-styles with four and five seats respectively, with the latter a first for the model and is offered with the choice of a soft-top or a hardtop.

The two- and four-door versions measure up to 4440mm and 4839mm long (with a 2550mm and 2949mm wheelbase), 2014mm wide (with folded side mirrors), and 1910mm and 1913mm tall respectively.

Those looking for a little extra air can remove all of the Bronco’s doors and its roof, with the body panels able to be stored in the boot.

Part-time and on-demand four-wheel-drive systems are available with front and rear locking differentials, while the tyres on hand measure 30 to 35 inches in diameter.

Maximum ground clearance ranges from 211mm to 295mm, while maximum wading depth is 851mm. Approach, breakover and departure angles stretch from 35.5 to 43.2, 20.0 to 29.0, and 29.7 to 37.2 degrees respectively.

The coil-sprung suspension set-up in tow consists of independent front and solid rear Dana axles with optional Bilstein dampers, while the GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain) drive modes are ready to go off-roading.

The Bronco is available with a either 201kW/420Nm 2.3-litre single-turbo four-cylinder or a 231kW/542Nm 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, with both having a maximum braked towing capacity of 1588kg.

The former is mated to either a seven-speed manual (with a crawler gear) or a 10-speed torque-converter automatic, while the latter is only available with the two-pedal set-up.

Launching in the US late this year, the Bronco Sport is only offered with four doors and five seats, measuring 4387mm long (with a 2670mm wheelbase), 2088mm wide (with extended side mirrors) and up to 1814mm tall.

Maximum ground clearance ranges from 198mm to 224mm, while maximum wading depth covers 450mm to 599mm. Approach, breakover and departure angles stretch from 21.7 to 30.4, 18.2 to 20.4, and 30.4 to 33.1 degrees respectively.

The Bronco Sport is somewhat capable off-road despite its coil-sprung suspension set-up consisting of independent front MacPherson-strut and rear multi-link axles.

Either a 135kW/258Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder or a 183kW/373Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine can be had in the Bronco Sport. Both options are exclusively matched to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic.

Technology-wise, the Bronco has a 12.0-inch touchscreen, while the Bronco Sport uses an 8.0-inch unit. Either way, both are powered by Ford’s new Sync4 multimedia system, which supports surround-view cameras.