A New Luxury Ford Bronco Could Come From Lincoln
According to a report from Autoweek, Lincoln could produce its own version of the Ford Bronco. Luxury off-roaders are big business for automakers right now, and the spread in pricing has never been wider. At the top, you've got staples like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Range Rovers. The Defender and Lexus GX occupy a sort of entry-level to the segment, with both nearly approaching six figures in some trims. With Lincoln looking to wade in, its Bronco-based SUV would likely fit into the latter category.
Lincoln looks to Ford for a new SUV
Ford Motor Company
Lincoln would lift the Bronco's frame directly from Ford, but the report suggests that the SUV won't stray too far from the Bronco formula. It'd be more of a rebadge job, with Lincoln styling and interior pieces draped over a Bronco shell, allegedly much like the look of the current Navigator.
That logic should extend to the powertrain as well. That likely means the Bronco's big turbo V6 and its automatic transmission, as well as the SUV's four-wheel drive system, would be carried over to the Lincoln. We feel it's unlikely the Bronco's four-cylinder and manual transmission (neither very fitting of a luxury car) would make the move, too. Moreover, Lincoln would probably forgo the two-door Bronco's bodystyle, opting instead for the four-door.
The luxurious Ford Bronco would need to make some serious upgrades
James Lipman/jameslipman.com
The current Ford Bronco is a lot of fun, mostly because it feels like a giant Tonka truck. Everything's bumpy and loud, and you're constantly moving around on the road. This is, in its own way, charming. It's also absolutely not befitting of the price point Lincoln would likely put their luxury off-roader at.
To get it there, Lincoln would have to remove much of the noise generated by the Bronco's removable roof panels. It'd have to seriously upgrade the interior with better, more interesting materials. Most ofall, though, it'd have to fit a new suspension to smooth out the Bronco's jittery ride and tame the noise generated by the huge off-road tires. These are expensive items being added to what has already become a hugely expensive SUV to start. Consider us pessimistic. Should Lincoln decide to follow through, expect an appearance before the end of the decade.