Ford Bronco has earned its reputation for being one of the most rugged, mid-size 4×4 SUVs designed for outdoor adventures. Now, it’s changing that image for the first time in years to be more of a ride for everyday adventurers than one to leave the highway behind and take on the tough terrain. The new iteration is called the Bronco Basecamp and is the first electrified Bronco ever.
Of course, the change is not in the name alone. The overall idea of the vehicle has changed. So, this is not the usual Bronco you know. It’s a little more contemporary and thoughtful, with the same five-seater all-wheel drivetrain. It is created in China through Ford’s partnership with Jiangling Motors.
Designer: Ford
The electric Bronco Basecamp combines large batteries, multiple electric motors, and electronics to make it a convenient adventure-ready SUV. The Basecamp, unlike the body-on-frame chassis of the regular Bronco, is built on a unibody chassis, and comes with an extended-range electrified powertrain. The SUV is headed first for release in Australia and New Zealand, but there is no word on if and when it will make it stateside.
As mentioned, the Basecamp comes with an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). Ford calls it a super-hybrid powertrain, which is nothing but a hybrid of electric and gas running the SUV. There is a 49-kWh battery onboard, which feeds two electric motors located alongside the gas engine. While the exact word on the kind of range we can expect from the Basecamp is not out at the time of writing, Ford does hint at a driving range of 800-900 kilometres on its website.
It also suggests that the Bronco from China is designed for camping where your please. To that accord, the Basecamp comes with a transforming cabin where the front and rear seats fold to make a comfortable sleeping space. You place the provided inflatable mattress, and you’re good to retire for the day. The flagship Outer Banks model also arrives with a motorized pop-up roof that deploys at the touch of a button to offer more headroom and ventilation when you’re living inside the Basecamp.
The same model also features an interior with a 7.5L warm/cool storage console to heat and cool day-trip drinks and food, while its rear swing gate doubles as a table. Ford also provides the Basecamp with a 6.6kW battery to run it off-grid. The battery can power cooktops, kettles, lights and your gadgets at the camp.
The Ford Bronco Basecamp is expected in Australia and New Zealand in 2027. Ford remains tight-lipped about the pricing at this time, but notes that I will be “sharing specifications, pricing, variants and availability timelines closer to vehicle arrivals from mid-2027.”
