The Bronco dominates this week’s news.
There’s so much Bronco product news to report that we almost forgot how impressive the actual launch was, almost. This is what is happening in the automotive world:
“I think the goal of any car build, whether it’s what we’re doing now with Tesla or what we’ve done in the afterlife with a variety of platforms, is that you have to perceive the DNA of the car that you work on. with, then find a way to get the most out of yourself. And if you do that, I think you win.
Ben Schaffer, who runs the Bulletproof Automotive and Unplugged Performance tuning corporations, tells Autoweek about his philosophy on how he hones cars.
You’ve probably noticed more than a few Broncos lately, but have you attended any of Monday’s launch activities? If you haven’t, you missed an impressive performance.
That’s right: 3 traditional 3-minute videos streamed on ABC, ESPN and National Geographic, the first ad from each network at 8:00 p.m. Time. One film featured country music singer Kip Moore and “CMA Best of Fest” aired, another aired on SportsCenter with mountaineer Brooke Raboutou and the third aired on the National Geographic channel “National Parks: Yosemite” with the Oscar-winning director and director of photography. Jimmy Chin. Chin directed all three films. If you’ve never noticed his work, it’s amazing. Learn more about jimmychin.com.
It is a huge company and we have been interested in how, and why, Ford made this effort successful. So we reached out to Matt Vandyke, Ford’s chief marketing officer, for a behind-the-scenes look. Who better to say it?
“We were meant to start in March,” Vandyke told Autoweek. “We are looking to do as much as possible in the spring.” Vandyke said the original plan was to display it at the Detroit show in June. “The outdoor site, spread out over a giant area, with all the other people mingling and being able to come up and see the trucks, we thought it would be perfect.
We all know what’s next.
“We paused a bit while we waited to see what would happen,” Vandyke told us, “because we didn’t have to be insensitive to what was going on in people’s lives.”
The Detroit exhibition was canceled in late March and Vandyke tells us that Ford has resumed plans from mid to April last year, filming in Wyoming and Nashville with Chin and his teams doing real-time updates and photographs for Disney and Ford. Although COVID-19 is definitely a disturbance, Vandyke tells us that he is very happy with the reaction to the films. He also says Ford is still waiting for the latest audience size figures, but according to Variety, the 3 stations are mixed for a view of 8 million viewers.
And then? Vandyke tells us that the next steps come with the launch of the off-roader and reports known as the Bronco Off-Roadeos starting next year. “These are based on our track schools for our functional vehicles,” says Vandyke. “We think other people will have to think outside, but they don’t necessarily know where to go, how to do it or what it entails. We need to reassure them. “
Vandyke also said Ford is going to build more Bronco prototypes than they normally would to get them in more dealers’ hands more quickly. “We want people to see it and touch it.
We need to see it and touch it too, and drive it. We will compete at Bronco Sport before the year is out and at Bronco next year. I can’t wait to be there.
The 2021 Bronco’s basic nuts and bolts looks like this: We get two- and four-door, Ranger-based Bronco models, and the smaller C2-platformed (Escape, Lincoln Corsair) Bronco Sport. The two-door Bronco is a bargain, starting at just $29,995. Bronco Sports come with an eight-speed automatic, regardless of whether the buyer chooses a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine making 181 hp and 190 lb-ft, or the optional 2.0-liter delivering 245 hp and 270 lb-ft. The Bronco has a seven-speed manual standard with a crawl gear, paired only with Ford’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo four making 270 hp and 310 lb-ft. A ten-speed automatic is optional there, but standard when buyers choose the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 (310 hp and 400 lb-ft). There’s oodles more information on our site here, here and here.
BMW does not offer as many M8 coupes and convertibles as it thought and the company has shown that it will not bring more to America “for now.” The BMW blog reports that “for now” means that we may not be getting an M8 for 2021. The four-door M8 Gran Coupe can still be ordered and is optional. Overall car sales are, of course, down and SUV / crossover sales are on the rise, with sports cars hit hard in 2020, down 20% from last year.
Speaking of sports cars, here’s one we can’t wait to drive: Porsche introduced the non-S 911 Turbo with 572 hp, which is 68 hp less than the S and the same hp as the last generation S. Used in conjunction with the eight. -PDK dual-clutch four-wheel speed, 60 mph is just 2.7 seconds off, 2.8 seconds if the convertible. The most sensitive speed is 198 mph. Base value is $ 172,150 for the coupe and $ 184,950 for the convertible.
Nissan has unveiled the production Ariya, which resembles the concept unveiled last fall at the Tokyo Auto Show. The electric crossover uses the Leaf foundation while offering a larger, more spacious interior designed to appeal to crossover buyers. The Ariya is available in single or dual-engine editions, with the front-wheel drive edition designed to deliver 215 hp and 221 lb-ft and the twin-engine edition delivering 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque – muscle territory. because not long ago. The diversity of three hundred miles in a single rate calculated over the EPA cycle is arguably more impressive. The car is expected to go on sale here in 2021.
Funny Car Bob Tasca III’s driving force is back in the NHRA war for this weekend’s Lucas Oil Summer Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Tasca, 44, missed the Nationals’ E3 spark plugs in Indianapolis a week after COVID-19 hit him hard. “It was something to experience,” Tasca told Autoweek. “I pray that no one has to go through anything like me. It’s scary. This virus is real. It is out there and there is no rhyme or explanation why it affects some worse than others. “
Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham are forming a new motorsports company called Superstar Racing Xperience, a six-race championship on short tracks, dirt tracks and, in all likelihood, a racetrack. The plan is to feature legendary drivers in a variety of disciplines. Evernham and Stewart have signed a live television deal for the summer of 2021 on CBS and CBS All Access. The driving forces will compete in a car that Evernham is designing for the series. Imagine a car where the skill of the driving force is emphasized more than aerodynamics. Stewart and Evernham argue that the SRX is not a NASCAR competitor but, to us, the series feels like a true love letter to enthusiasts disappointed in NASCAR’s low-force and intermediate track racing. It must be attractive to see!
Jake Lingeman races the 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, with updates that add new technical gadgets and a new touchscreen. Alfa has also added new powertrain protection features and advanced interior fabrics. The 2.9-liter biturbo V6 remains unchanged, generating 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet.
Robin Warner spends time in the new Cadillac CT4 V. Its 2.7-liter turbo 4 makes 325 horsepower and 380 pound-feet. While the numbers are lower than Warner’s Cadillac Vs, Warner believes the CT4 V still performs very well under the circumstances. You also think that it looks stylish and comfortable. “It’s a genuine Cadillac that offers more value than we’ve noticed in a long time,” says Warner.
Warner also spent some time driving a VW GTI 84, a lucky dog. By today’s standards, it’s slow and loud and just a ton of laugh, “more a laugh at 90 horsepower than I’ve had in any car in a long time,” he says.
Haven’t had enough Broncos this week? Take a look at our gallery of vintage Broncos that were auctioned this year in Bring a Trailer. Some were for a lot of money!
The 118th Autoweek podcast has plenty of bronco and racial communication to keep you entertained. Wesley Wren, Jake Lingeman, and Wes Raynal open the screen discussing all things Bronco-like. Below, Mike Pryson and Matt Weaver join together to discuss the NASCAR All-Star race, Cole Custer’s victory at the Quaker State 400, Tony Stewart’s SRX series and the Styrian GP. Music: At least I don’t vaporize through Summerbruise. Log in here, to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or anywhere podcasts are played.
As always, we’re in the paint this weekend tracking and reporting the latest happenings from automakers and enforcement agencies. We will be continually updating the site, of course, please know what is happening when we do. Check back often!
Thanks for Autoweek and be careful.