Ford Philippines has just refreshed its Everest and Ranger lineups with angry V6 power, courtesy of new turbodiesel engines. While that will satisfy the purists, one could argue that the Blue Oval is missing out on an emerging SUV segment.
We’re talking about range-extended or plug-in hybrid SUVs. We’re seeing more and more of them this year, most recently with the return of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the addition of the Jetour T2 Lightning i-DM 4×4.
This is where the China-built Ford Bronco Basecamp could come in—and coincidentally, it has just been confirmed to launch in Australia and New Zealand. Now, it is easy to scoff at the idea of a patriotic American SUV sourced from China, but there is potential under the metal.
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That is thanks to dual motors, a 49kWh battery, and a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine acting as a range extender. The Bronco Basecamp’s exact power output has yet to be revealed, but Ford Australia estimates its combined driving range between 800km and 900km.
The range-extended Bronco also gets vehicle-to-load capability, a pop-up roof, and a heating and cooling box for outdoor adventures. For longer trips, Ford is preparing an inflatable mattress as an accessory and claims a kitchen can be set up in the rear cargo area.
In a more practical sense, the Bronco Basecamp does give Ford a recognizable challenger in the plug-in hybrid SUV space, which is full of other competitors from China. At the same time, it would fill the gap between the Territory Hybrid and the fully electric Mustang Mach-E in the local lineup.
Would you want to see this particular Bronco on Philippine roads? Let us know in the comments section.
