Thursday, September 19, 2024

New Bronco Sport Gets Big Off-Road Boost, Sasquatch Capability, New Tech

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For small SUV customers who take their vehicle to wilder places than the local coffee shop, mall and even remote outdoor recreation destinations, the new Bronco Sport introduces its first-ever Sasquatch off-road package – which became instantly iconic on the larger Ford Bronco to deliver next level off-road capability.

Available for both 1.5-liter Bronco Sport Outer Banks and 2.0-liter Badlands models, high-capability Sasquatch Package deliver even more confident all-terrain driving. Sasquatch capability starts with an ultra-rugged twin-clutch rear-drive unit and locking rear differential included. Previously available only for Bronco Sport Badlands, it’s now available for Bronco Sport Outer Banks customers for the first time.

“There’s a Sasquatch for every Bronco Sport customer who needs that next level of capability and confidence,” said Simpson.

Like Bronco Sasquatch, Sasquatch for Bronco Sport also includes larger tires. Bronco Sport Sasquatch rides on 29-inch 235/65/R17 Goodyear Territory All Terrain tires that are the largest in the class*. Developed specifically for Bronco Sport Sasquatch, the tire was adapted from the Bronco with an open-tread design and reinforced sidewalls to provide traction across a variety of surfaces.

The Bronco Sport Badlands and Badlands Sasquatch are especially capable, thanks to a new Rally G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) Mode. Rally Mode delivers more confidence at higher speeds in sand by holding gears longer for increased power on demand, sharpening the throttle response, and increased feedback through the steering. Rally Mode is standard on Bronco Sport Badlands and Badlands Sasquatch, while every Bronco Sport model comes standard with a new Off-Road G.O.A.T. Mode.

In addition to G.O.A.T Modes, Bronco Sport adds class-exclusive off-road technologies that have been proven out in Bronco and the Raptor family of high-performance off-road vehicles. Trail One-Pedal Drive joins Trail Control and provides more precise and confident behavior while rock crawling. When Trail One-Pedal is engaged, the driver only has to use the accelerator pedal to control the speed of the vehicle. Easing off the accelerator engages the brakes to automatically slow the vehicle and releasing the accelerator completely will bring Bronco Sport to a controlled stop.

The 2025 Bronco Sport SUV has an available 360-Degree Camera with class-exclusive* Trail View which activates automatically in Off-Road and Rally G.O.A.T. Modes, functions at high speeds, and shows width-accurate tire overlays. Bronco® Sport Badlands® model and Sasquatch Badlands package offer an available 360-Degree Camera with class-exclusive* Split View that shows the front tires using the cameras under the side-view mirrors.

Included with Sasquatch, new class-exclusive* Bilstein rear shocks with position-sensitive damping and piggyback reservoirs replace Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard monotube off-road dampers. The Bilstein shocks provide a wider range of compression and rebound damping capabilities, to absorb extreme events at higher speeds.

New front and rear springs increase ride height four-tenths of an inch over the current Bronco Sport Badlands, while Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch has up to up to 8.3 inches of front suspension travel and 8.7 inches of rear suspension travel. That’s six-tenths of an inch of additional suspension travel compared to the Bronco Sport Badlands.

Bronco Sport Sasquatch matches its upgraded suspension equipment and off-road technology with a standard front brush guard, steel skid plates, and modular, accessory-ready front and rear bumpers with steel bash plates as the first point of contact. Four recovery points – two cast accessory-ready tow hooks in front and a pair of cast D-rings on the rear bumper – are designed to meet Ford’s off-road recovery requirements.

“While other small SUVs simply look rugged, Bronco Sport is engineered rugged from the inside out and top to bottom. Bronco Sport has earned the right to call itself Built Wild with Sasquatch.”

-Eddie Khan, Bronco Sport Vehicle Engineering manager

Bronco Sport Big Bend customers who don’t need the full capability of Sasquatch’s rear drive unit have an off-road option, as well, with the new Black Diamond Off-Road package. Like Sasquatch, it adds four recovery points, up to 2,200 pounds of towing capacity when properly equipped (2.0-liter Bronco Sports can tow up to 2,700 pounds standard), and additional steel underbody protection.

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