Ford really does withhold some of its coolest products from right-hand drive Australia, doesn’t it?
The company’s US division this week announced some special versions of its Bronco family, all called Heritage Editions, “celebrating” the iconic 1966 original.
There are both Heritage and Heritage Limited editions, with the latter limited to 1966 units per model – to commemorate the year the OG model debuted.
Bronco
Regular Bronco two- and four-door models have a two-tone paint job with Oxford White hardtop roof, grille (with red Ford lettering), and wheels.
The 1960s era-inspired squared fenders with widened fender flares are said to give “a visual callback” and from a practical angle cover the nearly two-inch wider track.
A powder-coated steel capable front bumper with built-in recovery points and integrated fog lights is standard too.
Inside you get plaid cloth seats, an Oxford White instrument panel, new centre console badging, and model-specific front and rear floor liners.
Power comes from a familiar 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol four-cylinder making 300hp (223kW) with either a seven-speed manual or 10-speed automatic.
It runs Ford’s Sasquatch Package which brings long-travel Bilstein position-sensitive dampers, 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tyres, and Dana front and rear electronic locking axles with a 4.7:1 final drive ratio.
Heritage Limited Edition models also offer a more potent 246kW, 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 engine mated to the 10-speed automatic.
They also have metal “Bronco” script fender badging, leather-trimmed and vinyl plaid seats with white and red stitching, and Heritage Limited console badging.
Heritage Limited models also add gloss black-painted 17-inch “heritage wheels” with ‘dog dish’ centres’ and an Oxford White-painted lip for retro flare.
Bronco Sport
The Bronco 4×4’s city slicker little brother, the Bronco Sport SUV, also gets a pair of Heritage Editions.
The Oxford White accents include roof, grille, wheels, and bodyside stripes.
Interior touches comprise plaid cloth seats and an ’80s-inspired ‘Navy Pier’ instrument panel with the same Oxford White accents on the bin and door ring. The microsuede centre console and armrests have red stitching.
Power comes from a 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol that puts out 135kW. It also comes with an increased ride height, retuned front struts with hydraulic rebound stops, 46mm monotube rear shocks, anti-roll bars, and new springs to “help provide off-road comfort”.
The Heritage Limited Edition models add metal “Bronco” script front fender badging and 29-inch all-terrain off-road tyres, while inside there are leather seats.
This version gets a 186kW 2.0-litre turbo and a 4×4 system with twin-clutch rear-drive unit acting as a locking diff.
MORE: Five reasons the Ford Bronco must come to Australia
