New Bronco’s Modular Design Makes It Easier to Modify Than Any Ford Ever
From aftermarket accessories to mid-cycle styling refreshes, its modular design makes the all-new Bronco easy to modify.
The two- and four-door Ford Bronco SUV’s patented off-road modular design offers a user-friendly platform that can be stripped to its base structure so that alternate doors, fenders and grille can be added in one afternoon. The following day, a whole new Bronco SUV can be reconfigured for another new adventure with a different body
and roof setup.
“Whether your goal is to build the ultimate desert racer or rock crawling rig – or both with the same vehicle – the Bronco modular design provides the ease and confidence to create a 4×4 that is as unique as each of our customers,” said Bronco design chief Paul Wraith. “Because of that ease and flexibility, no two Broncos should ever be alike.”
Game-changing Modular Design
The Bronco two- and four-door SUVs were designed and engineered from a clean slate to make off-road customization easy, quick and attainable for all enthusiasts with a wide variety of interests and skill levels.
Basic modifications to prep a Bronco for a fun-filled open-air afternoon can be completed in a matter of minutes by hand. Available modular roof panels can be removed by one person using simple latches. Available modular rear quarter windows can be removed with minimal effort, simply by releasing a latch for each window, while two people can remove the rear hardtop assembly after removing a few fasteners. Easy-to-use quarter-turn fasteners make removing four fender flares possible in just a few minutes each.
Bronco logos stamped on the body and interior fasteners indicate removeable modular components such as frameless doors, fenders, bumpers, grille, and grab handles. Unlike competitive SUVs, both front and rear fenders can be removed by simply taking out the bolts – and can be replaced just the same without welding or other complicated means.
Frameless EZ Air doors can be removed in minutes by anyone of any size by taking off two bolts and disconnecting an electrical connector. Each door takes between two and four minutes to remove depending on the skill level of the customer. Threaded Bronco logo mounting points from the factory enable the addition of accessories like LED pod lights to sideview mirrors and installation of roof racks to the top sport bar. Available modular front and rear bumpers also come with threaded taps to mount winches, safari bars and LED lights.
DIY Bronco Mods
When design-intent body parts are removed for off-road use only – fenders, quarter panels, doors and roof – the Bronco two- and four-door models retain all required Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Thanks to the vehicle’s innovative door design, cowl-mounted sideview mirrors remain in place when the doors are off or when optional doors are installed.
“I expect a lot of Bronco owners are going to have a lot of fun engaging with the DIY aspects of the modular design because it gives them the opportunity to create the perfect 4×4 for their unique needs without requiring a lot of mechanical expertise or experience,” said Wraith.
For the Bronco brand, midcycle product updates can be created – even rapid-prototyped and 3D-printed – without having to change the base structure, extending the life of the platform so Bronco owners can look forward to years of modifying their vehicles with the latest features.
“Because of modularity, you can hang onto your Bronco longer and keep it fresh and up to date with new body parts, accessories and new technologies – some that can be made in low volume and others downloaded,” said Wraith. “The possibilities for this platform stretch as far as your imagination.”
Photos & Video: Ford Motor Company