Ford readies boxy family SUV for Europe with Bronco flair
Ford’s new boxy family SUV for Europe channels Bronco with plug-in hybrid power
Ford readies boxy family SUV for Europe with Bronco flair
Ford readies a boxy, Bronco-inspired family SUV for Europe, arriving in 2027 with a plug-in hybrid setup on C2 to take on Tiguan, Sportage and Tucson.
2025-12-03T02:21:34+03:00
2025-12-03T02:21:34+03:00
2025-12-03T02:21:34+03:00
Ford is preparing a new boxy family SUV for Europe with a Bronco-like attitude — not as a nod to the past, but as a bid to stay competitive in the most lucrative slice of the market. According to industry sources, production is slated for Valencia, Spain, alongside the Kuga, with sales planned for 2027. Inside the company, the project is seen as an indirect successor to the Focus, which recently ended its 27-year run. Instead of a hatchback and wagon, buyers will be offered a C-segment crossover — exactly where demand is strongest.Technically, the newcomer will be closely related to the Kuga: it sits on the C2 platform and leans on a plug-in hybrid setup. A purely electric version is not on the cards for now; Ford has eased its EV push in Europe after demand fell short of expectations and is aiming to hold ground on the combustion-hybrid side of the market. Visually, though, it won’t be just another Kuga. The brand promises a clean-sheet design with crisp edges, upright proportions and a more off-road flavor, in the spirit of its American lineup. That playbook has already been used on the European Explorer, where a deliberately American silhouette helps it stand out among near-identical rivals.If the project does adopt elements from the Bronco, it would be an effort to channel the flagship 4x4’s aura into a more attainable package — much like JLR, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota do with their scaled-down takes on the Defender, G-Class and Land Cruiser. Judging by the positioning, Ford’s version aims to be less premium and more pragmatic. The goal is to win back market share rather than chase luxury, which feels like the right balance for this class.The newcomer is headed straight into the core of the segment dominated by the Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. In spirit, it also lines up against the Jeep Compass and Skoda Kodiaq — family crossovers with a hint of adventure baked in.
Ford readies a boxy, Bronco-inspired family SUV for Europe, arriving in 2027 with a plug-in hybrid setup on C2 to take on Tiguan, Sportage and Tucson.
Michael Powers, Editor
Ford is preparing a new boxy family SUV for Europe with a Bronco-like attitude — not as a nod to the past, but as a bid to stay competitive in the most lucrative slice of the market. According to industry sources, production is slated for Valencia, Spain, alongside the Kuga, with sales planned for 2027. Inside the company, the project is seen as an indirect successor to the Focus, which recently ended its 27-year run. Instead of a hatchback and wagon, buyers will be offered a C-segment crossover — exactly where demand is strongest.
Technically, the newcomer will be closely related to the Kuga: it sits on the C2 platform and leans on a plug-in hybrid setup. A purely electric version is not on the cards for now; Ford has eased its EV push in Europe after demand fell short of expectations and is aiming to hold ground on the combustion-hybrid side of the market. Visually, though, it won’t be just another Kuga. The brand promises a clean-sheet design with crisp edges, upright proportions and a more off-road flavor, in the spirit of its American lineup. That playbook has already been used on the European Explorer, where a deliberately American silhouette helps it stand out among near-identical rivals.
If the project does adopt elements from the Bronco, it would be an effort to channel the flagship 4x4’s aura into a more attainable package — much like JLR, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota do with their scaled-down takes on the Defender, G-Class and Land Cruiser. Judging by the positioning, Ford’s version aims to be less premium and more pragmatic. The goal is to win back market share rather than chase luxury, which feels like the right balance for this class.
The newcomer is headed straight into the core of the segment dominated by the Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. In spirit, it also lines up against the Jeep Compass and Skoda Kodiaq — family crossovers with a hint of adventure baked in.
