Designed for “spontaneous outdoor adventures”, the Ford Bronco Riptide project vehicle is designed to off the scope of factory-backed accessory personalization available with Ford’s reborn icon.
“West Coast Fun” is the theme in mind, something rather apparent with the Bronco’s roof off, doors removed and replaced with tubular doors, surfboard rack and boards above, and general openness which gives a genuine air of beach bugginess to the Bronco.
Intending to evoke tropical ocean hues, the exterior of the Bronco Riptide is finished in Velocity Blue while the chunky and utilitarian interior is finished in Black Onyx and Dark Space Gray marine-grade vinyl with rubberized washout flooring.
“We wanted the vehicle to demonstrate how Bronco customers can personalize their vehicle, letting different types of customers visualize what they might want to do with their future Bronco,” said Missy Coolsaet, Bronco colour and materials designer.
The Bronco Riptide is based on the Bronco four-door with Sasquatch Package which includes 35-inch mud-terrain tyres mounted to 17-inch factory wheels with optional Ford Performance bead lock rings, Dana AdvanTEK electronic-locking front and rear axles, a high-clearance suspension system with Bilstein position-sensitive long-travel shock absorbers, as well as exclusive Bronco Terrain Management System with seven G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any type of Terrain) Modes, ensuring the Bronco’s prowess no matter the terrain.
The reason for showing off the Ford Bronco Riptide, as well as previous Bronco OG and Bronco + Filson Wildland Fire Rig concepts is to showcase Ford accessories available to customers at the time of purchase, the benefit here being that the cost of factory and dealer-installed accessories can be added to their vehicle finance contracts, allowing for a slightly more palatable experience when getting carried away in the vast Bronco options list.
Bronco Riptide is fitted with a Bestop mesh Bimini top, a Yakima bike rack with Santa Cruz mountain bikes, a RIGID LED lightbar, mirror-mounted off-road lights, and two Almond surfboards.
Coolsaet notes, “Thanks to the Bronco modular design, we were able to outfit the vehicle with adventure gear that allows for freedom and versatility.”
Ford Bronco two- and four-door models are being delivered to order-holders now following immense worldwide interest in Ford’s Jeep Wrangler competitor – it’s been reported that 70 per cent of Ford Bronco customers are new to the brand.
The Bronco is a left-hand-drive-only vehicle and therefore no plans are in place for it to be sold in South Africa.
