The dust may still be settling on Ford’s recent unveiling of the delightfully insane Bronco Raptor, but the Dearborn-based auto giant is not letting its foot off the gas pedal when it comes to new Bronco models. This time around, the company is shifting its focus towards the overlanding side of the off-road community with the all-new Bronco Everglades which is designed to maximize its potential in this category.
Bronco Everglades Puts On Its Diving Equipment
The exterior styling of the Bronco Everglades retains the retro-inspired look that has come to define other Bronco models, but a prominent thing that helps it stand out from other Bronco models is the snorkel which is mounted on the passenger side of the Bronco and works its way up the A-pillar. Like other SUVs that we have seen with snorkels, the assembly (designed by Ford) is supposed to raise the air intake with air being channeled in from a higher position. This placement helps reduce the amount of dust and sand that gets into the airbox while also keeping water out of the engine at the same time.
Ford’s application though goes about things in a unique way, with the snorkel on the Everglades featuring removable plates that can easily be screwed into place. These plates alter the airflow which in turn allows owners to tailor the snorkel to different kinds of driving demands.
“Bronco enthusiasts demand style as well as performance, so we challenged ourselves to create a snorkel with high-end function and a look that really suits the vehicle,” said Ryan Olsson, design manager. “What really sets the Everglades snorkel apart is the head and reversible intake. It completely changes the way a snorkel can look and function.”
Enhanced water fording also played a role in the revised venting for the front and rear axles, transmission, and transfer case. All of these changes allow the Everglades to power through up to 36.4 inches of water without complaint and Ford stylists even threw in a handy measuring graphic on the fender to help drivers out if they’re unsure about a particular slice of watery real estate. The Everglades can also pull itself or others out of trouble thanks to a 10,000 lb capacity Warn winch that’s mounted onto a Ford Performance sourced modular steel front bumper and comes with 100 feet of synthetic line too. Other goodies include a standard safari bar, bash plates, and rock rails. All Everglades models will be powered by the base 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder which is good for 300 hp and is mounted to a 10-speed automatic.
Customization Is On Full Display In Everglades Model
Ford engineers have long told us about just how flexible and accommodating the Bronco’s modular construction is when it comes to customization. An example of this can be found in the squared-off wheel arches which actually blend in nicely with the popular Sasquatch package. In addition to the graphic that serves as a measurement piece, the rest of the exterior sticker package pays homage to the Everglades and some of the swampy terrain that this particular flavor of Bronco is designed to conquer.
The interior also comes with its own share of custom touches and while the core design doesn’t stray too far from what we have seen in other Broncos, it comes standard with marine-grade vinyl seats and easy to wash out rubberized floors. Urban green accents bring some gator-inspired charm to select areas of the interior while the dashboard is home to a 12-inch SYNC 4 infotainment system with Ford power-up over the air update capability.
When Can I Buy One?
The Bronco Everglades will join the rest of the Bronco family this summer and will start at $53,000 which does not include the $1,495 destination fee and other delivery-related charges (markups too.) The initial round of orders will be only available to existing Bronco reservation holders (Ford is still swimming through a backlog of pre-orders.) Buyers that do decide to convert their reservation to an Everglades model will get to choose from five different colors (Cactus Gray, Area 51, Shadow Black, Eruption Green, and Desert Sand.) Desert Sand will be an Everglades exclusive, and will also be a limited production color too.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.