Key design features reminiscent of the original Ford Bronco include the boxy, upright roofline, short wheelbase, round headlamps and the Bronco nameplate milled into the modern three-bar grille.
A winch and guide rollers are integrated into the lower fascia, and other exterior details include exposed door hinges, cowl vents and flared wheel wells. Unique loop-shaped door handles are integrated into the door panels and open with a tug.
While the style may have that retro-modern look that Mays is so fond of, Martens makes it clear that the powertrain and other running gear are modern. ''Within Ford Bronco concept's rugged design is an advanced turbo-diesel powertrain with concept technologies that stretch the envelope of today's conventional propulsion modes,'' Martens says.
That would include one of the trendiest toys in compact street racing -- nitrous oxide.
Graham Hoare, director of powertrain advanced and research engineering, says ''the Bronco concept showcases significant advanced powertrain technologies, mating a 2-liter intercooled turbo diesel with an efficient six-speed PowerShift transmission and Intelligent four-wheel-drive system for a powerful, sure-footed off-roader.''
The 16-valve turbo diesel combines ''outstanding power, torque, smoothness and exceptional fuel economy in a compact package,'' Hoare says, and that should ''help to change public expectations about diesel engines.''
Using the latest common-rail fuel-injection technology, the 128-hp engine delivers 244 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,800 rpm, which Hoare maintains is an ideal quality for off-roading or urban driving.
On top of that, Ford has engineered the engine technology to deliver ''overboost'' of 258 lb.-ft. of torque that provides a short, extra surge of power on driver demand for situations such as hill climbing or getting across the intersection first.
That boost would come from the nitrous, which may not be part of any production version of Bronco, but not hard to add as an aftermarket affect either.