Ford Bronco, Mustang Shelby GT500 and small SUV teased; new 2019 Kuga and Explorer also confirmed

There’s big news over at Ford, which has confirmed and teased a slew of new models that will be offered in showrooms in the United States by 2020. The vase majority of these are SUVs, signalling an evolution of the Blue Oval’s strategy in an ever-changing market.

Firstly, the company has previewed the shape of the all-new 2020 Bronco, and despite rumours and fears to the contrary, it won’t be a rebadged Everest. Instead, the retro nameplate will be paired to retro styling, with a distinctive boxy design, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel and a choice of three- and five-door models.

It will still be based on the Ranger, which made its North American debut earlier in the year and will be offered Stateside with a 2.3 litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder petrol engine and 10-speed automatic transmission from the Mustang. Expect this powertrain configuration to also be offered on the Bronco.

Sitting below it will be a smaller, yet equally rugged “utility vehicle” that will likely take the fight to the Jeep Compass. Ford has also confirmed that a new Kuga and Explorer will go on sale next year, with the latter getting a high-performance ST variant as with the Edge. No technical details have been announced, but the Explorer ST should get a tuned version of the current range-topping 365 hp 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6.

Last but not least is a second teaser image of the new Mustang Shelby GT500, which was already previewed in a video earlier in the year. The photo shows a far more aggressive face than what the pony car has worn thus far, with a gaping grille flanked, oddly enough, by headlights from the pre-facelifted Mustang. It’s already been confirmed that this top dog version, which will arrive in 2019, will have over 700 hp.

Away from the headlines, the F-150 will be made available for the first time with a 3.0 litre turbodiesel V6 later this year – the oil burner makes 250 hp and 597 Nm of torque, and will enable the massive pick-up to return 7.8 litres per 100 km. There will also be a new generation of Ford’s enormous F-Series Super Duty truck lineup next year, going on sale alongside the Ranger.

On the hybrid side, a petrol-electric F-150 will debut alongside the new 14th-generation model in 2020, capable of serving as a mobile generator. It will form part of an expanded hybrid range which will also include the Mustang – all utilising a modular hybrid system that’s more efficient and less expensive than before. During the same year, an all-electric Mach 1 performance SUV will also make an appearance.

In terms of safety, Ford is introducing Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver assistance systems that incorporate autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beam and a reverse camera. The package will be rolled out as standard equipment across the range up to and including the F-150, starting with the facelifted Edge.

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