Though the sixth-generation Ford Bronco has been on sale in China for a while now, it was recently joined by an all-new model in that same market, equipped with both all-electric and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains, and even a Basecamp variant with a pop-up roof for camping purposes. As it turns out, that unique model was created solely by Ford’s own China Design Center, too.
The automaker recently revealed that the new Ford Bronco Basecamp was designed entirely by the Ford China Design Center, which makes sense given the fact that the new SUV will be built locally for that specific market. Notably, it’s the first-ever Bronco model of any kind to be developed outside of North America, and “responds directly to the needs of Chinese customers who seek to reconnect with nature, release the pressures of daily life, and enjoy vehicles that double as both reliable urban companions and versatile ‘instant base camps,'” according to The Blue Oval.
“This vehicle,” as Max Wolff, Design Director of Ford China and IMG explains, “was developed primarily for this market. The choices we made were based around how Chinese customers live – day to day during the week, then short camping trips or even longer road trips. It’s still very capable off-road, but it’s also designed to appeal to a broader audience.”
The Ford Bronco Basecamp’s pop-up roof tilts upward 360mm – or just over 14 inches – to add some additional headroom inside. Those that pre-order the new Ford Bronco with a deposit of 1,000 yuan ($140 USD) will get this One-Touch Roof Camping Package for free, though otherwise, it’s a 12,000 yuan ($1,700 USD) option. For that outlay of cash, Ford Bronco Basecamp customers get a few other features, in addition to the electric-lifting roof, which is activated with one button on the infotainment screen.
Those features include a camping kitchen that’s built into the tailgate, containing a fold-town table, cup holders, a bottle opener, and a magnetic strip that’s designed to hold knives and similar cooking tools. There are also one-touch automatically folding front seat headrests, and the seats are designed to fold flat to create a space perfect for sleeping – Ford even offers a Bronco-branded mattress for the SUV, in fact.
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