Some of those new features already are known.
The Bronco will come in two- and four-door configurations, and Ford has told dealers it will offer removable doors that can be stored in the back. The side mirrors will attach to the A-pillar, so drivers can use them after taking off the doors.
Ford also has revamped its accessories business and plans to offer hundreds of add-ons when the SUV launches early next year.
COO Jim Farley, in a recent investor presentation, called the Bronco the epitome of human-centered design, teasing an “open-air” configuration of the removable roof to provide “uninterrupted panoramic views.”
While Pericak wouldn’t divulge details ahead of the July 13 reveal, he said the product development team focused heavily on alleviating customer pain points. Certain features were difficult to develop, he said, and they could have produced the vehicle faster without them. But they were determined to craft a product customers would enjoy — even the purists.
“People think the enthusiasts aren’t flexible, that they’re very rigid in their thoughts. What you actually find is they’re pretty flexible,” Pericak said. “What they don’t want to see us do is not respect the history.”
Ford can nod to the history while moving the vehicle forward, he said.
“With the 2015 Mustang, one of the biggest worries was: What if we lose the enthusiasts?” he remembered. “I said, ‘Guys, they don’t want the cars they already have. They want to see it progress, too.’ We can take them forward if we do it in a very authentic way.”
