Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 12 August 2026
An image of the Bronco New Energy has been posted to a Ford dealer’s website in Australia, which all but confirms the SUV’s launch over there.
The Queensland-based dealer posted the image to a page with the text “coming soon”, which confirms long-standing suspicions.
This new SUV is reportedly due to launch in Australia next year, although Ford won’t officially commit to its launch on either side of the Tasman.
When asked about the SUV by NZ Autocar, a spokesperson for Ford New Zealand said:
“Nothing to report from NZ at this point.
“The Bronco New Energy is an exciting addition to the global Ford line-up, adding a new energy drivetrain to one of the world’s most iconic nameplates.
“Ford New Zealand is always evaluating options to expand our line-up for customers, but we have no news to share about future products at this time.”
This echoes the response other outlets are receiving from Ford Australia regarding the Bronco New Energy.
As for the SUV itself, it will be an extended-range EV, unlike the pure electric version that is currently sold by Ford in China.
It pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 43kWh battery, which powers a dual-motor driveline.
Peak outputs sit at 360kW/600Nm, and it will hit 100km/h from a standing start in 5.8-seconds.
Despite looking compact in images, this Bronco is bigger than the Everest, as it measures 5025mm long, 1960mm wide and 1815mm high. It sits on a 2950mm wheelbase.
Wearing the Bronco badge, it’s also clear that Ford wants it to have some off-road chops, so it’ll likely face competition from other burly Chinese SUVs.
These include vehicles such as the GWM Tank 500, and i-Caur’s incoming V27/V29 off-road SUVs, which are also range-extenders.
While New Zealand availability is yet to be confirmed, considering how aligned Ford’s local line-up is with Australia, we estimate seeing this Bronco New Energy land locally next year.
