Episode 254: 2021 Ford Bronco Wildtrak, 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, Forbidden Fruit Kei Cars, BMW M Book Review, Listener Questions
The Unnamed Automotive Podcast dives right into one of the most hyped debuts of the year: the 2021 Ford Bronco. Benjamin shares his experiences of driving the Wildtrak version of the new off-road SUV, and wonders if Ford has nailed this Wrangler competitor yet missed the modern sport-utility target in the process. Sami then brings up the new 2021 Ford Escape Plug In Hybrid, a vehicle with 37 miles of electric range that squeezes between the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and Toyota RAV4 Prime. Is that 'good enough' for Ford, or does the Escape manage to one-up its competition in any significant way? Then there's a new segment about forbidden fruit Kei cars, followed by a BMW M book review and a listener question. There's lots to like this week, so be sure to reach out and send your questions and comments to our hosts.
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Show Notes
Benjamin talks about his experience in the new 2021 Ford Bronco Wildrak, and explores how the Blue Oval has worked to keep up with the legacy and momentum of the Jeep Wrangler. Was the Wrangler as easy of a target as Ford thought it was? Benjamin decides whether the Bronco beats its Jeep bogey in any meaningful way, and whether the hype machine surrounding the Ford is warranted.
The Sami jumps into the newly-electrified 2021 Ford Escape PHEV, and wonders if this vehicle was made to satisfy an eco-cred quotient, or if it had an intended target in the market. With 37 miles of consistent electric range to compare to the Tucson PHEVs 33 and RAV4 Prime's 42, is the Escape a happy medium between the two?
Finally, the pair dive into a new segment this week, talking about an entire class of vehicle that eluded the North American market—the kei cars of Japan—before wrapping things up with a BMW M book review and a listener question. Tons of stuff to listen to this week, but don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments!
Links:
- Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.
- BMW M: 50 Years of the Ultimate Driving Machines ∙ By Tony Lewin — BMW M-Series celebrates the 50th anniversary of these legendary German performance cars, detailing both its production and motorsport stories with expert commentary and fascinating photography.
- Review: Ford’s Beastly Bronco Wildtrak Delivers, But There’s a Price to Pay — The end result is a beefy rig that is in many ways a match for the perennial Wrangler, but at the same time out of step with the evolution of sport-utility design outside the hardcore wheeling space. Whether this matters to you as a potential customer depends largely on what sacrifices you’re willing to make to drive the rebirth of legend on a daily basis.