Is There a Market?

Sport utility vehicles have been getting quite large, even the former compact ones such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are gaining in size, but Ford thinks there is room to slip in a small, two-door Bronco just below the Escape, Baker said.

Ford thinks there is room to slip in a small, two-door Bronco just below the Escape. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Two door SUVs, though, seem to be going out of style. Ford had eliminated the two-door Explorer Sport from its lineup, after all. But, Bronco seems to be a special case.

"Everyone knows what a Bronco looks like and everyone knows that the original 1965 Bronco was a two door," Baker said. "People have very fond memories of that car. It is completely appropriate for this car to have two doors and, on a car this size, you don't need four doors."

"It is completely appropriate for this car to have two doors and, on a car this size, you don't need four doors." (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Production variants, though, could include a small suicide or quarter door on back for those buyers who insist on added convenience.

No Prior Experience with Bronco

Baker grew up in England and had no previous experience with the original Bronco, full-size replacement or the Bronco II when he was assigned to work on the concept vehicle around March of last year. Of course, he didn't know about the Ford Galaxie 427 when he was assigned to do the 427 concept vehicle (a similar design to the future production 2006 Futura) in 2002.

But, he grew up in the land of the Land Rover Defender, and knew about the desires of that market, he said.