Ford Bronco II: 1984-1990 жылдарғы тарихы

Compact sport utility vehicle manufactured by Ford
the Ford Bronco 1966–1996

The Ford Bronco II is a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was manufactured by the American manufacturer Ford. Closely matching the first generation Ford Bronco in size, the Bronco II was sold for the 1984 to 1990 model years, alongside the third and fourth generations of Ford's full size Bronco. Derived from the Ford Ranger compact pickup truck, the Bronco II was produced in a single generation as a three door wagon only, competing against the three door version of the Jeep Cherokee introduced the same year, and the compact Chevrolet S 10 Blazer and GMC S 15 Jimmy which GM had launched as smaller, similar named SUVs alongside their full size Blazer and Jimmy a year prior. For the 1991 model year, Ford replaced the Bronco II with a larger but still Ranger derived SUV, the mid size Explorer. Alongside a three door wagon, a five door version was also built to better meet consumer demands. Ford's next compact SUV was the 2001 Escape, available only as a five door. Ford did not release another three door SUV until the 2021 mid size Bronco. The Bronco II was assembled alongside the Ford Ranger in the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky from January 1983 to January 1990.

The first Bronco II was developed in parallel with the Ranger pickup truck that was introduced for the 1983 model year. Introduced in March 1983, Ford marketed the Bronco II as a "vehicle for men, single people, or young couples almost like John Wayne vehicles that gave people the sense that they could conquer anything " The Bronco II was nearly a foot shorter than the competing Chevrolet S 10 Blazer (introduced for the 1983 year), and the use of the Ranger chassis allowed for lower production costs by using a common assembly line with many shared components. Rear wheel drive models were still equipped with a transfer case, capped or sealed where the front driveshaft was connected on four wheel drive versions.

For the 1989 model year, the Bronco II was restyled alongside the Ranger. The exterior featured new front bodywork with a new hood, front fenders, and a closer fitting front bumper. Inside, the dashboard was redesigned, featuring a new instrument panel. Alongside the overall change in appearance, the new bodywork marked improvements in structural support. The 1989 Bronco II was short lived as it was built for a little less than a year when production ended in early 1990. It was succeeded by the larger Ford Explorer for 1991. As a running change, four wheel drive 1990 models produced after November 1989 were produced with Dana 35 front axles, replacing the previous Dana 28 front axle.

The 1984 and 1985 models were equipped with the German built carbureted 2.8 L Cologne V6 with at 4600 rpm, which was also used in the 1984 and 1985 Ford Ranger. It was originally available exclusively with four wheel drive. The 1986 model year introduced the fuel injected 2.9 L Cologne V6 engine. A Mitsubishi 4 cylinder 2.3 L turbodiesel was optional during the 1986 & 1987 model years; however it delivered poor performance and had low sales. Engineering modifications were suggested, but Ford officials declined the modifications because they would have delayed the marketing of the new vehicles. Some of the headlines in 1989 90 included "NHTSA Investigates Bronco II Rollovers," Automotive News (March 20, 1989) "Magazine Gives Ford's Bronco II 'Avoid' Rating," The Wall Street Journal (May 8, 1989), and "Consumer Reports Criticizes Ford Bronco II's Handling," The Washington Post (May 18, 1989). After analysis of SUV crashes of the Suzuki Samurai, the U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal study of the Ford Bronco II in 1989. There were 43 Bronco II rollover fatalities in 1987, compared with eight for the Samurai, but accident data in four states showed the Bronco II's rollover rate was similar to that of other SUVs, so the investigation was closed. NHTSA declined to reopen the investigation in 1997 after more Bronco II crashes. It was estimated that 260 people had died in Bronco II rollover crashes, a rate that is several times more than in any similar vehicle according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. By 1995, Ford had paid $113 million to settle 334 injury and wrongful death lawsuits. A class action settlement with owners of its controversial Bronco II provided "new safety warnings and up to $200 for repairs and modifications." Thereafter, he was confined to a wheelchair. The largest award involving the Bronco II up to 1995 was a $62.4 million verdict for two passengers, one of whom who received brain injuries and left her in need of a legal guardian, after the 1986 model in which they were riding rolled over. The safety record was "frightening" with "one in 500 Bronco II's ever produced [being] involved in a fatal rollover." Automobile insurer GEICO stopped writing insurance policies for the Bronco II. One of the reasons for the significant losses by the automaker was a deal Ford made with a former engineer, David Bickerstaff. He worked on the Bronco II and had published SAE reports about Ford truck suspensions. In 1990, Bickerstaff testified in court that the Bronco II had a dangerously low stability index. His credibility was questioned by attorneys.