Ford Bronco will challenge Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender in Europe

Ford said it will begin selling the Bronco off-roader in selected European markets, including Germany, in the spring.

The Bronco will be sold in Europe with either a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or a 2.7-liter V-6 gasoline engine, limiting its appeal in markets that attract higher taxes for vehicles with poorer fuel consumption.

Ford will position the Bronco as a halo model to promote the automaker’s U.S. heritage in building SUV-type vehicles. In a new marketing slogan for Europe called Adventurous Spirit, Ford is promoting American values.

The Bronco is expected to start at 60,000 euros ($63,2700) in Germany, motoring press reports said.

The midsize SUV will compete with the Jeep Wrangler and some versions of the Land Rover Defender in Europe. It will also go up against the new Ineos Grenadier, which is similarly built with body-on-frame chassis and offers retro looks inspired by the original, rugged Land Rover Defender.

The Bronco's features include removable doors, as well as a front grille and bumper that can be removed and swapped for alternative versions. On a more practical level, the plastic wheel arch flares are designed to separate without damage in the event of an impact in off-road conditions and can be “quickly replaced,” Ford said.

The Bronco will have a 12-inch LCD center touchscreen featuring Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system, which includes Ford Power-Up wireless software updates that the automaker claims will give improved functionality over time.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 5 phone mirroring software are standard and there is a standard 360-degree camera system that Ford says acts in the same way an off-road spotter might by giving a view of the wheels to allow for more technical rock-crawling off road.

The retro-styled body-on-frame Bronco has been a big hit in the U.S. since its launch last year.

Ford sold 106,645 Bronco models in the U.S. through November, according to ther Automotive News Data Center, overtaking the smaller Bronco Sport that uses the Kuga SUV platform. U.S. sales of the Bronco Sport were 92,381 during the same period.