Ford Bronco ute busts out

The new Ford Bronco partially melted the internet when it was launched this week and it was only a matter of time before the CGI wizards started morphing the design.

First cab off the rank? The Ford Bronco Sport dual-cab ute.

Based on the new Ford Bronco Sport mid-size SUV (underpinned by the same platform as the upcoming Ford Escape) and not the bigger, Ranger-based hard-core Bronco 4x4 that brings up to 295mm of ground clearance and chunky 35-inch mud tyres, this Bronco ute is nonetheless an interesting concept.

Created by KDesign in Brazil, a country where car-based utes like the RAM 700 are massively popular, the new virtual model would be a rival for lifestyle utes like the upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Like the Bronco Sport on which it is based, this Bronco ute could be expected to be powered by the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder (134kW/258Nm) and 2.0-litre four-cylinder (182kW/373Nm) turbo-petrol engines.

The Ford Bronco has generated a huge amount of interest from Aussie customers, many of who are demanding the car be sold here. You can bet your bottom dollar Ford Ranger owners are looking at the Bronco with great interest too.

As it stands, however, the iconic off-roader will only come to Australia via aftermarket conversion companies. Ford Australia says it has no plans to import the Bronco here, at least not yet.

"The Ford Bronco isn’t being offered in right-hand drive, and so won’t be available in Australia or New Zealand," is the official Ford Australia line, reiterating previous comments by Ford Australia CEO Kay Hart.

"There are currently no plans in place for right-hand drive Bronco. Clearly, it’s going to be a great vehicle, but we are extremely happy with the performance of Ranger here," Hart previously told carsales.

“That’s not to say we don’t continually look at other products within Ford, but Ranger is doing such a fantastic job here. We’re happy with the line-up as it stands, but that’s not to say we wouldn’t look to add to the range in future.”