With the blessing of Ford, an Illinois company is offering brand-new 1966-77 first-gen Broncos with updated powertrains and prices starting at $120,000. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ UPDATE: Tokyo prosecutors have formally indicted former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn on charges of financial wrongdoing that could result in a 10-year prison sentence. More at Reuters.
+ Deposed Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn was planning to remove CEO Hiroto Saikawa before Ghosn was arrested in Japan last month for alleged financial misconduct. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ A group of Honda, Caltech, and NASA scientists have developed a room-temperature flouride-ion battery that could potentially replace lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. More at Engadget.
+ Mark Stewart, formerly of Amazon, has been named chief operating officer for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in North America, while Neil Golightly will head global communications. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Despite winning the 2018 Camping World Truck Series title, driver Brett Moffitt is out of his ride at Hattori Racing next year as the team seeks alternate sources of funding. More at Fox News.
+ Volkswagen has denied allegations that Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch knew about the carmaker’s emissions test cheating before US authorities made it public. More at Business Insider.
+ At the company’s winter ball, McLaren Automotive unveiled the 720S Spider, an open-air version of the 720S Coupe with an electrically operated roof panel. More at Autoblog.
+ Ride-hailing giant Uber Technology has filed confidential preliminary paperwork for selling stock to the public, although company has declined to comment. More at The Detroit News.
+ BMW has named Alejandro Vukotich, formerly of Audi, to head its autonomous driving development division effective January 2019, replacing the retiring Elmar Frickenstein. More at MSN Money.
+ Nissan has revealed the production version of the GT-R50 by Italdesign and has begun taking orders on the limited production run of 50 vehicles at $1 million each. More at Motor Trend.
+ With licensing by Ford, Gateway Broncos is offering brand-new 1966-77 Broncos with updated powertrains and prices from $120,000 to $260,000 and up. More at Cnet Roadshow.
+ The Bloodhound supersonic land speed record project has been scrapped and the race car, powered by both rocket and jet engines, is for sale for around $320,000. More at BBC News.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from December 7 here.
Photo courtesy of Gateway Broncos.
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I love everything about the Bronco but the price. At $120,000 it’s a rich man’s toy and will probably never leave pavement.
I’ve read that the original Bronco was not a very good road car, nor was the contemporary Jeep. Short wheelbase, high center of gravity, punishing ride. Maybe they’ve fixed that with this recreation, but then it would be a lousy off-road vehicle.
I suppose that they have to price them high because they can’t make it up in volume. I don’t remember the number, but production has to stay below a limit or Federal safety regulations kick in. Which is kind of stupid because a used example would be less safe than this copy.
The 1966 Bronco started at $2,480, which was about the same as a Custom 500 two door and a bit more than a base Mustang hardtop at $2,420.