Cross-Dressing a Bronco Mule
 

This is really a humorous camo job....appears to be a shortened Everest-based chassis for the 2-door Bronco being tested under a hacked Chevy Colorado(!?) body. Next to a 4-door Everest with a mfr plate only 11 digits off--so in the same number sequence..

Article suggests that adjustable suspension links are for testing suspension geometry for probable roll-over testing. Huge mounts on the front and back bumper locations are probably for outriggers to keep it from really rolling over.

No solid front axle, and a hilarious use of a competitor's body :)

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/07/12/...#slide-2152709

Definitely messing with us on this one.

Only 5 lug wheels too. Nothing to see here.

Interesting catch on the wheels...If you look at Everest photos on the Internet (and also modern international Rangers), some have 5 lugs and some have 6....the shorty 2-door Bronco may well end up being a light GVW 5-lug vehicle.

Possible the test mule chassis parts are from some lighter-duty international Everest version. Front and rear wheels don't match. Tires are Apollo brand which is an Asian mfr but which sells in Europe also.

Jeep Wranglers (and Gladiators) are 5-lugs. Hell, Ford used 4 lug wheels on 302 Mustangs till 1993...

I still like the sawed off Colorado body....no camo contact paper or anything needed :)

That's definitely a creative way to hide the Bronco in plain sight.

Have there ever been manufacturers using other makes like this before?

Lots of times. The new EVs with "skateboard" platforms have done it several times recently.

I'm confident Ford did this for the purpose of making a point about the mule body not being representative of what it will look like later. Too many people whining about how ugly the Ranger body thing was. They didn't try to hide what the placeholder Colorado body was at all, even left the badges on it.

With other vehicles brands still showing? And butchered like this? This ones pretty crazy.

Allegedly a Rivian skateboard under there.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1c9a50ca6b.jpg

They should have used the (rest of the) Sport Trac body. Hope they have something else to "disclose".

I work for the company that will be building Rivian's electronic axle for it's vehicles. Rivian has been testing it's 4x4 truck concept under F150 bodies for almost a year now. They needed something comparable in weight to their own truck body and the F150 fit the bill.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3b990ab5e.jpeg
This mule was up at Silver Lake sand dunes today. Not my pic, but was forwarded to me.

Man that looks awesomely stubby! There has got to be more pictures out there!

I wish I would have been up there to see it. I would have taken a bunch and maybe had the drone follow it around LOL

Very nice find!