With the Off-Roadeo Arches and Cliffhanger builds, Ford joins the off-road scene in Moab, but the spotlight may lean more toward style than substance.
Ford’s Bronco Concepts Meet Moab
Ford revealed two Bronco concept vehicles at its Bronco Stampede event in Moab, Utah, held alongside the annual Easter Jeep Safari. These builds — the Off-Roadeo Arches and Cliffhanger — were crafted not only as nods to the surrounding terrain but also to celebrate the Bronco community’s passion for outdoor exploration. Both vehicles pay visual tribute to the red rock landscapes of Moab and include cosmetic and hardware upgrades aimed at off-road enthusiasts.
Arches Concept
The Bronco Off-Roadeo: Arches is based on the four-door Badlands trim and features a 2-inch lift with 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KDR2 tires mounted on 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels. It comes equipped with a power soft top, a Warn winch, and Rigid auxiliary lights. However, despite these practical elements, the vehicle seems more focused on style than aggressive trail use.
Tribute Over Trail
Ford left the regular doors in place but removed the hard top to emphasize open-air driving. According to Bronco design chief Robert Gelardi, the Arches’ matte protective wrap mimics Moab’s terrain: “The combination of the metallic shade and matte finish create brilliant flares of color in sunlight.” The wrap is further accented with Code Orange details, including graphics inspired by local rock formations.
Climb In
Inside, the Arches continues the regional homage with graphics modeled after Utah’s Newspaper Rock and Horseshoe Canyon petroglyphs. But in terms of unique mechanical performance upgrades, the Arches concept remains largely unchanged beyond its tire and suspension tweaks.
Cliffhanger Concept
The Bronco Off-Roadeo: Cliffhanger, based on the two-door model, is better equipped for tackling Moab’s difficult trails. It features oversized 40-inch BFGoodrich Baja T/A Evo 3.0S tires mounted on 18-inch beadlock-capable Method wheels. Fox Live Valve shocks improve the suspension travel and off-road control, giving it a more credible trail-ready posture than its Arches counterpart.
Built for the Rocks?
Visually, it’s distinguished by tubular doors, a Bimini top, larger wheel arches, and custom fender flares. These design elements look aggressive, but their utility, especially the flares, may be more about aesthetics or compliance with regulations rather than performance. Recaro seats and petroglyph-themed graphics inside continue the Moab inspiration.
Missed Opportunity
Despite the rugged hardware, Ford didn’t publish footage of the Cliffhanger handling the actual Cliffhanger Trail — a detail that off-road enthusiasts may see as a missed opportunity. As one article put it, showing the vehicle conquering the terrain “would dig deeper” with the target audience than just the matte wrap or bright accents.
Under the Hood: Familiar Engines
Ford didn’t confirm the engine specs specific to these concepts, but they’re presumably powered by existing Bronco options. These include a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, a 2.7-liter V6 with 330 hp and 415 lb-ft, and the high-performance Raptor's 3.0-liter V6 offering 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. Given the builds' visual emphasis, it’s unclear which powertrain, if any, was prioritized for off-road capability.
More Form Than Function?
While both the Arches and Cliffhanger concepts reflect Moab’s landscape and culture, they seem to fall short of making a strong case for Ford’s off-road dominance. The Arches appears to prioritize visual identity over trail readiness. The Cliffhanger, though better equipped, lacks evidence of real-world testing. The presence of Ford’s design team, rather than engineering reps, at the center of the announcement underscores the aesthetic priority.
These builds may appeal to Bronco fans who value personalized style and occasional trail outings, but off-road purists might question the lack of functional emphasis and proven performance.
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