Skip to main content

The 2021 Ford Bronco is the King of Cool at the moment. People are tripping over themselves to get one, but delays have plagued the crowned prince of popularity. Meanwhile, customers who have already placed their orders are fussing at Ford over one of the coolest features on the truck, and Ford listened. As a result,  the bull bar on the front grille is going to change. 

2021 Ford Bronco in red covered in fishing gear pared next to a pond
2021 Ford Bronco Four-Door Outer Banks | Ford

Why did 2021 Ford Bronco customers want the bull bar changed? 

Bullbars, or as Ford prefers, “Safari bars,” are one of the coolest and most unique accessories to 4x4s. The idea is that these chunks of piping typically bolted to the truck’s frame will protect the front of the truck from brush, trees, and other obstacles a truck might hit or push through in the woods. 

closeup of the 2021 Ford Bronco grille with the altered safari bar
2021 Ford Bronco with altered safari bar | Bronco Nation

According to Gear Patrol, this optional accessory will be redesigned because customers were unhappy that it partially covered the white “BRONCO” lettering across the front of the grille. If there’s going to be a wait this long, you want people to be able to read that Ford Bronco logo. 

The payoff wasn’t very exciting; Ford simply raised the height on the narrower top part of the bar to clear the logo. Now that people can read the Bronco logo, does that mean customers can get them any sooner?

This isn’t the first time the 2021 Ford Bronco has been altered 

Gear Patrol also mentioned that this isn’t the first time Ford has heard the cries of Bronco fans and acquiesced to their requests. Last year when Ford was releasing Bronco specs, packages, and options, 4×4 nerds were amped to learn about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sasquatch package. 

The excitement quickly melted away upon learning that the off-road-focused package didn’t come with a manual transmission. This was not only felt cruel to off-roaders but also felt a little dumb.

However, the Bronco boys made such a fuss over the Sasquatch disappointment that Ford actually changed its mind and offered the manual transmission. 

Even though this corporate change of heart feels like a miracle every time it happens, Ford did leave the door open for critique.

According to Gear Patrol, Ford North America Product Communications Manager Mike Levine mentioned that Ford would be “open to feedback for those who feel otherwise” when making the lackluster Sasquatch automatic announcement. 

It would seem that Levine really meant it. This bullbar redesign marks the second time Ford has made a point to change something specifically to appease customers. That feels like a much rarer thing than it ought to be. 

Just come out already!

The 2021 Ford Bronco delays are can be extremely frustrating for customers, but it just may be the best marketing device the automotive world has ever seen. All of the build-up is making people so hungry for this crazy, accessory-laden 4×4. If it is as good as it should be, Ford will be glad it listened to its customers on the small things.

Related

The 2021 Ford Bronco Takes Shot at Rivian With New Outdoorsy Accessory Packages