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While the Ford Bronco's development went smoothly and predictions of its eventual runaway success seem on their way to being proven accurate based on current demand, problems cropped up once the Bronco reached its final production phases. Ford is eager to see the reintroduction of its iconic SUV through to better times, but is now faced with still another challenge – dishonest dealers.

A likely outdated dealership model exposed by the Ford Bronco's outsized popularity has left many would-be buyers in a comprising position. Despite reserving and then ordering their Bronco, they're left with the choice of either paying what amounts to an automotive ransom demanded by greedy dealers, or losing the Bronco altogether. Here's how to avoid that scenario. 

Ford is really hoping that all of its production delays and associated component problems have been left behind and that the Bronco can enter the 2022 model year without further issue. There have been some recent positive developments in this area, including recently discovered clues that indicate a couple of entirely new Bronco variations may be just around the corner.

Ford has decided to scrap its Bronco Pickup project, despite its almost certain popularity and historical significance, because the company fears that the success of a Bronco truck would cannibalize sales from other Ford's truck lines --  mainly from the Ranger but also from the F-150 and the newly introduced Maverick. In fact, the Maverick, which uses a platform similar to the Bronco Sport, had just recently passed 100,000 reservations. 

Over the years, Ford has released a number of very compelling Bronco concept vehicles and the latest of these is the Bronco Riptide. It arrives at just the right time to lift the spirits of Bronco fans who have been hit with quite a bit of bad news lately and is a thoroughly and thoughtfully equipped SUV that's perfect for venturing to those hard to reach places that dedicated surfers so often seek out. 

The re-introduction of the Ford Bronco has been a big undertaking and such ambitious projects often come with setbacks along the way. The Bronco has been no exception, as issues with the quality control of its outsourced tops, as well as other fit and finish glitches and a widespread semiconductor shortage have combined to make the new Bronco's rollout more problematic than Ford had hoped. 

While straight ahead acceleration may not have seemed to be a "top of the list" item for Ford's engineers as they developed the new Bronco, as it turns out, the Bronco does very well as far as 0-60mph is concerned. Let's take a look at how it fares against its competitors, as well as how engine choice and equipment packages affect the Bronco's performance numbers.

Upon its introduction during the turbulent mid-'60s, the original Ford Bronco proved to be a pivotal model that served to shape an entire automotive segment, the SUV. After a 25-year hiatus, the new Bronco's return couldn't have more perfect timing, as it comes at a time when the SUV class has largely become a distorted version of what it should be. The new Bronco's second coming is helping the industry find its way and once again steer in the right direction, re-introducing itself as a proper off-road model, filled with modern technology but with an old-school feel and approach.

The unprecedented hype surrounding the Bronco brand shows that Ford has hit home runs with both the resurrected Bronco and the Bronco Sport. Getting to this point has been an enormous effort for Ford, so the questions remain, what will be the next chapter in the Bronco's story? What can we expect in the future, and in which direction will Ford steer this revolutionary SUV?