Premcar reframes the original Bronco
Premcar’s latest new-vehicle project has been unveiled during an event at this year’s Monterey Car Week in the USA.
Illinois-based Gateway Bronco teamed with the Australian new-vehicle engineering and manufacturing firm to develop the chassis, suspension and steering for its newest 1960s-inspired LUXE-GT model, which was unveiled at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
Known internally by its project codename, Pegasus, the Melbourne-based company developed the ladder-frame structure with a 2350 mm wheelbase and 1623 mm (front)/1630 mm (rear) track width reminiscent of the classic Bronco. It was designed and developed to accept Ford’s latest 343 kW / 460 horsepower 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine, 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission, and two-stage shift-on-the-fly all-wheel drive system.
The platform is equipped with a suite of active safety systems, including electronic stability control, traction control, and anti-lock braking.
“Gateway Bronco’s new LUXE-GT is more than a reimagined classic, it’s a new car,” said Premcar Engineering Director, Bernie Quinn. “The Premcar team has developed this high-performance platform to new-car standards using the same processes we apply when we develop new vehicles for global automakers.”
Gateway Bronco CEO and President, Seth Burgett, said developing the new LUXE-GT necessitated world-class OEM know-how.
“The Premcar team has achieved remarkable results with this new chassis and suspension system. They’ve helped us reposition our classic-style LUXE-GT Bronco series into a new market realm. This is now a new car with classic style, not a classic car with new style.”
Beginning with specific attribute and performance targets, the two-year platform-development program progressed through extensive CAD (computer-aided design) and FEA (finite element analysis) phases before prototype construction and testing. Specific suspension components were also developed for the program.
All engineering and development work was conducted at Premcar’s Engineering and Production Centre in Melbourne and included heavy-duty testing in remote regions of Australia.
The chassis will be made in Detroit, USA by Premcar’s global engineering partner, RLE International, while vehicle assembly will take place at Gateway Bronco’s production facility in Illinois.
