Spartan is a global experiential sport and wellness brand with a 10 million-plus community. (Yokohama photo)
Through Sept. 30, the promotion features free 2021 race entry, worth up to a $190 value with the purchase of four eligible tires
BY MARK MAYNARD
As the official tire sponsor for the U.S. Spartan Race Series, Yokohama is offering a summer promotion that highlights the brand’s tough tires and world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand.
Though the coronavirus has scuttled the 2020 Spartan race season, organizers are focused on 2021. And now through Sept. 30, 2020, Yokohama Tire is giving out free Spartan Race entries to consumers who purchase four eligible tires. The entries — up to a $190 value — are for one Elite, Age Group, morning or afternoon Sprint, Super or Beast races during the 2021 season.
Among the more than 25 tires available in the special promotion are the GEOLANDAR CV G058, the GEOLANDAR X-AT and ADVAN Apex. Details, terms and conditions of the promotion can be found at Sparta promotion.
Spartan is a global experiential sport and wellness brand with a 10 million-plus community. The group’s mission is to create “transformational experiences, products and content to help people, companies and teams to tear down boundaries and expand what they believe to be possible.” In a non-pandemic year, the group stages more than 250 large-scale events across more than 40 countries on six continents. Learn more at spartan.com.
“Spartan’s strong, passionate fan base is the ideal audience for our tires,” Alan Holtschneider, Yokohama’s director of marketing, said in a release.
About Yokohama Tire Corp.
Yokohama Tire Corp. is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information, visit Yokohamatire.com, Yokohamatruck.com or Yokohamaotr.com.
Bentley is offering what it calls a ground-breaking three-dimensional wood trim for the rear door panels in the all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan
The open-pore veneer has a 3D surface finish consisting of 150 diamonds. (Photos courtesy of Bentley)
Wood is an organic element that adds natural warmth in an inorganic mode of transportation — but not all wood is equal. The ultraluxury car segment has long been a purveyor of unique wood veneers for vehicle interiors. And the types of wood used by some makers, such as Rolls-Royce, are archived, cataloged, and identified by the vehicle, make and model. When a repair is needed, the core of archived wood can be used to make repairs.
The woods used are often bookmatched so the adjoining surfaces mirror each other, giving the impression of an opened book. To highlight the graining, many makers have sought distinction by offering the patina of aged timber or salvaged lumber from trees that had been submerged. Even the Ram pickup had a wood option that showed damage from barbed wire. Some makers have worked silver powder into the pores as a highlight.
Bentley woodworkers carve the block of wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1mm — less than the thickness of a human hair.
In less-luxurious applications, the wood is sometimes a photograph or plastic representation. But because safety standards for wood trim require it to be so completely treated to avoid splintering in a collision, even the genuine article can look like saturated plastic.
Now, Bentley is offering what it calls a ground-breaking three-dimensional wood trim, designed for the rear door panels. It is a world-first for the automotive sector, Bentley says, and is now available in the all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan.
The diamond-shaped pattern is enhanced with a three-dimensional surface finish machined directly into the wood.
The three-dimensional wood works well in the back seat, Bentley says, because the rear doors have an especially large surface to showcase the level of craftsmanship. And the open-pore veneer would potentially clash with the smooth high-gloss veneer used in the front-seat area.
“Typically, ultra-luxurious and expensive features such as this are most appreciated in the rear cabin, particularly important for those who may choose to be driven rather than drive,” Bentley said.
The new veneer option from the Bentley Mulliner “Collections” is a design statement, “bringing tactility to the natural beauty of wood,” Brett Boydell, Bentley’s head of interior design for the Flying Spur, said in a release.
Each rear door and quarter panel is crafted from a single block of sustainable American Walnut or American Cherry timber, “in a harmonious marriage of traditional skills and modern technology,” Boydell said.
The U.S. option package is $13,270.
The three-dimensional wood works well in the back seat, Bentley says, because the rear doors have an especially large surface to showcase the level of craftsmanship.
Roots of the Wood
The concept for 3D-machined wood was first shown in Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. The design was inspired by the diamond-quilted leather used in the Mulliner Driving Specification interior.
Developing the three-dimensional wood took 18 months by expert technical craftsmen to bring the complex concept to reality.
The organic 3D parts are not made using veneers, as is typically applied to the fascia and waist rails. Instead, each is created from a single block of timber, Boydell said. Operators carve the wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1mm, less than the thickness of a human hair.
The cuts are then hand-finished and an open-pore lacquer is applied to allow the true color and texture of the wood to preserve a refined, natural appearance.
The log’s back or “B surface” is machined to match a die-cast template of the aluminum door panel. The plank of wood is then bonded to the template, and then the assembly is placed back into the machine and the front or “A surface” is cut into its three-dimensional form.
Sustainable Timbers
The American Walnut and American Cherry timber are sustainably sourced from North American hardwood forests, Boydell said. Only logs with no knots or resin inclusions through the depth of the wood are used.
American Walnut is one of the most sought-after species of wood in markets around the world, he said. “It is darker than European Walnut, as well as tough, hard and of medium density. American Cherry is highly prized for furniture and interior joinery — the wood finish varies from rich red to reddish brown.”
The third-generation Flying Spur (the four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé) is built on a new aluminum and composite chassis and features electronic all-wheel steering for the first time in a Bentley.
The New Flying Spur
The all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan is rich in limousine-style comfort and a benchmark of innovative technologies. It is hand-assembled in Crewe, England, at the world’s first carbon neutral luxury car factory, Boydell said.
The third-generation Flying Spur (the four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé) is built on a new aluminum and composite chassis and features electronic all-wheel steering for the first time in a Bentley. The system integrates active all-wheel drive and Bentley Dynamic Ride, which the company says is the “world’s first 48-volt electric anti-roll system to deliver phenomenal handling and ride.”
New, three-chamber air springs offer a greater range of suspension adjustment between limousine-style ride comfort and sporting levels of body control. It allows the Flying Spur a breadth of capability not seen in the luxury segment before, Bentley says.
At the heart of the Flying Spur is an enhanced version of Bentley’s 626-horsepower, 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine. Its 664 foot-pounds of torque are channeled through the dual-clutch eight-speed transmission for faster, which was updated for eve smoother gear changes. The new direct-injected engine can launch the 5,400-pound sedan to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, Bentley says, and has a top speed of 207 mph.
The redesigned 2020 Flying Spur has a starting price of about $215,000.
The post-war 1949 Mercury had breakaway styling. (Ford archives)
The third-generation 1949 Mercury was the first new design following World War II, according to Wikipedia.
The so-called “ponton” or pontoon styling helped differentiate it from its Ford cousin. The ’49 also became the definitive “lead sled” for customizers, including the Barris brothers, Sam and George.
The all-new postwar Mercurys were introduced toward the end of the 1948 model year, on April 29,1948, according to a report by the Automotive History Preservation Society. The cars did not look like fancy Fords but instead shared Lincoln styling and basic body shells.
“The engine was still a flathead V-8 now upped to 255 CID with 110 horsepower. A new and optional overdrive system was activated by a handle under the dash.
“The Mercury Eight used full instrumentation in round dials. There were two dials on either side of the large central speedometer. An optional eight-tube radio and electric clock were centered on the dashboard.
“The transverse leaf spring suspension was gone. The front suspension was independent coil-spring with telescopic-type shock absorbers mounted inside front springs. A stabilizer bar was fitted to reduce body roll. The rear suspension had longitudinal, semi-elliptic leaf springs with telescopic shock absorbers. A semi-floating rear axle with hypoid-type ring gear and pinion was fitted.
“The ’49 Merc grille resembled a shiny coil. It was divided in the center by a large vertical chrome “Eight” stamped.
“A nearly full-length, mid-body chrome spear stretched across the sides. The 1949 Mercury also had wraparound front and rear bumpers.
Paint Colors
There more than a dozen paint choices: Alaska Gray, Cairo Gray, Midland Maroon, Black, Alberta Blue, Royal Bronze Maroon, Dakota Gray, Lima Tan, Biscay Blue, Berwick Green, Tampico Red, Haiti Beige, Bermuda Cream and Banff Green
“The 1949 Mercury Eight production totaled an astounding 301,307 units. It was far and away Mercury’s best ever year.”
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 has a starting price of $47,895 for the performance-tuned 302-hp, 2.0-liter. As equipped, the Sun Yellow tester was $61,335. (Mercedes-AMG)
Strategic precision in a compact four-door “coupe”
BY MARK MAYNARD
Highland Valley Road is a tangled black shoelace of two-lane country road in northeastern San Diego County. It’s a favorite for car-club runs and leisure drives to get some fresh air. The meandering road leads past acres of growing land for landscape nurseries and pine-tree farms before ascending to an area of vineyards and wineries. Mature scrub oaks form shaded canopies along stretches amid a background of boulder-strewn mountainscapes.
The road is unforgiving of reckless driving but a strategic 13 miles or so with blind corners, decreasing radius turns and rollercoaster drops and rises. (Midday and midweek will have the lightest traffic.)
In this environment, the compact Mercedes-AMG CLA35 carves the road with surgical precision. The fortified focus of Sport and Sport-plus modes opens the pipes, tightens the shift points and lets the horses run. The 302-horsepower, AMG-enhanced turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder pulls with breathy force, digging into its 295 foot-pounds of torque from 3,000-4,000 rpm.
The seven-speed AMG Speedshift transmission, a dual-clutch automated manual, clicks off sequential shifts with Formula One intensity. And the variable 4Matic all-wheel-drive system provides the push-back of rear-wheel drive and in aggressive cornering lays down a quick and consistent pull to redline. Mercedes-AMG cites 0-60 mph in an estimated 4.6 seconds — it just feels quicker. A hard launch brings a bristling response.
The driver area is centered by a widescreen layout of HD graphic displays. (Mercedes-AMG)
About the CLA
The compact-class CLA is now in its second-generation after a major update in 2019 for the 2020 model year. Launched in 2013, it was the first compact Mercedes sold in the U.S. and its first front-wheel-drive model.
Because of its arching roofline Mercedes refers to the CLA as a four-door coupe — and it feels the part with its frameless door glass and a cockpit driver area.
With seats for five, it was intended to be a segment disruptor with appeal for its sporty lines, which Mercedes-Benz says pulled many younger buyers from competitors. On average, CLA customers in the U.S. are around 10 years younger than the brand’s typical buyer, the company says.
Sizewise, the CLA slots above the subcompact A-Class, the brand’s smallest and less-expensive sedan, and below the midsize C-Class.
The redesigned CLA is 2 inches wider and almost 2 inches longer and a whisker lower on a wheelbase stretched 1.1 inches, now at 107.4 inches.
The styling is more cohesive now and smoother with a GT stance ready to pounce. The revised size is especially notable in the front seats with 38.5 inches of headroom, legroom of almost 42 inches and more shoulder room. Back-seat width is now family-class comfortable with more legroom (33.9 inches). Trunk space is down but still wide and roomy at 11.6 cubic feet. And the trunk opening was made 10.3 inches wider.
With the gear shift lever relocated as a stalk on the steering column, the center console was freed up for functional space to include a charging bin, deep cup holders and a touch pad for cabin or performance controls. (Mercedes-AMG)
Pricing
The CLA is sold as the CLA 250 in front-drive or 4Matic all-wheel drive with high-performance versions in the AMG CLA 35 (today’s tester) and the AMG 45.
All models have versions of a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $36,650 for the 221-hp CLA 250 or $38,650 with 4Matic AWD.
The 302-hp AMG CLA 35 starts at $46,900 and the CLA45 (382-hp and 0-60 mph in 4 seconds) at $54,800. The CLA35 tester was $61,355 with options, including the $995 freight charge from Kecskemet, Hungary.
Recaro sport seats in MB-Tex and microfiber Dinamica are available in black with red contrasting stitching and red seat belts or black and digital gray in MB-Tex leatherette. (Mercedes-AMG)
Cabin features
The cabin is dressed to impress with MB-Tex leatherette and Dinamica microfiber upholstery and contemporary materials and trim. Recaro sport seats in front are power adjustable with lumbar and a manual thigh extension.
The flat-bottom, three-spoke AMG steering wheel also functions as an alternate desktop, with thumb controls for navigation, audio and phone a touch-sensitive button to scroll through various screens of information. (Mercedes-AMG)
Sightlines are open and there is enough cabin width to smartly place all controls. The functional center floor console integrates a forward e-bin for wireless or corded phone charging, a pair of deep cup holders and a touch pad to page through the various vehicle systems. It has a steady haptic touch and its use becomes relatively intuitive after a couple hundred miles into ownership. Gear engagement is by a stalk on the steering column.
The flat-bottom, three-spoke AMG steering wheel ($500) wrapped in Dinamica fits sweetly in the hand and also functions as an alternate desktop. The left arm groups cruise control and autonomous drive features. The right arm gives redundant access to navigation and phone. And both groups have a touch-sensitive thumb button to scroll through various screens of information.
Trunk entry is 10.3 inches wider now and the luggage space is large for a compact car at 11.6 cubic feet. (Mark Maynard)
Digital widescreen
The cabin is highly electrified with a widescreen-cockpit presentation to facilitate the Mercedes-Benz User Experience — MBUX. The driver faces a 10.25-inch-wide digital gauge array with a choice of configurations for a traditional layout, a supersport mode or a muted presentation. Supersport focuses the performance with a central, round rev counter and other information in graph bars to the left and right. Via the AMG menu, the driver can call up various special displays such as Warm-up, Set-up, G-Force and Engine Data.
Cabin controls are accessed by another 10.25-inch touch-screen display with voice control or even hand gestures. The “Hey Mercedes” keyword for voice control has been refined to focus on the driver and to filter out other conversations in the cabin.
There also is a tier of manual controls for often-used adjustments, such as fan speed, temp and air flow, plus a console controller for audio volume.
Cabin controls are accessed by the 10.25-inch touch-screen display with voice control or hand gestures. (Mercedes-AMG)
Drivability
AMG puts a fistful of secret sauce into that turbocharged 2.0-liter to wring out 302-hp (or the CLA 45’s 382-hp), when the base engine has a capable 221-hp.
I like that the CLA 35 experience is not all ate-up with horsepower, which can blow past the pleasures of feeling the suspension transition through cornering and how the transmission holds gears through the esses and uphills.
The structure of the car feels tight and nimble, which makes it accommodating for throttle-steering with the accelerator pedal. The roll-on of acceleration is visceral but balanced. Downshift into a corner to raise the revs and then push the nose out a bit or pull it back by subtle lifting. The refined control will make you smile.
The AMG-enhanced 2.0-liter four-cylinder has 302 horsepower that will propel the 3,505-pound CLA35 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. (Mercedes-AMG)
Around town, there will be a delay in forward motion as the turbo spools and the dual-clutch engages, but Sport or Sport-plus modes will cut the delay when powering up. The auto stop-start at idle function can be cancelled.
Braking, is immediate but measured for absolute control without grab or lunge. A hard response is flat and composed. The front brakes have four-piston, 13.8-inch vented rotors, backed by single piston, 13-inch vented discs rear.
Even with the bigger brake discs and AMG upgrades, the curb weight is up just 22 pounds compared with a CLA 250 4Matic. Fuel economy estimates are 23 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 mpg combined on the recommended premium fuel.
The tester was optioned with 19-inch matte black AMG wheels ($800) and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (245/35) with a ZR rating. The tires are very sticky with a 300 treadwear rating and resisted squeals of complaint in my backcountry run.
The AMG Ride Control suspension, a worthy $850 upgrade, has three firmness control modes. The Comfort setting can be too firm for the non-enthusiast, but Sport and even Sport-Plus, give impressive turn-in and control.
The tester was optioned with 19-inch matte black AMG wheels ($800) and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (245/35) with a ZR rating. (Mercedes-AMG)
Semi-autonomous driving
New in the redesign is the option for semi-autonomous driving. Using map and navigation data for assistance, elements of the Driver Assistance Package ($2,250) allow the CLA to steer, stop, brake and resume speed, in certain highway configurations — and with the driver’s hands on the wheel. The system functioned with precision to keep the car centered in the lane, while many systems are less precisely calibrated, which will allow the car to wander before a correction is made.
The package adds active brake assist with cross-traffic function, Active Distance Assist Distronic, active steering assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane keeping assist, active lane assist, active speed limit assist, active emergency stop assist, evasive steering assist, Pre-Safe Plus, Route Based Speed Adaptation, and extended restart in stop-and-go traffic.
Active speed limit assist is useful to automatically adapt the car’s speed to an identified speed limit. I discovered this while on the Interstate and was driving through a construction area that was to the far right in merging lanes. When I drove past the reduced speed sign of 55 mph, the cruise control immediately dropped my set speed to 55 mph from 69 mph. And we all know that speeding fines are increased in construction zones.
New in the redesign is the option for semi-autonomous driving using map and navigation data for assistance that allow the CLA to steer, stop, brake and resume speed, in certain highway configurations. (Mercedes-Benz)
Augmented Video/Reality for Navigation is a hand-holder to guide the way, with blue arrows pointing to the destination. (Mercedes-Benz)
The effect of Route Based Speed Adaptation is the eye in the sky of GPS and the adaptive cruise control system. The system uses map data ahead to reduce speed in anticipation of curves, junctions, roundabouts, toll booths, exit roads, etc.
And for the directionally challenged — even when using a navigation system — the Augmented Video/Reality for Navigation feature is a hand-holder to guide the way. When using the navigation system, a camera in front of the rearview mirror captures a video image of the surroundings and displays arrows or house numbers onto the image in the media display screen. The helpful blue arrows point the way to a street or house number, traffic signs or street names.
And when stopped at a traffic signal, the system uses the front camera to display live video of the intersection on the center screen. It helps the driver see if anyone or anything is in the crosswalk.
Standard safety features include eight air bags, hill-start assist and brake-hold function, crosswind assist and attention assist, for driver awareness.
Why CLA35?
The CLA 35 can be as hands-on or as hands-off as the driver desires. Hands-on was my preferred mode — and none of the assist systems got in the way of a good time.
But if $60K as-tested is too rich for the budget, the same powertrain option and engineering are also available in the subcompact AMG A 35 sedan, starting at about $45,000, and it has access to all the options and upgrades of the CLA 35.
Because of its arching roofline Mercedes refers to the CLA as a four-door coupe — and it feels the part with its frameless door glass and a cockpit driver area. (Mercedes-AMG)
2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4Matic Body style: compact, five-seat, four-door coupe with variable torque AWD Engine: 302-hp, AMG-enhanced turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with cancellable auto stop-start at idle; 295 lb.-ft. torque from 3,000-4,000 rpm Transmission: 7 speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch automated manual 0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds, estimated Fuel economy: 23/29/25 mpg city/hwy/combined; premium fuel
SPECIFICATIONS Fuel tank: 13.5 gal. Trunk space: 11.6 cu. ft. Front head/leg room: 38.5/41.8 in. Rear head/leg room: 35.7/33.9 in. Length/wheelbase: 184.8/107.4 in. Curb weight: 3,505 lbs. Turning circle: 37 ft., estimated
FEATURES Standard equipment includes: Keyless Go locking with push-button ignition, panoramic sunroof, M-B Tex leatherette upholstery, electric parking brake, rearview camera, 10.25-inch touch-screen display, 10.25-inch digital gauge array, power front seats with lumbar and memory presets, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto Bluetooth connectivity, 40/20/40 folding back seat, LED headlights and taillights AMG 35 special features, include: Speedshift 7-Speed (dual clutch transmission with performance 4MATIC AWD, sport suspension, sport exhaust, 3-stage electronic stability program, Recaro sport seats with integrated headrests and metal-trimmed pedals
Safety features, include: 8 air bags, active brake assist, adaptive braking with hill-start assist and brake-hold function, crosswind assist, attention assist (for driver awareness)
CLA 35 competitors: Audi S3, BMW M240i xDrive; front-drive CLA models compare to the BMW 2-series and Acura ILX
PRICING Base price: $47,895, including $995 freight charge; price as tested $61,335 Options on test vehicle, included: AMG performance steering wheel in Nappa leather and Dinamica $500; 19-inch AMG matte black alloy wheels $800; Parktronic with advanced parking assist $970; AMG ride control sport suspension $850; satellite radio trial subscription $460; Burmester surround-sound audio $850; wireless charging $200; rear side air bags $420 (with a one-time $250 special order fee);
• Driver assistance package, $2,250, includes active brake assist with cross-traffic function, active distance assist Distronic, active steering assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane keeping assist, active lane assist, active speed limit assist, active emergency stop assist, evasive steering assist, Pre-Safe Plus, route based speed adaptation, extended restart in stop-and-go traffic;
• Multimedia package, $1,150, includes navigation and services, including map updates for 3 years, MBUX augmented reality for navigation and speed-limit assist;
• AMG Night package, $750, includes front splitter, grille trim and louvres in outer air intakes, AMG side panel inserts, beltline and window line trim strips in gloss black, black side mirrors and tailpipe trim;
• Performance seat package, $3,270, includes multicontour, heated Recaro seats
Where assembled: Kecskemet, Hungary Warranty: 4-years/50,000-miles bumper to bumper with roadside assistance
Young designer of Ford Bronco also contributed to concepts for a cab-forward truck, the Mustang, and the legendary GT40
McKinley Thompson Jr., a Ford designer who helped pen the first-generation Bronco, was the first African American designer hired at Ford Motor Company (Photos courtesy of Ford Motor)
The endearing and enduring success of the Ford Bronco has roots in its earliest design by the first African American designer hired at Ford Motor Co. In 1956, McKinley Thompson Jr. had just graduated from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., with a degree in transportation design.
Among Thompson’s more noteworthy projects was the Ford Bronco SUV, an open-air 4×4 concept featuring a square, short body and high ground clearance with minimal front and rear overhangs for optimum off-road capability. One of his designs, titled “Package Proposal #5 for Bronco,” rendered July 24, 1963, influenced the design language that would become iconic attributes of the first-generation Bronco.
Early Bronco sketches by Thompson Jr.
The First Generation
The original nameplate ran from 1965 to 1996, when the short-wheelbase off-roader was replaced by the much larger Expedition SUV. Now, 24 years later Ford has just unveiled its successor.
The 2021 Ford Bronco 4X4 will be available next spring in two-door and four-door body styles, laying the foundation for a family of off-road vehicles, Ford calls “Built Wild.” Like the original, the sixth-generation Bronco, based on the Ranger pickup, will have removable doors and roof for an open-air experience. A less intense and more affordable model, the Bronco Sport, will be based on the Escape SUV architecture.
A pre-production 2021 Ford Bronco two-door SUV takes its off-road design cues from the first-generation Bronco.
“We created the Bronco family to elevate every aspect of off-road adventure and equipped them with class-leading chassis hardware and exclusive technologies to raise the bar in the rugged 4×4 segment and take people further into the wild,” Jim Farley, Ford chief operating officer, said in a media statement. And at launch, there will be a range of option packages, including the Sasquatch with 35-inch tires, and more than 200 factory-backed accessories.
An early Ford Bronco clay prototype.
Ranger Pickup Roots
Based on the architecture of the midsize Ranger pickup, the Bronco will have a boxed, high-strength steel chassis that will be capable best-in-class suspension travel, Ford says, or 17 percent more front and rear over the closest competitor (the Jeep Wrangler).
There will be two engines, the standard powertrain will be a 270-horsepower, 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with an expected 310 foot-pounds of torque. It will have a standard seven-speed manual transmission (including a crawler gear) or optional 10-speed automatic. A 325-hp, 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 will be optional, with 400 foot-pounds of torque, paired with the automatic transmission.
Pricing will start at about $30,000 and both body styles can be reserved now at Ford.com for $100.
Reservations for the Ford Bronco First Edition — limited to 3,500 copies — filled up in less than a day, for the price of $60,800, including shipping.
The original Bronco debuted with a range of accessories.
An Unsung Legend
Thompson Jr. is somewhat of an unsung legend, according to a media release from Ford.
His first assignment was at the company’s advanced design studio in Dearborn, working under George Walker, vice president of Ford design. Among his projects was a light-duty cab-forward truck, several concept sketches for the soon-to-be Ford Mustang and the legendary Ford GT40. Thompson also worked on the futuristic space-age Ford Gyron, a two-wheeled concept car that was on display at the Century of Progress exhibit at the Ford Rotunda in 1961.
The 1966 Ford Bronco prototype.
McKinley followed his dreams and wound up making history, said the current Ford Bronco interior designer Christopher Young, who also is Black.
“[McKinley] not only broke through the color barrier in the world of automotive design,” said Young, “he helped create some of the most iconic consumer products ever — from the Ford Mustang, Thunderbird and Bronco — designs that are not only timeless but have been studied by generations of designers.”
1966 Ford Bronco pickup.
Bronco Proposal #5
In Thompson’s proposed Ford Bronco design, the wheels were positioned at the far corners of the body for a confident and aggressive go-anywhere stance. And the curve of the smoothed out wheel arches conveyed speed.
Simple but durable features.
“I believe the hardest thing for a person like McKinley to do was working within the constraints given him to make a beautiful product,” said Young, 48. “Engineering dictates size and functionality, then manufacturing limits how it can be stamped and assembled, and finance says you have to build it for a low price.”
1966 Bronco interior with bench seat.
And with the bucket-seat option.
Thompson’s concept for an all-purpose compact two-door SUV is a theme he would return to later in life. After retiring from Ford, he worked to design and build a concept he envisioned as an affordable all-purpose vehicle named the Warrior. The small utility vehicle was based on a one-piece fiberglass body, a process Thompson dreamed of decades earlier.
The standard 150-hp. 170-cubic-inch inline-six was derived from the Ford Falcon.
The Warrior and the Dreamer
Thompson was born in 1922 and grew up in Queens, N.Y. He had a keen interest in cars from the time he was young, and later recalled seeing a silver-gray DeSoto Airflow when he was around 12.
“It just so happened that the clouds opened up for the sunshine to come through,” he said in an interview documented by The Henry Ford. “It lit that car up like a searchlight.”
Thompson recalled running toward it, but the light turned green. “I was never so impressed with anything in all my life,” he said. “I knew that’s what I wanted to do — I wanted to be an automobile designer.”
Protected spare tire storage.
Thompson served in the Army Signal Corps in World War II where he learned drafting and worked as an engineering layout coordinator.
Optional wheel covers.
After the war, that work provided for him and his growing family, but Thompson’s love of cars and his dream of being a designer persisted.
In the early 1950s, he entered a design contest in Motor Trend magazine. His submission was a turbine car with a reinforced plastic body, both concepts that were trending in the postwar era.
He won the contest, then went on to enroll in the transportation design department at ArtCenter College of Design.
A love of cars
Later in his Ford career, Thompson worked on the side to create his dream car in a rented garage in Detroit from 1969 to 1979. He enlisted the help of Wallace Triplett, who had also broken the color barrier as the first African American draftee to play for the Detroit Lions in 1949.
Together, they built a prototype and pitched the plans to burgeoning automakers in developing nations. Thompson hoped to change these countries for the better, much the same way Henry Ford envisioned with the Model T.
Eventually, Thompson pulled the plug on the project — but not on his dreams. He retired from Ford in 1984 and moved to Arizona with his wife. He passed away on March 5, 2006.
“McKinley’s influence, beyond his work on the original Bronco, helped pave the way for others like him who might not have had an opportunity to express their creative talents and live their dreams to be a part of one of America’s greatest companies,” said Young.
Bentley is offering what it calls a ground-breaking three-dimensional wood trim for the rear door panels in the all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan
The First Generation
Thompson’s concept for an all-purpose compact two-door SUV is a theme he would return to later in life. After retiring from Ford, he worked to design and build a concept he envisioned as an affordable all-purpose vehicle named the Warrior. The small utility vehicle was based on a one-piece fiberglass body, a process Thompson dreamed of decades earlier.
