Is this really a prototype from 2005

I came across these on my hard drive—looks like they’re from 2005. Pretty sure they’re from the Cleveland Auto Show.



Yep, this was when Ford was testing the waters to see if people wanted the Bronco back. Around that time, Ford owned Land Rover, so there was some crossover in design ideas. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off, and when the 2008 market crash hit, Ford sold Land Rover, and this idea went into storage—until it was a good time to revisit it. Source: I worked at Ford Design for 32 years! I retired in January 2025 and finally got my 2022 Wildtrak, which I had been dreaming about since I joined in 1993.

@Vic
Congrats on your retirement!

@Vic
Thanks for sharing this story. My first car as a teen was an ’89 Thunderbird, and I hadn’t owned a Ford since—until the 6th-gen Bronco came out. It brought me back to the brand. Loving my ’23 Wildtrak.

@Vic
Such a cool story, thanks for sharing!

@Vic
Thanks for your insights! 2021 Badlands owner here—love Ford trucks. They’ve always been my go-to.

Didn’t this show up in the Rampage movie?

Dallas said:
Didn’t this show up in the Rampage movie?

Yes, it did.

Dallas said:
Didn’t this show up in the Rampage movie?

Guess I’ll have to check out that movie now. Thanks!

Dallas said:
Didn’t this show up in the Rampage movie?

Adding this to my watchlist tonight. Cheers!

Dallas said:
Didn’t this show up in the Rampage movie?

Wasn’t that the monster movie with The Rock?

Kari said:

Dallas said:
Didn’t this show up in the Rampage movie?

Wasn’t that the monster movie with The Rock?

Yeah, I liked the game it was based on as a kid. The movie was alright.

It looks like it would’ve been way less customizable. For once, the production version might actually be better than the concept.

It’s wild how some design features from this concept made it into the production version 16 years later. Things like the Bronco text on the grille, round headlights, frameless doors, and mirrors on the A-pillar—it’s cool to see the continuity.

@Mckinley
Those are definitely key features that stuck around.

Am I the only one who thinks this looks too much like a Hummer? Not really a fan.

Scout said:
Am I the only one who thinks this looks too much like a Hummer? Not really a fan.

It was 2005—everything had Hummer vibes back then.

Scout said:
Am I the only one who thinks this looks too much like a Hummer? Not really a fan.

It does feel like Ford’s response to the Hummer, to be honest.

Am I the only one who absolutely loves this design?

Reece said:
Am I the only one who absolutely loves this design?

I think it’s awesome, but it does look pretty similar to what we ended up getting.