Guest essay by Eric Worrall
h/t Nick; Best free marketing campaign eva; According to Vice, if you drive one of the new Ford SUVs, you’re basically giving the finger to the sensibilities of green liberals. But this could be one of its greatest selling points.
The New Ford Bronco Is An Obscene Monument to Climate Denialism
In the year 2020, there is simply no excuse for releasing a brand new SUV without so much as a hybrid option.
By Aaron Gordon 15 July 2020, 10:03am
On Monday evening, Ford held a digital launch event for the new Ford Bronco, resurrecting the brand name for a Sport Utility Vehicle engineered for off-roading performance that is best known for transporting a fugitive along a Southern California freeway.
There isn’t much you need to know about the new Bronco—which I can assure you via Ford’s press release is capable of being driven on any terrain you could possibly want to drive it—because the odds are you will never need the off-roading capabilities this particular vehicle offers.
For John and Jane Q. Commuter, the only thing you need to know about the Bronco—which, unless you regularly go off-roading for sport and thrill, you should never ever consider buying no matter how much Ford tries to convince you otherwise with its massive marketing campaign—is that it does not come with a hybrid or electric version. In the year 2020, this is tantamount to climate denialism.
…
Read more: https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/akzj4p/the-new-ford-bronco-is-an-obscene-monument-to-climate-denialism
I wonder how Ford will respond? Will Ford management curl up into a quivering defensive apologetic bundle and promise to release a pathetic zero sales electric model? Or will Ford grab this once in a lifetime marketing opportunity, and double down on the offence by releasing a light truck version?
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JUST in time for the Zombie Apocalypse …
Jay Leno’s YouTube Bronco: https://youtu.be/hzQ91ggSqZQ
Walter J Horsting – 11:07 am
Jay Leno’s YouTube Bronco:
That was great, thanks for posting (-:
Love it. What a joy. Who would ever use a radio in that car!
I want one. Get my preps to the cave.
re: “is that it does not come with a hybrid or electric version. In the year 2020, this is tantamount to climate denialism.”
Vice: “A thing is what I say it is.”
Wasn’t Alice in Wonderland lectured on this, or was she the one giving the lecture? It’s been too many data sheets and circuit designs back to recall such details …
One gets the impression that somewhere there must be a Mount Tanta Climbing Club, dedicated to making tanamounts out of tantamolehills.
@ur momisugly Paul Johnson
Best word mash. Ever!
You win!
Breathing is tantamount to climate denialism to the green-left-cancel-life loons.
@ur momisugly _Jim July 16, 2020 at 10:10 am
The source of George Orwell’s Newspeak?
DP
Ha – I love this!
Me too!
And I’m not a Ford person normally.
Even with Ford’s ‘take a box and trick it out’ design paradigm, I still like the practical look with a solid stance.
My Expedition is a great car. Has slide out running, boards, hand grips heated seats, adjustable seat back, great radio/CD. Built with this old man in mind. Five years old and runs like a top.
“runs like a top”
It spins rapidly?
Only after vain have been out drinking … too much.
“it does not come with a hybrid or electric version. In the year 2020, this is tantamount to climate denialism.”
But (heard it through the grapevine) an optional dashboard Fuques-Givin meter is available. What great fun to smash the pedal to the floor to make it read zero.
icisil,
It took my brain an extra few milliseconds to get your joke; when I did, I did in fact laugh out loud! Why the delay? I processed ‘Fuques’ as “fooks”!
A good laugh appreciated with my morning joe.
badEnglish
I went even further… I got “fook-ay”! It wasn’t ’til I processed mashing the accelerator to the floorboard to get to zero that I realized how it was supposed to be pronounced!
Whomp! Vrrroooom! “Yeeeeehaw! Zero Fuques-Given!”
I saw it as Fook-Yu
I have a problem with my Fuques-Givin meter. It stays on zero all the time…
Same here, seems to be stuck on zero in my new 5.0 Mustang, which gets around 12 mpg around town. I am always giving the middle finger to the green movement. Vroom vrooom.
Can’t be right – EPA proclaims 18 city, 25 highway
Wrong foot on the pedal, colonel.
Severian means using the gas pedal to enter on-ramps safely and leaving stoplights effectively.
Perhaps, leaving ribber marks every now and then.
Only if babied… given typical Mustang driver inclinations, 12mpg is probably generous. 😉
2.4L 4 cylinder
Shows just how “accurate” EPA figures are when applied to the real world. Total since I’ve owned the car, including some highway but mostly around town, is 14.8 mpg. Sitting in traffic, well, the car sucks gas, but then I didn’t buy it for economy, I can afford the fuel. I bought it because it was perhaps my last opportunity to get a large V8 and I wasn’t fond of the Dodge products (though they make some awesome very very big V8s).
Back to EPA, girlfriend of a coworker of mine about 15 years ago had a VW Jetta diesel, on her highway runs, and everywhere for that matter, she bettered the EPA mileage numbers, by a lot on highway trips.
But yes, when given the opportunity, I do exercise my right foot and glory in the sound.
It’s not a bug, it’s a feature.
Wow, I really laughed out loud at that…well done.
I been all out of fuques to givin for a long time!
Fuques-Givin meter,,,,,, make it read zero.
ROTFL……….
Read “Apocalypse Never” and then discuss this article with others who actually understand the limitations of the scientific method.
“According to Vice, if you drive one of the new Ford SUVs, you’re basically giving the finger to the sensibilities of green liberals. ”
If I considered Vice opinions anything other than incoherent rambles, I’d be visiting the Ford dealer.
The impression I’m left with is that Aaron Gordon views the ideal world as a place where all humans live in cities, and the remaining undeveloped areas that don’t have special permits for growing food, are fenced, and off-limits to all but hikers and hot-air balloonists with special once-in-their-lifetime permits. Hikers must stay on approved trails. Look but don’t touch. Those exercising their permits must arrive by public electric-transportation.
Those had better be hybrid hot air balloons, citizen!
Need “high-bred” emissions? No propane – but a limit of three politicians per basket to provide the hot air…..
Could be powered by microwave masers: Have a local windturbine (lots of those polluting the scenery where hot-air balloons like to fly) power a maser that is kept aimed at the bag of the balloon.
I know, I know, not very practical, but par-for-the-course I think compared to most green ideas.
To complete your dystopia, where veganism is enforced by the State.
“According to Vice, if you drive one of the new Ford SUVs, you’re basically giving the finger to the sensibilities of green liberals. ”
That’s one reason I want one! That should definitely be in their marketing campaign.
Yep. Just being able to conveniently haul my Hammond B-3 and a pair of model 147 Leslie speakers when I go gigging is only part of the reason i drive an F-150 4X4 longbox. 🙂 🙂
You’re hauling two 147s? Plus a B-3?
Sheesh! These days I won’t even lug the L100-P and a small Leslie to anywhere.
I concur with the Vice opinion( WOW, I actually said that)
I drive a Hummer H2, and a Ford F250 with the long bed and deer guard. Avg 11 mpg for both. That Ford Bronco though looks nice.
Is it COVID-19 resistent on road and off road?
Capitalism always beats Progressivism. In the ’80s, they tried to kill front-opening side-by-side refrigerators. Today, that’s practically the only kind available. In the ’00s, they went to war with gated communities. In the wake of rioting, expect more of those.
Since the ’90s, Progressives have been at war with SUVs. But according to sales stats, the pickup trucks and SUVs won. I’ve always argued that SUVs & minivans were simply the modern equivalents of the station wagons that every family drove in the ’60s through ’70s until the federal government killed them through the CAFE standards. It’s ironic that in their vain effort to kill big cars, the eco-fascists actually created an even bigger vehicle category that now outsells all others!
Yes. I remember when the War Against the SUV began.
The opening round was an assault on the Public Image of SUVs by Pointing Out their amazing degree of Unsafeness.
This is what was in the media for a while. If an SUV hits a Honda Civic, the people in the Civic are much more likely to be seriously harmed or killed relative to the people in the SUV. Instead of declaring heavier, more sturdy vehicles as safer, they defined them as more dangerous.
At the time, I pointed out to my wife how ridonculous this argument was. It is still ridonculous. It was the Communists all the time, hating on Our Prevailing Society.
Ford built a Taurus station wagon in 1995 . We (MetroCell Cellular soon to be AT&T Wireless Services) bought a pair to augment our small fleet of cellular drive-test vehicles … I did note on the drive back from the dealer that the back end exhibited a bot of ‘heavy feel’ (and this was before test gear in a short rack was added in the back) when performing some light impact ‘slalom maneuvers’.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Taurus+station+wagon+in+1995&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
When the collision is between two vehicles of the same size, the larger the vehicles, the safer the passengers.
“ Or will Ford grab this once in a lifetime marketing opportunity, and double down on the offence by releasing a light truck version?”
Brilliant! A version like the old Explorer Sport Trac would be awesome.
‘Vice’ is just obscene.
I like the new Bronco, but I am dissapointed that the state of the art in internal combustion technology really hasn’t advanced all that much in the past 40 years.
Case in point: I bought a 1983 Ford F100 new, and was immediately impressed with the fuel economy. Equipped with Ford’s first ever overdrive auto transmission, I was averaging 18mpg in mixed driving and 20 mpg highway. That was extremely good for its time. In addition, the truck was so reliable that I am still driving it today. Fuel economy is more like 16mpg now, but that is still way better than the Mustang mentioned on the comments. The engine is Ford’s well regarded 4.9L six.
Looks good, very little overhang and good sized engine. Love the feature that you can take off the roof.
I can only imagine good sale. – Good and timely move from Ford. – LOL.
Ford has that factory with green grass on the roof, they do some green things, but nothing will ever be enough to satisfy climate crusaders, who themselves use fossil fuels every day – the HYPOCRITES!
Typical hedging up to the goal of EVs only. Why are we allowing the ecoloons to perpetuate the AGW narrative? I guess when you look at EV sales as a percentage of overall sales they are making more noise than getting action though.
In my jurisdiction (Ontario, Canada) a long term progressive provincial Government instituted insane level subsidies for electric power vehicles. The sales of them were still anemic. After their decimation in the mid 2018 election, the subsidies soon ended. Unless there’s a dramatic change in two more years, massive public investments in re-charge infrastructure is as an issue … as dead as a EV battery after 100 km in a -10°F blizzard.
I was not a fan of the Bronco, but I will take a look now after mob media weighed in.
Not coming to Europe due to the eco-weenies, sadly.
Will a 5.0 V8 Mustang p!ss them off, too? Where’s the configurator…
5.0 litre Range Rovers and 6.0 litre Astons seem to (drools). I think there may be enough large engined cars without importing more.
I drive a pathetic little sedan. The few times a year when I actually need something bigger, I rent it.
My little car is dwarfed by all the giant pickup trucks wherever I park. I wonder how many times a year their owners actually use them to anything like their capabilities.
Similar to the above, I wonder how often these new Broncos will actually be used off-road.
If I still had working knees, and could ski, I would consider a 4wd vehicle. I once had one that got used every weekend during ski season. It was wonderful.
I found out years ago it is impossible to rent a four wheel drive pickup. I need on for and elk hunt, i got by with much pain with my two wheel drive Canyon and chains, it would been a lot better to have a four wheel drive Canyon. So now I drive a four wheel drive Colorado. It will do 28 MPG on the highway in the plain states. Average highway where I live is 23, Arizona is not flat in most places.
Subaru’s are the best selling brand in Colorado, Outback is #1 for good reason. AWD is great when needed. I used to like the Baja but apparently not enough of other people did.
My family is on our 3rd Subaru Forester. With AWD and a low centre of gravity due to the boxer engine the traction and handling are great on most any surface. Unfortunately the ground clearance is only about 5 in so it is easy to get stuck in high snow or soft sand.
Aren’t all rental cars by definition “off-road and 4 wheel drive capable”???
Asking for a friend.
Yes! And the same ones are also high performance sports cars.
I love Payson.
try living in snow area like maine and saying that. 4wd/awd not just for off road. some of us don’t have roads plowed every 2 inches like many people have.
I’ve actually had to plow (myself) 12 ft wide by 1-2 foot deep by 8ft long drifts off my road just so emergency vehicles could get thru.
get tired of people foolishly equating SUV and/or truck usage for off road stuff.
when I am not using a truck I use my mercury grand marquis and a 7×14 trailer with approx 32″ sides. in winter I have z-chains (cable type tire chain) for car.
I don’t need the 4 wheel drive in my truck all the time, or even most of the time. But when I do, it’s priceless.
I bought a PU new 20 years ago. Priced the 2 wd and 4 wd versions then though about the extra 10% cost. Went with the 4wd because I considered the 10% cheap insurance.
Just so happens 5 years later I bought property in the mountains, over 8000 ft elevation. Where it is I needed 4wd and chains with 300 lbs of sand in the back in the winter. Much cheaper than buying a new vehicle.
Truck is still running fine with over 200,000 miles. Gave it to my son. He lives in WY and needs the 4wd much of the winter.
Now I drive a 1 ton diesel 4wd PU. Tow a 5th wheel, had it for less than 2 years and have almost 50,000 miles on it, and about 10,000 on the 5th wheel. The roads to my cabin in the mountains are better plowed than 15 years ago so I haven’t used chains yet, but the back end slides around something terrible because all of the weight on the front axle. Makes driving fun.
Take that you ecoweenies!
the road up to my house is impassable in winter in most pathetic little sedans … 1200 foot elevation over 1/2 mile of switchback road … I have 2 dogs and your sedan would be a short afternoons work as a chew toy … so some folks have more needs than others …
Personally, I’d rather invest in refurbishing a pre-1989 vehicle built before all the myriads of computer chips were installed in ever growing numbers. They assist, or run virtually all of the features of most gas or diesel vehicles. Some high end Euro brands I’ve read have over 1000 per vehicle. So, you are likely driving an electric vehicle already.
One big solar flare, or a surprise from the Kim family, and you have a $40K+ to +++ paperweight in your driveway.
Actually, I wish I had never gotten rid of my ’74 Fiat X/19 with the Datsun engine swap. I’ve spent 30 years kicking myself for being a fool.
SR20DET?
My X-1/9s just had the regular 1500 – lovely to drive and to look at, though.
My old Honda NSX reminds me a lot of them. Only bigger & a bit more grown-up. And far less fragile.
Yeah I have 3 warning lights going off for tire pressure gauges on tires that are fine and a check engine light that only comes on during the rain. 😡
Pull the internal tyre pressure senders out if tyres and put external sensors in tyres. Then can change to spare if tyre goes flat and disconnect temp gauge and put an engine guard in. It fines block temp, not steam or water temp
Better take a look at your ignition…my stock ’75 International has an electronic ignition module that would be fried in your Kim scenario.
Older is better.
Then it wouldn’t hurt to have few modules squireled away in a shielded container. And, I wouldn’t tell all the guys in the cave.
The Chrysler “Plymouth” product line was points ignition for my 1971 Satellite and solid-state (non-computer) electronic ignition for my 1972 Satellite. Points were a bear (required timing light and dwell meter to set each time the points were ‘touched’), the electronic ignition was a dream and problem free (set timing ONCE and forget) for the period I owned it …
Denial here, denial there, denial everywhere.
ON ALLEGATIONS OF INVASIVE SPECIES DENIALISM. Open Access Conservation Biology. 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13278
Beginning of abstract
“Science denialism retards evidenced based policy and practice and should be challenged. It has been a particular concern for mitigating global environmental issues, such as anthropogenic climate change. But allegations of science denialism must also be well founded and evidential or they risk eroding public trust in science and scientists. Recently, 77 published works by scholars, scientists, and science writers were identified as containing invasive species denialism (ISD; i.e., rejection of well supported facts about invasive species, particularly the global scientific consensus about their negative impacts).”
Don’t you just love invasive Broncos.
“invasive species denialism … particularly the global scientific consensus about their negative impacts).”
It strikes me that whether the impact of an invasive species is positive or negative is a value judgment that science cannot make. All science can do is tell you what the impact of the invasive species is. The valence of the impact is purely a value judgment.
In years past, zebra mussels from the Black Sea hitched rides on cargo ships and established themselves in the Great Lakes. Turns out the polluted dirty water was a tasty treat for the mussels, which are filter feeders. Now the water was too clean. Oh No. A trash fish called a goby found its way in to the lakes. They stated eating the mussels. Oh No. They stocked the lakes with salmon and trout that eat the gobies. Oh No. And so it goes.
Mr. Sobchak: I remember all that, too. Our elites think the same folks who manage the Great Lakes should manage the climate, as well. What could go wrong?
The 2021 Bronco, back by popular demand. NOW without Lithium battery technology!
Looks nice. I’d check it out.
“‘Hamilton’ Loses Its Snob Appeal: Political correctness is a barrier to keep the working class from becoming upwardly mobile.” By Rob Henderson | July 14, 2020
https://www.wsj.com/articles/hamilton-loses-its-snob-appeal-11594746441?mod=MorningEditorialReport&mod=djemMER_h
“When I was a new student at Yale in 2015, everyone on campus was talking about the Broadway sensation “Hamilton.” “It’s amazing,” a classmate told me. … I searched the internet for tickets: $400—way beyond my budget as a veteran enlisted man attending college on the GI Bill.
“So I was pleased this month when “Hamilton” became available to watch on the streaming service Disney+. But now the show is being criticized for its portrayal of the American Founding by many of the same people who once gushed about it. Is it a coincidence that affluent people loved “Hamilton” when tickets were prohibitively expensive, but they disparage it now that ordinary people can see it?
* * *
“Once something becomes fashionable among the upper class, aspiring elites know they must go along to have any hope of joining the higher ranks. But once it becomes fashionable among the hoi polloi, the elites update their tastes.
***
“Ideological purity tests now exist to indicate social class and block upward social mobility. Your opinion about social issues is the new powdered wig. In universities and in professional jobs, political correctness is a weapon used by white-collar professionals to weed out those who didn’t marinate in elite mores.
“These are luxury beliefs—or ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class while taking a toll on lower class.
***
“The winds will have shifted by the time the proletariat catches up, and that’s the point. Affluent people keep their positions secure by allowing only those who go to the right colleges, listen to the right podcasts, and read the right books to join their inner circle. But just as today’s fashionable art will soon be out-of-date, so will today’s fashionable moral opinions.”
If I didn’t already have a pair of two ton Volvo XC 70’s in the driveway I would consider the Bronco. It would probably work as well in Maine winters as the all wheel drive Volvos. The planet is doing just fine.
depending on year those volvos may be a ford. elsewise (mid 2010 onwards) they are chinese.
speaking of snow in maine, you not near sanford where that had to plow roads tuesday night are you?
nothing up here just outside of bangor.
What, or who, is “Vice”? It’s opinion is obviously worthless.
Do they come in white? I hear the white ones are great for making a clean getaway.
Askin’ for a friend, of course.
I heard the white ones were great for grocery shopping. You can carry your juice and the police will give you a parade escort.
+32
Rename it the Biden Biden Hauler.
Solar Orbiter’s first images from ESA
https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2020/07/013/2007_013_AR_EN.mp4
Here you can see Earth’s dimensions to scale
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter/Solar_Orbiter_s_first_images_reveal_campfires_on_the_Sun
Good thing there is centrifugal force.
An in-depth review indicates this is a very capable ‘tough country’ mule.
That it massively triggers environMentalists is a pure bonus!