--- title: "Ford Everest Caught Roaming Near Ford HQ as Bronco Development Ramps Up" description: "The upcoming Ford Bronco will be based largely on the Australian Everest, but could these spy shots reveal something new?" date: "2018-04-16" modified: "2018-04-16" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/20154/ford-everest-caught-roaming-near-ford-hq-as-bronco-development-ramps-up" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "automotive news" - "Bronco" - "everest" - "Ford" - "News" - "Spy shots" - "SUV" --- # Ford Everest Caught Roaming Near Ford HQ as Bronco Development Ramps Up ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* These exclusive photographs acquired by *The Drive* show what appears to be a 2018 Ford Everest driving near the automaker's testing and engineering facilities in Dearborn, Michigan. Despite its [similarities with the Australian SUV,]() this rugged 'ute boasts key design differences that make us wonder about its ties to the upcoming Ford Bronco. Dressed in a bright hue referred to as True Red on the Ford Australia website, the Everest's color-matched bumpers and chromed mirror caps lead us to believe this particular example is a range-topping Titanium trim. That being said, we [couldn't find any photographic evidence]() that Ford has previously used this specific front grille and wheel design on any other 2017 or 2018 Everest models. The three bars running across the grille and the Blue Oval are considerably different than the current design, and the large (possibly 20-inch) wheels aren't listed on any Ford parts catalogs. ![message-editor%2F1523901244192-the-drive-ford-bronco-by-sean-grove3.jpg]() *Sean Grove* ![message-editor%2F1523901249142-the-drive-ford-bronco-by-sean-grove2.jpg]() *Sean Grove* Automakers oftentimes use current-production vehicles to test the parts and components of vehicles that have yet to be released, but we can assume that "grille and wheel testing" isn't necessarily what we're witnessing here. We're more concerned with [what's *under* the hood]() of the three-row SUV. We reached out to Ford to inquire about the provenance of the Everest and its relation to the upcoming Bronco, but its answer was less than revealing. "Ford is a global automotive company and Dearborn is one of our Global Product Development centers, where we occasionally review and test global products," Mike Levine, Ford North America Product Communications Manager, told *The Drive*. ![message-editor%2F1523901279659-the-drive-ford-bronco-by-sean-grove4.jpg]() *Sean Grove* ![message-editor%2F1523901284004-the-drive-ford-bronco-by-sean-grove1.jpg]() *Sean Grove* When Ford Motor Company announced that the Bronco and Ranger nameplates were coming back to the United States at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, legions of lifelong fanatics erupted with joy and pledged to consider either vehicle when they landed on dealer lots. Fast-forward nearly 16 months, and everything surrounding the Bronco has been hush-hush, with Ford only revealing that it will [share similar construction with the Everest]() and that it'll be built at the Michigan Assembly Plant along with the new Ranger. With a launch planned for late 2019 as a 2020 model, common sense would dictate that sooner rather than later we will begin seeing Bronco prototypes testing on the world's most extreme climates and terrains. It's just a matter of time. ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()