Lucas Bell 
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport faced quite a bit of skepticism from fans when it was first announced. Part of that hesitation from the Bronco faithful stemmed from the fact that “Baby Bronco” is a small crossover, and that it shares the same C2 Platform underpinnings as the not-so-adventurous Escape. And while our experiences with the SUV have proved that this thing is indeed worthy of the Bronco nameplate, Ford has just rolled out a new ad-spot to further drive this point home. The new ad highlights the Bronco Sport’s off-road-focused GOAT drive modes, as well as some real mountain goats.
The new ad made its debut during a Fox broadcast of the NFL Wild Card game, and is titled “2021 Ford Bronco Sport: Raised By Goats”. In this fictionalized backstory for the compact off-roader, we watch as an injured colt is rescued by a group of mountain goats, who then raise the animal as one of their own. The goats go on to teach the horse how to navigate in the slippery, uneven landscape in which they live. Once the horse has mastered this unforgiving terrain, it enters a cave only to exit as a Ford Bronco Sport. An interesting production method indeed.
The goats, while cute, are actually representative of the SUVs “Goes Over Any Terrain” drive modes. This part of the traction management system helps the off-roader’s all-wheel drive adjust to varied terrains. All Ford Bronco Sport models come as standard with five of these selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand. Opt for either a Badlands or First Edition model and their more robust 4×4 system with a locking rear differential brings two more available modes: Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl. All seven of the modes adjust the SUV’s throttle response, transmission shift points, steering weight, and brake calibrations to assist the driver accordingly.
A mountain goat isn’t actually a bad comparison for this compact 4×4, which is remarkably capable for its size. Make no mistake, this is not a repeat of the Bronco II situation. The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport may be much smaller than the full-size offering, but it is still a Bronco in more than just its name. While these ads may not convert any of the haters, seeing what it can do on the trails just might.
