Off-Roadeo: Why it is really here

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two years, you know that Ford has remade the legendary Bronco. Luckily, they did the new Bronco right, unlike Chevrolet with their new Blazer and Trailblazer. If you have heard more about the Ford Bronco, you may have heard that new Bronco owners are invited to Ford off-roading events called the Off-Roadeo, a clever name. Similar to Jeep events at Moab, the off-roadeo is a place for Bronco owners to enjoy their new vehicles and meet other owners and enthusiasts. There are also chances there to learn how to use the Bronco and all of its advanced off-road bells and whistles. There is a reason that Ford is doing this other than to build hype and entertain its customers.

If you don't already know, the Bronco is the first direct competitor to the Jeep Wrangler in years. The Wrangler is a proven off-road legend with unmatched capability, and the Bronco has a lot to prove if it wants to even be in the same league as the Wrangler. Ford made a capable car, but they need to make sure the drivers can effectively use the car while off-roading. Many Bronco buyers are new to off-roading and may not know how to use their lockers and winches. It is in Ford's better interest to educate them on how to use their cars because it is them who will be representing the brand off-road.

With the Bronco already getting some criticism for the independent front suspension and non-removable mirrors, the last thing they need is a bunch of off-road newbies to make a fool out of themselves and more importantly, Ford, on the off-road trails. Reputation is very important in the automotive world, especially in performance cars (whether it be road or off-road). Ford cannot afford to have the Bronco get a reputation as second to the Wrangler, and they are making a smart choice to train their customers so that they can represent themselves and their brand well while on the trails.