Ford has dropped the Free Wheeling edition from the 2026 Bronco Sport lineup. The vivid throwback, styled after the 1970s, lasted just two model years. For a nameplate steeped in heritage, seeing the Free Wheeling badge exit this quickly feels a touch unexpected.

The Free Wheeling trim stood out with signature red-to-orange gradient stripes, Race Red accents on 17-inch wheels, and a cabin dressed in unique Sunset Weave fabric. For 2025, it slotted between the Heritage and Outer Banks trims, with a starting price of about $33,135 before destination.

Going forward, the Bronco Sport range narrows to four versions: Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks, and Badlands. In place of the discontinued variant, a new Bronze Package arrives, adding bronze accents inside and out. It may not shout as loud as the old stripes, but the metallic highlights should still lend the crossover some visual punch.

Ford isn’t abandoning the Free Wheeling vibe entirely, though: the full-size Bronco will offer an optional package in a similar spirit — a neat way to keep that retro energy where it resonates most.