Saying goodbye to the Ford Bronco’s tradition of a solid straight six or Windsor V8s, the Bronco is getting the four-cylinder treatment. According to The Fast Lane Car (TFLC), there are a lot of things to look forward to when the revived 4×4 makes its debut in 2020.
So far, what is confirmed is the Bronco will have the same engine seen in the new F-150 and the Edge ST: the turbo-four 2.7 liter EcoBoost engine, which isn’t bad for a truck based off of the Ranger’s platform. After all, the tree-hugging motor makes 335 horsepower with 380 foot-pounds of torque.
Though, it’s looking more and more like Ford is going to stick with the trusty 2.3 liter turbo four. In conjunction with the 10-speed automatic it’s usually paired with, it’s an off-road ready truck that can directly take on the Jeep Wrangler.
Another cold, hard fact TFLC presents is that Ford will make a Raptor version of the Bronco. No one’s sure what the means for the engine choice, but there’s “talk” from Ford about equipping the monster with a 5.0 liter Coyote V8. Though, once again, that’s being swirled around and around in the storm of rumors.
That’s not to say there isn’t a shred of hope for Ford V8 lovers, though – even the Raptor will be reunited with a mighty V8 thanks to popular demand. So, maybe if the people scream loud enough, Ford will hear their cries once again.
To be fair, Ford hasn’t quite killed V8s, so there’s reason to hang onto such a speculation. After all, Ford did recently announce a giant 7.3 liter V8 that’s to be fitted with the 2020 versions of the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty gas-powered trucks. The new Mustang Shelby GT500 is also expected to have a large V8 as well.
Therefore, with these engines already planned to be produced and used, having one of these engines in the Bronco isn’t totally out of the question. To add more mystery to the story, there have also been prototypes spotted being tested off-road that are supposedly dubbed “Rock Monsters” by Ford, according to TFLC. This, in addition to V8’s on the table, makes the Raptor Bronco even more plausible.
Now we get to what the truck is supposed to look like. The rumors around the aesthetics of the vehicle are probably the most uncertain. Ford fans are concerned about what they’ve seen so far. A large percentage of the public’s opinion hover around “it’s ugly.” This is thanks to several spy shots that have been published on every other automotive outlet.
Solace, though, should be taken in the fact that what’s been seen are only test mules – and no car has ever been finalized looking identical to test mules. Personally, I hope the new Bronco looks like the 2004 concept that was unveiled. It’s the perfect blend of the past with a futuristic twist. All that’s cemented is that it’ll be “boxy.”
However, to make matters even spicier, TFLC also revealed that the Bronco is expected to have a removable roof, possibly even removable doors, too. Which makes the claim for the new truck being aimed at the Wrangler even more compelling. Although, it should be said that Broncos did used to come with removable tops back in the day. So, not only would the Bronco and Raptor Bronco be a refreshing update to the Ford lineup, it would be a nice homage to the fun, rambunctious SUV’s of Ford’s golden years.
Renderings of the 2020 Bronco all make it look as rugged as the market it’s being made for. We don’t have permission to use it, but do yourself a favor and look at how it was rendered for “Car & Driver.” If it looks anything like that, I’ll go deep into debt for 20.