New Ford Bronco being released

2.3L EcoBoost I4: 270 hp @ 5500 rpm, 310 lb⋅ft @ 3000 rpm

2.7L EcoBoost V6: 325 hp @ 5000 rpm, 400 lb⋅ft @ 2750 rpm

Both are making 50% of peak torque at just off idle (around 1200 RPM). If you're going to go rock crawling or other creeping around the woods, that's what you want. Just like audio, just because you have 325 watts doesn't mean you're using 325 watts all the time.

The "granny gear" isn't a necessity. It's an option aimed squarely at the Jeep Rubicon. The Bronco is going for a chunk of that market where the Jeep is pretty much the only player in the hardcore off-roader game anymore since Nissan stepped out with the discontinuation of the XTerra. The cushier trims of the Bronco are going to eat the FJ Cruiser's lunch because they are better appointed while retaining much of the capability of the burlier Bronco trims and they are doing it for just over half the price of the FJ. But the whole point of a granny gear is that you can run the engine at an RPM where you're not going to overheat it because at a 95:1 ratio, that's an insane amount of torque multiplication on a crazy gear reduction for a consumer-level vehicle and it rolls off the showroom floor with it. There's no aftermarket involved. Also, given how small the EcoBoost packaging is, cooling hasn't been a problem in anything they've shoehorned the little turbo mills in to. Ford's been developing the EcoBoost engines since the mid-90's based on what they learned in CART and F1. They showed them to the world in 2009 and by 2012, they were making close to 1M EcoBoost engines annually across all product lines. By the time the Bronco hits the market, the Gen 2 EcoBoost that it's getting will be about 5 years old and the Gen 3 will likely be showing it's connecting rods in 2021, 2022 as part of high some hybrid designs for Lincoln. Additionally, the EcoBoost engines are based on the Duratec line which has been in production since 1993 and was originally developed in partnership with Porsche (not kidding, look it up, it wasn't Mazda) with cylinder head designs by Cosworth. The original Duratec engines were slated to power not just the Ford Modeo in Europe but also Jaguar's line-up as well as Porsche's entry-level sports cars and crossovers. That's some big names in engine development there with a pedigree that goes back almost 3 decades. That's Ford Windsor V8 levels of history there. I don't think the EcoBoost series of engines has anything to worry about on the reliability side of the coin. Especially since they've won engineering awards year after year after year after year....

Anyway. The Bronco Sport is not the same platform as the Bronco. The Bronco is being built on the Ranger chassis. But the current Ranger chassis is HUGE compared to the old Ranger chassis. Additionally, the current Ranger is roughly 7/8ths the size of the 78-96 F-series based Bronco. So the Bronco may look short and squat but that's because of it's meaty tires. The new Bronco is quite large. It slots between the Ford Edge and the Ford Explorer in size.

The Bronco Sport is based on the Escape. Hell, not even based, it IS an Escape with different sheet metal and a beefier transfer case. The Bronco Sport is still pretty large and about what the size of the original Bronco/Scout was that Doc Hardy is fondly remembering.

I doubt that many of the Broncos will end up as shopping mall warriors because, well, shopping malls are becoming a thing of the past and the Bronco is pretty harsh as cushy rides go. The Bronco Sport seems to be aimed squarely at that market and given that it's newest competition is the new Chevy Blazer, it's certainly a far sight more interesting. The Blazer seems to be what a 10 year would have done to make a Chevy Equinox look more aggressive and that's it. That's pretty much what it is, anyway because that's what the Blazer replaced last year. Nobody really noticed the Equinox and nobody's going to notice the Blazer if it wasn't for the nostalgia around the name plate. Unfortunately for the Blazer, that's all it has going for it. The Bronco combines the quirky, plain good looks of the original with the burly, rough-and-tumble capabilities of the full-sized version. The Bronco's not just selling nostalgia. You park a 2021 Bronco next to a 2021 Blazer and nobody is going to flock to the Blazer to get a better look.

As far as off-roaders go, though, from what I've read so far Ford was serious here and they didn't cut many corners at all. On paper the new Bronco, even in base trim, comes with a ton of stuff that would be optional on other vehicles. It can also be optioned out the wazoo and despite the manual only coming with the 2.3L I4, at 270 horsepower, that's a stout I4. With a curb weight that should be under 4500 pounds, that's a stout combination overall with a pretty good weight balance which is exactly what you want to creep over rocks and bounce up and down trails.

The fact that it comes with a bunch of creature comforts only speaks to the market place as Jeep has been trying to do the same thing with the Wrangler for years. They've been just short of the mark as well.

I dunno, personally, I think it's a sharp lookin' ride in 2 door or 4 door. The Wrangler 4 door is awkward as hell pretty much unusable in the guise because of all the compromises you need to deal with to preserve the Jeep aesthetic. This Bronco, though, looks natural with 4 doors.

I think this is going to be a winner for Ford. Especially since it starts at around $28.5K and if all you're looking for is a fun off-roader to kick around the woods for the weekend, that base model Bronco is a REALLY good value that no other manufacturer can touch at that price.

But, if you want a hardcore off-roader that will also double as a "family car" and do the family thing, that Big Bend trim level at $33,385 is a hell of a value that's REALLY hard to beat in that price category if it can be beat at all. The options from there are insane in capabilities and even value. Only the "first run" special edition tops 60K (reservations are full, already, BTW, so, sold out) and you're pretty much paying for exclusivity. A non-optioned Bronco Wildtrack gives you a Bronco that is pretty much what was raced in the Baja 1000 last year but, has an interior. That starts at $48K and given the options list, it's not going to go that much above it unless you spring for the high dollar aftermarket parts like Fox racing shocks and the bead-lockers and such.

This is going to be a big deal, I think. It's directly addressing an under-served market that has had only the Jeep Wrangler for a LOOOOOOONG time and lots of people who want the "look" are going to go after this despite the capability. That's what's been selling Wranglers for decades anyway.

I gotta say, jstas, you certainly do your research! You almost got me sold.

Yes, indeed. Tell us what you really think. Good job and I agree with most of your points. I kind of like them both, though the Sport model is probably best suited to most buyers.

My belief is Ford has a winner in the Bronco as well. First hand experience tells me that little 2.3 turbo doesn't have to spin up to make a usable amount of torque. I've been driving a hilly 40 mile commute with my new 2.3 turbo Ranger and it will easily get up to speed quickly from a dead stop going up a steep grade at very low rpms. The part that I like best is it's also getting 26 mpg with only 450 miles on the clock.

Knock on wood I've had zero problems with small turbo charged motors and also have one in my 2011 Sonata. One of the tests Hyundai ran on their small turbos was to run it wfo for 2 weeks straight which it did without issue. That's tough duty even for a naturally aspirated motor but it does show the reliability of the modern turbo.

Since auto makers share platforms they develop with more than one vehicle these days, the rumor is the chassis and drivetrain from the Bronco will also be used next year for a new Ford Ranger. Now Ford has stopped pouring money into sedan development and tooling, they have more billions to put into truck and utility vehicle development.

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Is the Jeep gittin' a Hemi?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0THMwP_MXE

Technically still a concept, but it looks like it.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33296307/jeep-wrangler-v-8-rubicon-392-concept-revealed/

So I bet we can blame the Bronco for the U.S. not getting the Ranger Raptors.

I really dig the Raptors they are bada$$

I'm a die-hard Jeep fan. I own 2 currently and many in the past. The only Jeep worthy the name since Fiat takeover, IMHO, is the Wrangler line. That Bronco will pick up a lot of the non- Wrangler Jeep fans because the Feeps just don't look cool any more. They look like every other city slicker SUV not built for off road durability.

Back in 1977 I saw a late 60's corvette that was made into a
flatbed in the back. A couple of the guys were planning a homicide.
It was the worst hack job you could imagine. Right up there
with the Trans Am with green metal flake wheels and curb feelers.