Two years have passed since Ford confirmed the
Bronco would return in 2020. Since then, we’ve only seen a handful of heavily
disguised teaser images. That could be changing as spy photographers have snapped what appears
to be a Bronco mule. Looking decidedly hardcore, the mule is either based or at
least using the shell of the Ranger SuperCab and features a comically short bed
which is covered by a custom top.
Of course, you shouldn’t be worried about the
questionable styling as this vehicle is likely a mule for a Ranger-based SUV.
That effectively means the Bronco, which will be built alongside the Ranger at
the Michigan Assembly Plant next year.
The hardcore nature of the mule is hard to overlook
as it appears off-road ready even in prototype form. It
features a front skid plate and six-lug wheels with beefy off-road tires. The
mule also has plenty of ground clearance as well as room for articulation.
Ford has been tight-lipped about the Bronco, but the
company’s North American president has previously said the SUV has to live up
to expectations and have a certain kind of capability. Kumar Galhotra did go
into specifics, but it’s believed he was talking about off-roading.
This isn’t too surprising as Ford is expected to
position the Bronco as a Jeep Wrangler competitor. That comparison becomes
pretty clear when you look as previous teaser photos which suggest the Bronco
will incorporate classic design cues as well as a little bit of inspiration
from the Wrangler.
Little else is known about the Bronco at this point,
but Ford has already confirmed the model will be offered with a hybrid
powertrain. We can also expect conventional engines, possibly including the
Ranger’s current 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder which develops 270 hp and 420 Nm of torque.
