Ford’s continuous
push for electrification and new high-riding vehicles will meet each other in
the form of a hybrid Bronco. The model was confirmed by the brand’s head
honcho, Jim Hackett, at the annual shareholders’ meeting, according to AutoNews
reporter Michael Martinez on Instagram. No details are being known about the
electrified powertrain, but rumor has it that it will probably join a couple of
gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.
The 2.3-liter
turbo-four, as well as the 2.7-liter V6, are expected to power the ICE versions
and will likely be coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission, with a
possible manual gearbox joining the range later on as an option, although
nothing’s official yet.
Poised to take on
the Jeep Wrangler, the all-new Bronco is believed to arrive in late 2020 after
a 24-year hiatus. The rugged off-roader will feature removable doors and hard
top that can be stored in the cargo compartment, as dealers have confirmed
after reportedly being shown a two-door variant, while a four-door will also be
available.
A few months before
dropping the veil off the 2021 Bronco, Ford will reportedly uncover its smaller
sibling. It will be based on the all-new Escape (Kuga in Europe), but will look
nothing like it, as it will get a boxier styling. The engines will come from
the Escape, which will go on sale this fall with a 250 hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost, a
180 hp 1.5-liter EcoBoost, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Ford will also put
some pressure on the Tesla Model X and other electric SUVs with a
Mustang-inspired electric crossover set to arrive in 2020.
