The 2021 Ford Bronco has been dominating
the headlines and a new report says a Bronco pickup is in the works. According
to Automobile, Ford is developing a new truck to battle the Jeep Gladiator.
This shouldn’t be too surprising as the Bronco is based on an upgraded version
of the Ranger’s frame.
Unfortunately, the truck is several years
off as the publication says it should arrive in mid-2024 as a 2025 model.
However, Ford has reportedly prioritized development and this could result in a
launch as early as 2022.
Like the Gladiator, the Bronco pickup will
reportedly be offered exclusively in a crew cab configuration. It’s also slated
to feature the same equipment and trim levels as the standard model. Engine
options would presumably carryover and include a 2.3-liter EcoBoost
four-cylinder that develops 270 hp and 420 Nm of
torque. There should also be a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 with 310 hp and 542 Nm of torque.
While the standard Bronco is expected to
get a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine in the future, possibly in the Bronco
Raptor, it reportedly won’t be offered on the pickup. Instead, the magazine
speculates it could receive a 5.0-liter V8. Putting that aside, we can expect a
seven-speed manual and a ten-speed automatic transmission. Both should be
paired to a standard four-wheel drive system.
Assuming everything pans out, the Bronco
pickup should have a base price of around US$ 30,000. For comparison, the standard
Bronco starts at US$ 28,500 while the Gladiator begins at US$ 33,545 – excluding
destination charges.
