The Bronco has been discontinued more than 2 decades ago when it was replaced with a smaller unibody crossover. However, body on frame SUVs are on a roll once again so Ford is going to resurrect the Bronco badge, this time on a brand new model. They confirmed it a few months ago when Ford announced the Bronco will be a mid-size SUV that will slot in under the Expedition. The upcoming 2018 Ford Bronco is set to be a body on frame compact crossover based on the same chassis as the upcoming Ranger. Thanks to the fact it will get a fully boxed in frame the Bronco should boast great NVH levels as well as good payload and tow ratings.
In detail
It still is unclear if Ford will carry over the running gear from the Ranger to the Bronco unchanged. We would believe they will make minimal changes in order to allow the Bronco to behave better than its truck counterpart. Expect a live rear axle supported by coil springs as well as an independent setup in the front.
The body of the crossover is expected to be made out of aluminum. Not only will this save quite a bit of weight but it will make the Bronco highly resistant to rust which is always a plus. So far the price is still unknown but the 2-door model is likely going to cost around $26,000 with the 4-door version going for north of $30,000.
As indicated by buy here pay here, you should check out the prices at your local dealership in case you are interested in this model as they can give you more concrete information.
2018 Ford Bronco Design
Unfortunately we haven’t had the chance to see any development mules for the 2018 Ford Bronco. This is likely because Ford is doing the development work on the Ranger which will share most of its underpinnings with the Bronco. Even so, we expect the Bronco to get a modern-classic look similar to what its main competitors boasts.
This would certainly make it one of the more interesting offerings in its class while also giving Ford a highly capable car able to compete with more cars than just one. In the front the Bronco is expected to take design cues from the original but its rear end will likely share quite a bit more with the Ranger. This would allow them to develop the car cheaply, especially since it will have an aluminum body.
Interior of Bronco
Here the Bronco is likely going to have very similar dashboard, instrument cluster and overall equipment with those on the Ranger. They might add more rugged upholstery, a different seating layout and more off-road oriented options on the higher end models. Some also suggested the Bronco could boast up to 7-seats in some versions which would definitely give it an advantage over some of its rivals.
2018 Ford Bronco Specs
The base model of the 2018 Ford Bronco will likely hit the market with a 2.0 liter EcoBoost offering over 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. A 6 speed manual is likely while a 10 speed automatic should be offered as an option. The top end model could get two different engine choices. The gas engine would be a twin-turbo V6 with north of 310 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. If you need twin turbo V6 or you want to learn more about this engine, we recommend you visit partsgeek.com
A 3.0 liter V6 diesel with over 240 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque is also a real possibility. Both of these would be mated to Ford’s new 10 speed automatic. Four wheel drive will more than likely be offered as standard across the range. The lockable, or limited slip, differentials will be offered only as optional extras though. Despite what some rumors suggested, a hybrid is highly unlikely, especially since none of its rivals has one and Ford is already going to offer a fuel efficient model with their 3.0 liter diesel model.
2018 Ford Bronco | |
Dimensions And Weight | |
Wheelbase | 105 in |
Length | 185 in |
Height | 74 in |
Width | 77 in |
Weight | N/A |
Engine And Transmission | |
Engine type | V6 |
Displacement | 2.0 liter |
Power/torque | 250 hp/280 lb-ft |
Transmission | 6 speed manual |
Performance | |
0-60 mph | 7 sec. |
Top speed | 150 mph |
PRICE RANGE:$25,000 |
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Competitors:N/A |