You have probably heard the biggest news about the rugged SUV sector in years: There is a brand-new Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport for sale! These two SUVs are making a comeback in a big way. The two models are boxy and retro and have serious off-road capability. But there’s more exciting news about the Ford Bronco family. A Ford Bronco Hybrid (or potentially multiple) is on the way!
At a shareholder meeting in 2019, Jim Hackett (former Ford President and CEO) revealed that a Ford Bronco Hybrid was in the works. Read on to learn more about the Ford Bronco Hybrid!
The team at Ford is really trying to make these hybrids a hidden gem until the official Ford Bronco Hybrid release date (keyword: hidden). There is not a lot of information out about these vehicles. For that reason, our Ford Bronco Hybrid review contains a lot of speculation and rumors. What we do know, according to Electric Vehicle Web, is that in the first quarter of 2021 alone, Ford delivered over 25,000 electrified vehicles to the United States market. That is an over 74% increase from the prior year. What does this mean? It means that hybrid and electric vehicles are the way of the future, and Ford plans on being a big part of it.
Word on the street is that Ford is expecting to release a hybrid version of both the Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport. The Ford Bronco Hybrid is assumed to share the electrical components of the Ford F-150 and Ford Explorer hybrid models that are currently on the market. This tech includes a 10-speed modular hybrid transmission combined with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine. It will also likely include a 47-horsepower (35-kW) unit. Given that most of the vehicles using the EcoBoost engine get around 400 horsepower, reports say the Ford Hybrid Bronco could get around 450 horsepower. This powertrain will be used to increase efficiency and smoothness to help with things like off-roading and meeting the Ford Bronco towing capacity. As for the Ford Bronco Hybrid mpg, we still don’t have answers on that either. But we expect it to be far more efficient than the regular variants.
Now, let’s talk about the Ford Bronco Sport Hybrid. The Bronco Sport is loosely based on the Ford Escape SUV, so it is expected that it will borrow from the Escape Hybrid’s layout. The Escape Hybrid currently has an iVCT Atkinson cycle gas engine working with an electric motor. The transmission is an eCVT. The Escape Hybrid gets an impressive EPA-estimated 41 mpg (combined) but does have a smaller towing capacity.1 We will be very curious to see how the two vehicles are both similar and different when the Ford Bronco Hybrid release date rolls around.
As we mentioned, unlike the standard Ford Bronco lease, there is very little official information about the hybrids readily available. What we do know is that you can expect these hybrid vehicles to be efficient and smooth even when off-roading. Future electric variants will also feature what is called an EV coaching display in the digital instrument cluster. This will allow you to view important information about your battery and vehicle details. This makes us think a plug-in hybrid powertrain may be on the way.
According to Ford Authority, a version of the Ford Bronco called the “Warthog” was seen out on a test drive recently. The vehicle had an orange cable on the bottom, which hints that it could be a hybrid variant. If there is a hybrid version of the Warthog, guesses are that it will share the same powertrain as the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, which currently gets 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque.
The site imagines that this hefty hybrid is a response to the recent Jeep hybrid vehicle announcement. The Bronco Warthog sits on 17-inch wheels similar to those of the Ford F-150 Raptor. The Warthog will have a wider stance than the regular Bronco and will use other upgraded technology that is seen on the Raptor. It is also rumored to have more rugged exterior features, like higher ground clearance and front & rear fascias.
Well, isn’t that the reason we are all gathered on this page? Yes! The former President and CEO of Ford revealed in 2019 that plans for a Ford Bronco Hybrid were in the works. The expected Ford Bronco Hybrid release date is within the next few years.
Sadly, we don’t have an exact date. We expect that the hybrids will go on sale within the next few years. As soon as we know more, we will be here to let you know!
While we don’t know anything about a pure EV, there are rumors that a plug-in hybrid variant may be in the works. Ford has spoken about including an “EV Coaching Display” in the future, which implies that there will be some form of an electric element to the vehicles. The official Ford Bronco Hybrid price is also yet to be revealed.
You don’t want to miss out on this vehicle. It is your opportunity to still enjoy 4×4 capability while also keeping the Earth a little more green. The biggest competitors are said to be the recently revealed Jeep Wrangler 4XE PHEV and the Land Rover Defender PHEV. This is all a part of Ford’s goal to have 16 battery-electric variants and hybrid-electric variants by 2022.
Rely on us to be your source for all things Bronco. Contact us if you have any questions, and we will make sure to let you know as soon as you can reserve your Ford Bronco.
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