Sam Krahn 
With the Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug in hybrid coming soon, Ford will be left without a Bronco to compete. For now, that is. We’ve already seen some leaked instrument cluster footage that hinted at a Ford Bronco Hybrid, so we’ve expected it will come at some point. Now, thanks to a report from TFL Car, we have a clearer picture of when we will see a Bronco with electric assistance, and what will power it.
It’s expected that the Wrangler 4xe will utilize a turbo four engine, but the Ford Bronco Hybrid looks like it’s gunning for best in class power. The report says inside sources point to Ford using their 3.0L EcoBoost V6 with the modular hybrid 10 speed transmission from the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring.
That engine sound familiar? It should, because it’s also in the Explorer ST, and rumored to go in the Bronco Raptor with a nice, round 400 hp. With electric assistance, the Aviator pushes out an impressive 494 hp. This means the hybrid Bronco could be that powerful.
But what seems odd is the hybrid would then usurp the Raptor as the fastest, most powerful Bronco in the lineup. Traditionally, F-150 Raptor models are the top dog, so we’ve expected that to stick for the Bronco. Given the Bronco Raptor is already slated to have this engine, this could mean the Raptor will be a hybrid. Giving the Bronco Raptor some electric boost would also give it power more in line with the likely incoming Wrangler 392 Concept with a 450 hp Hemi V8.
Then again, these could indeed be separate models. The Bronco hybrid may be positioned above the Raptor because of its increase in power, creating a flagship model in the already expansive range that would offset the extra cost of electrification. It would just seem odd if Ford created a Bronco more powerful than the Raptor but didn’t position it as a performance model. This is all speculation, of course.
That said, we don’t know if Ford will actually end up calling the hybrid Bronco. With colorful names like Badlands and Outer Banks, it’s easy to assume that the pattern will continue as such.
The report also says we should expect a reveal for whatever this hybrid SUV ends up being sometime in 2021 as a 2022 model year vehicle. Watch this space for all things Bronco, as Ford is only just getting started.
