Sam Krahn 
One of the biggest differences between the new Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler is the front suspension setup. While the Jeep uses a solid front axle, the Bronco engineers decided to go for better on-road handling and high speed dynamics with a slight decrease in front axle articulation. Still, Ford went to great lengths to engineer out the off-road deficiencies with the setup. Now, thanks to information in an Instagram post by Ford North America Product Communications Manager Mark Levine, we know the origins of the Ford Bronco HOSS suspension system began in a Ford Super Duty truck.
The Bronco has the imaginatively named HOSS suspension system, an acronym for High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension. This setup was first developed in a skunkworks project on the Super Duty pickup built by a small team of engineers. Those original trucks were never sold, but a version of their suspension is currently in the Ford F-250 Tremor.
The post only says the name of the HOSS suspension stuck for the Bronco, which makes sense considering the Bronco and Super Duty are on very different platforms.
Still, HOSS is a fitting name for the Bronco, as it’s not afraid to have a little fun with naming schemes. All of the trim levels are named after national parks or landmarks, and then there’s the Sasquatch off-road performance package.
The actual meaning behind the suspension makes sense too, as it will likely have better high speed stability than the Wrangler off-road thanks to the independent front suspension. The suspension setup, and more powerful V6 engine on offer will likely make the Bronco the SUV of choice for desert running.
But Jeep is fighting back, addressing the power concerns with the Jeep Wrangler 392 Concept. Yes, it’s a concept, but it’s very likely going into production. Then, Jeep is also rumored to introduce a Wrangler Mojave with a desert-runner focus.
If either of these Wrangler models enter production, the Ford Bronco HOSS suspension may not be enough to make it a better desert runner than what Jeep has to offer. If they offered a Mojave with the 382 V8, the Bronco would have nothing to fight with. That is, until a Bronco Raptor comes along.
