Technically they're both going to kill bugs, so...Spot the difference
The face of a new Bronco variant has now been revealed, thanks to a new prototype caught without its front grille camo.
New Face Uncovered
A Bronco prototype has been spotted —revealing a new treatment to the BRONCO lettering, and a fine grille mesh unlike anything seen on the Bronco since it was resurrected in 2020.
A Move Upmarket?
Prior Bronco press events have suggested that Ford is considering moving the Bronco brand into the Work space, while also considering a move upmarket into a more luxurious Premium space. This Bronco has the same front bumper as the Badlands and Heritage trims—both of which sit above the Outer Banks in the Bronco trim hierarchy. The prototype also shows signs of the Fox shocks from Ford’s HOSS 3.0 set-up, confirming proper Bronco off-road prowess. These details would seem to rule out a Work-level specification, and point to something more upmarket.
A Peek Inside—More Premium Details?
Our initial sighting of this new Bronco trim involved a prototype with a fully-covered dashboard, suggesting some interior changes. This new prototype was driving without any dash-camo, revealing a subtle detail that may also point to a higher-tier trim-level than the Badlands or Heritage. The prototype showcased a dashboard finished in a new material, displaying nice stitching details only found on its top two trims—the Bronco Stroppe Edition and the Raptor. Everything from the Heritage Edition and below doesn't have such detailing, suggesting that this new prototype might be positioned above the Badlands and Heritage Broncos—skewing it toward a more Premium offering. The prototype’s apparent Badlands bones says it will still be formidable off-road, but may get more posh detailing for those that might be considering something a bit more…Land Rover.
New Wheels
We see an all-new wheel design on this Bronco prototype, with a clean, relatively deep-dish six-slot design. The wheels have a new outer rim that looks bead-lock-capable. Ford appears to have done some shaving to the tire’s sidewalls, but we can see that they’re Sasquatch-sized Goodyear Territory RTs.
The front wheel arches are undisguised, but they appear to be graced with new front splash guards that attached elegantly to the trailing edge of the wheel arches, for a sleek fit. There are no running boards on the street-tested prototype, but the track tested-tested prototype appears to be have new side sills that may also serve as rocker guards. Then there are those wrapped rear wheel arches, which remain a mystery. New badges are covered up on the track-testing Bronco’s front fenders.
Articulation/Clearance Testing?
The engineers were caught running the prototype over a particularly punishing track surface, and then over to a set of dips that would challenge wheel articulation and approach and departure angles. The prototype appears to have some green plastic bits screwed onto the undercarriage, perhaps to test for clearances. An engineer appeared to be filming the testing, perhaps for later analysis. It would seem that Ford would have these clearances well worked out by now, so we’re left to wonder if any further suspension or driveline changes may have been employed, which would change the underbody geometry. Ford boss Jim Farley has confirmed that a hybrid Bronco is coming.
There’s still lots to learn about the future trims and special editions planned for the Bronco lineup, but this new prototype has given us our most detailed look yet at what Ford has cooking. Stay tuned for more details, as testing ramps up.
...Where the upgraded steering rack & software patch for the pre-2023 non-sas Badlands???
