Bronco Hybrid Confirmed! by Ford CEO Jim Farley (4/2/26)

[Eljohno]

Just a heads up, the Toyota hybrid used in the current suv&trucks called I-force Max is electric. It’s an electric motor built into the front of the transmission with a clutch that allows it to assist and add more power directly at the crank shaft.
It uses a big battery, much smaller than a full electric but large enough it does not fit under the hood and is stored in the rear.
It’s not the old regeneration capture style you refer to.
The Ford f150 hybrid is similar concept, electric motor boots power at the gearbox, uses a big battery hidden in the rear.
It’s a cool system but does not add much to mpg, only enough to help them with cafe standards.

I drove the new Toyota LC hybrid and was not impressed with it, much preferred the Lexus GX550 twin turbo.

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[Snacktime]

I saw Ford moved the Ranger Pro Power Onboard option out of Fleet sales only for 2026 soo I would suspect its coming to Bronco at some point, that was a big customer feedback thing.

Probably become standard on certain trims knowing ford.

 

[Eljohno]

you can’t buy one. The new hybrid Toyota SUVs are waitlisted and are marked up at the dealers. Where are you getting these facts?

I just read Land Cruiser sales were down 46% from a year ago, not sure why but I bet an ICE only would help their sales.

 

[9secondko]

Ford CEO Jim Farley Confirms That a Bronco Hybrid Is Coming

The news comes as part of a larger plan from Ford to hybridize every model in its lineup. "We really want to bet on all of it," said Farley. "We're going to have an all-hybrid lineup. So, Bronco, everything you can buy at Ford will have a hybrid. We'll also have [extended-range EVs] for towing."

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a70920732/ford-bronco-hybrid-ceo-jim-farley-confirmed/



Other auto companies are phasing out "hybrids"....
What we need is a V8!

Agreed.

Hybrids add capability, but they also add COST and COMPLEXITY.

Just give us the V8 (turbo and twin turbo V8 option would be great too) we actually really really want and make some money. Sheesh.

 

[9secondko]

Tiny tanks. What part of some of us DRIVE and dont want a range-insufficient vehicle with no manual transmission do you not comprehend?

The market spoke and doesn't embrace the push to electric in an era of grid insufficiency and where prices of electricity spike faster than pump prices...

Well stated. The infrastructure not only isn't there, but it's incredibly weaponized and manipulated to no end. It's OK to have an EV and hybrid OPTION. But in no way is it a legit "replacement" for ICE-only.

 

[Beach_Bum]

I saw Ford moved the Ranger Pro Power Onboard option out of Fleet sales only for 2026 soo I would suspect its coming to Bronco at some point, that was a big customer feedback thing.

Maybe we'll see a reboot of the Overland Concept (linky for a stroll down memory lane) with the Pro Power Onboard standard.

 

[Snacktime]

Maybe we'll see a reboot of the Overland Concept (linky for a stroll down memory lane) with the Pro Power Onboard standard.

We have the unofficial Toaster and Full Electric Cooking Concept running around here.

@popo_patty

 

[Snacktime]

Lucky AI does a really good job bringing concepts to life.

 

[CitrusBronco]

I drove the new Toyota LC hybrid and was not impressed with it, much preferred the Lexus GX550 twin turbo.

I keep hearing this same thing.
It’s hard to turn off a Toyota fanboy but this new hybrid is actually do that. The power #’s sound great but the actual performance does not live up to those expectations.

 

[Eljohno]

I keep hearing this same thing.
It’s hard to turn off a Toyota fanboy but this new hybrid is actually do that. The power #’s sound great but the actual performance does not live up to those expectations.

I just read that LC sales dropped like 47% from a year ago so hopefully they drop the V6 twin turbo out of the GX into it, or just get the GX!

 

[Mabett]

So yeah, after all these years of rumors, Jim Farley basically confirmed a hybrid Ford Bronco is actually happening.

Here’s the article if anyone wants to check it out:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a70920732/ford-bronco-hybrid-ceo-jim-farley-confirmed/

I get why they’re doing it. More torque down low, better range… that all makes sense, especially for trails or longer trips. And if they include onboard power for camping gear, that honestly fits the Bronco lifestyle.

But I’m curious how the long-time Bronco folks feel about it—does this still feel like the same truck, or is it starting to drift?

And yeah… kinda feels like this quietly closes the door on any V8 Bronco dreams too.

 

[Brian_B]

I get why they’re doing it. More torque down low, better range… that all makes sense, especially for trails or longer trips. And if they include onboard power for camping gear, that honestly fits the Bronco lifestyle.

But I’m curious how the long-time Bronco folks feel about it—does this still feel like the same truck, or is it starting to drift?

If they can deliver all that stuff, and not wreck the price tag ~and~ somehow not make reliability/quality worse - I'm all for it.

I don't have high hopes though. I don't have a lot of confidence. But i totally agree the tech has a lot of promise. Other car companies have done it well, and some have totally flubbed it. The proof will be in the pudding.

 

[Muffin Top]

I didn't read the whole thread, but this is an April fool right? They even threw in the pope picture at the top.

 

[Desmolicious]

I just read that LC sales dropped like 47% from a year ago so hopefully they drop the V6 twin turbo out of the GX into it, or just get the GX!

Really? I actually like a lot of it but hate the hybrid system as any power it adds is offset perfomance-wise by the extra 650lbs it weighs (when compared in the 4Runner which has hybrid and non hybrid versions). And it removes a lot of cargo space.
Also all the hybrid Toyotas have a warning in the owners' manual saying to not cover up the battery vent holes in the cargo area, and to make sure not to spill water back there as it could short the batteries!

 

[Desmolicious]

I found the Toyota sales release. While 4Runner sales are up a lot, the LandCruiser sales are down over 50% YTD vs 2025! Wow.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/toyota-cms-media/toyota-pdfs/US March 2026 FINAL.pdf

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