"Stock" (Prototype?) Bronco Takes on NORRA Mexican 1000 and shows suspension & body changes

[Q1svt]

Stock Bronco Takes on 2026 NORRA Mexican 1000

The entry 725 includes two ford engineers J Groves & S Goslawski... Pictures floating on the internet are intriguing.

Those that read the Threads here of the Spy Photos of vehicles on Fords test track and the streets of Dearborn show possible suspension mods and body changes.

HOSS 3.0 shocks

Testing suspension articulation ?


Now pictures floating on the Race Vehicle...

They black out the SHOCKS??? HOSS 3.0?
Front black trim under grille same as the other spy photos

Blacked out body under tail light same as spy phones


AND there is the Race Vehicles wheel Rim ... same as the RTR EVO but with bead lock capable.... ?

Is Ford truly building a hot rod 2.3L with other cool performance modifications and suspension



Okay haters going to hate... seems to be a RTR 2027, being tested on the NORRA

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[Steve_In_29]

Blacked out shocks....possibly HOSS 4.0 or maybe a new 5.0 set up?

 

[Spooled]

Looks like they're just testing the RTR trim which has the Hoss 3.0

Ford's not going to put the Hoss 4.0 system on non-raptor broncos since it's much more than just different coilovers

 

[Q1svt]

Blacked out shocks....possibly HOSS 4.0 or maybe a new 5.0 set up?

??? But this was 2025

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...-mexico-to-improve-quality-durability.129414/

same engineer…

 

[Q1svt]

Looks like they're just testing the RTR trim which has the Hoss 3.0

Then why would someone need to actually edit the photo they released?

 

[MayhemMike]

Maybe they are testing the next type of shock encapsulation device . Lol

 

[Spooled]

Then why would someone need to actually edit the photo they released?

there's not enough resolution in that photo to confidently say that.

 

[Spooled]

It's a stock 2026 Badlands according to BN

Ford Returns to Baja: Stock Bronco Takes on the 2026 NORRA Mexican 1000 - Bronco Nation

 

[Q1svt]

@Spooled ... lol my picture does, and I have the confidence to say that. ... you really need to learn to do research

Ford's not going to put the Hoss 4.0 system on non-raptor broncos since it's much more than just different coilovers

Another odd statement... Ford would build / design a new shock/system with FOX to work with a new/different vehicle setup. As was done with HOSS 3.0

 

[Ducati1098]

I don't think any of the broncos above are an RTR, or an RTR being tested.

The race vehicle looks like a badlands, which is also confirmed above. It may have some RTR parts installed however (like similar wheels)

And the test mule in the first few pictures appears to be 2.7/3.0 equipped bronco based on the transmission cooler alone. That and fact that it doesn't share any of the RTR appearances that have been shown (totally different grille, wheels, etc.)

 

[telenerd]

I saw a social media post they are running Bilstein 8112s.

 

[Q1svt]

Goslawski teased that the 2027 model year will feature an “obvious” mechanical upgrade born from secret testing at the NORRA Mexican 1000. Whether that’s a suspension overhaul or a power bump remains to be seen,

 

[Q1svt]

When the team heads back to Baja in late April, it will be with something significant under the Bronco’s sheet metal, Goslawski told me.

“I wish I could say but I can’t,” Goslawski said. “It’ll be obvious. I’ll state that!”

https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-f...benchmarking-upgrades-at-baja-races-for-years

 

[Q1svt]

the test mule in the first few pictures appears to be 2.7/3.0 equipped bronco based on the transmission cooler alone.

... this would be funny but you push your tech skills.

IIRC the automatic trans missions in the current Broncos are all the same? [non raptors] So, the trans cooler you refer to can easily be installed on a 2.3 automatic transmission, even the extra transmission cooler Braptor 'air to oil' cooler can be installed on a 2.3L .

Guess if it's not in the service technician manual ... then it's not possible... lol

 

[Ducati1098]

... this would be funny but you push your tech skills.
Guess if it's not in the service technician manual ... then it's not possible... lol

lol I push my tech skills? I mean sure I guess, but that's because I actually know what I'm talking about...? I'm sorry if that makes you salty for some reason.

IIRC the automatic trans missions in the current Broncos are all the same? [non raptors] So, the trans cooler you refer to can easily be installed on a 2.3 automatic transmission

uhh no, it cannot lol
Same transmission doesn't mean they have the same coolant lines going to the cooler, or that the 2.7/3.0 transmission lines would even remotely work on a 2.3.

The 2.3 has it's own different transmission cooler mounted on the side of the transmission.
Without Ford completely changing/redesigning multiple coolant lines and making all new transmission lines, it would not be possible to mount that front transmission cooler shown in the pictures on a 2.3
Could they do it if they wanted to? Sure. Is it likely they did it? No.

even the extra transmission cooler Braptor 'air to oil' cooler can be installed on a 2.3L .

Once again... as of how it is designed right now, no it cannot.

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