Is Ford working on a plug-in Bronco Raptor?

Monday, 17 August 2020

Watch as the all-new Ford Bronco family is revealed.

Ford may be secretly working on a plug-in hybrid powertrain destined for a range-topping Bronco Raptor.

The news comes from US blog The Fast Lane Car, which quotes sources working for Ford in saying that the plug-in version will be based on an electrified twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6, the same one that currently powers the Explorer ST.

Paired with a ten-speed automatic, there’s a good chance powertrain will resemble that found in the Lincoln Aviator PHEV, which makes 363kW/854Nm. However, Ford will allegedly retune it for Bronco use, making around 330kW and more than 900Nm of torque.

Ford is reportedly readying a Bronco Raptor, featuring a powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain.

All-electric range will sit around the 50km mark while acceleration will be quite brutal thanks to the electric motor and subsequently monstrous torque figure. It should be enough to rival the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, and possibly even outrun it, despite the Jeep’s 6.4-litre V8.

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Despite having an engine more than half the size, Ford’s plug-in Bronco could put some serious hurt on Jeep’s V8-powered Wrangler 392.

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Jeep is also working on a plug-in Wrangler, badged 4xe.

Ford is considering giving the plug-in Bronco the ‘Raptor’ badge to denote the range-topping status. Our Ranger Raptor has a host of chassis and suspension upgrades over the standard Ranger so it will be interesting to see if the Bronco gets a similar treatment, even though early videos of the Bronco in action show it as a very capable off-roader.

Interestingly, The Fast Lane added that the Maverick small pick-up will also be getting a hybrid variant. It will get the same underpinnings as the Escape PHEV, which means a 2.0-litre inline-four paired with an electric motor making a system output of 165kW.

As to when we’ll see the plug-in Bronco, Ford was reportedly preparing to announce it next year but those plans have been pushed back to 2022. We could see the Maverick PHEV at the same time, if not earlier.

Unfortunately, we almost certainly won’t see it here. Ford isn’t building the Bronco in right-hand drive and hasn’t disclosed any plans to do so.