Bronco Desert Racer Proves Ford CAN and NEEDS to Make a V8 Bronco (Op-Ed)
Now that a V8 Bronco is a production reality, Ford needs listen to customers and offer a street-legal Coyote-powered version.
Last week, Ford announced a production V8 Bronco. That’s right, Ford’s dropping the 5.0L Coyote V8 in the new Bronco. I was there for the reveal. Saw it driving. Heard it roar. It is, in a word, glorious. But there’s a catch. The Bronco DR (Desert Racer) is a turnkey racer set to cost around $250,000. It won’t be street legal. There are no doors. And Ford’s only going to make 50 of them (although it’s unclear if this number is ever or annually).
Still, while drooling over the V8-powered DR, I ran into Jiyan Cadiz, Ford’s Manager of North American Passenger Vehicle Communications, and asked a question I knew he couldn’t answer:
How about a V8 Bronco for the streets?
Oh, look a V8 Bronco no one can actually afford. And some guy named Vaughn.
Cadiz made a few joking pleasantries and stuck to the company line about how well the EcoBoost powertrains work for the new Bronco’s platform. To be fair, automakers always keep product development close to the vest, and there’s no way Cadiz would spill company secrets.
But then I mentioned emissions standards, trying to give him an easy out on the topic, and he surprised me with his answer. Apparently, emissions are NOT the reason why Ford doesn’t offer the 5.0L V8 Coyote in the Bronco. To paraphrase, Cadiz, that’s not the hurdle here.
Color me intrigued. If true, then there’s only one way to move forward…
Ford NEEDS to Offer a V8 Bronco
Sure, I’m an awesome Bronco, but you know what makes me better? Yup, a V8.
I won’t begin to understand what it takes to bring a vehicle to the market. Or to add engines into an existing lineup. I have no idea about the extra logistics and cost variables involved. But I honestly think Cadiz’s answer offers hope to Bronco fans looking for the V8 experience.
Perhaps more fascinating was when he noted, “we proved [the Coyote] fits.” But instead of talking about a street-legal Ford-build V8 Bronco, Cadiz pivoted to the aftermarket. In the context of our brief chat, he appeared to be almost encouraging (daring?) performance shops to do 5.0 Coyote-swaps into the new Broncos, even mentioning the 10-speed transmission because the Bronco is already equipped.
Come on, Ford, you KNOW Vaughn Gittin Jr. wants a V8 Bronco.
To be fair, the Bronco actually runs the 10R60 10-speed transmission, not the 80 found in the F-Series, Mustang, and Ranger. But given that the truck Coyote only hits 400 peak hp and 410 lb.-ft. of peak torque in the F-150, perhaps the 10R60 would be strong enough for this application. And if it isn’t, Ford could package 5.0L Broncos with the 10R80. (Look, Ma, I’m an engineer, vroom, vroom!)
So emissions aren’t the problem…
And engineering isn’t the problem…
Which to me means one simple thing. Ford needs to build a street-legal V8 Bronco while it’s still possible. And hell, add the 3.5L EcoBoost in too. Why not, that thing HAULS!
Bucking Bronco ready to help convince Ford to offer a V8 Bronco.
Will 5.0 Broncos be Ford’s main seller? Of course not. But let’s be honest, they never are. Not in the Mustang, which shares a variation of the Bronco’s base 2.3L EcoBoost engine. And not in the F-150, which offers a variation of the Bronco’s 2.7L EcoBoost engine.
We get it, EcoBoost is Ford’s bread and butter with the torque ratings of six and eight-cylinder engines when you want power, and the fuel economy of four and six-cylinder engines when you want economy. But EcoBoost sales successes don’t negate the fact that there’s a 5.0-hungry audience.
But Don’t Make It Unobtanium
Sure, Bronco racers have powerful engines, but forget windows.
Which brings me to one last request. (Because, you know, Ford needs my help, right?) Bring out the Ford Bronco Raptors and Warthogs and special editions all day long. But if the 5.0L Coyote V8 Bronco becomes a reality, please don’t make it exclusive to a special, limited edition.
Why? One simple, obvious reason. Ford dealers.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of good Blue Oval dealerships out there. But throw a special edition anything at them and they Hulk out on ADMs.
I know, I know. Ford doesn’t control dealerships.
And let’s cue the guy who reminds everyone that the S in MSRP is SUGGESTED.
All of these Broncos idling, silently… shame!
Yeah, I get it. But here’s the thing. Ford builds some absolutely outstanding high-performance special edition vehicles. The Mustang Mach 1 and modern Shelbys are crazy good. And they’re even MSRP’d for reasonable prices based on the specs and features.
Performance value is what makes American vehicles stand out in the world…
Until dealers step in and Ford, even outside of 2020-21 supply chain issues, fails to produce enough special editions to meet demand. And then the great Henry Ford’s plan of putting performance into the hands of everyday Americans goes to hell.
I don’t know who Dana is, but they sure do like rear ends.
So here’s my pitch to Ford.
Make the Coyote V8 just another Bronco engine option, as you currently do with the 2.7L EcoBoost. In the F-150, the Coyote is an $800 or so upgrade over the 2.3L. In the Bronco, Ford could make a $2,000 upgrade. Hell, make it $5 grand. Whatever it takes to make sure the drivetrain can handle Coyote power because…
We’re out here. The Ford faithful. The Bronco fanboys. The Built Wild base.
We love your new Bronco. It’s a stunner. But we also drive your trucks and your Mustangs and we know in our hearts that there are very few things on the Earth more exhilarating than winding up a glorious dual overhead cam V8 engine in our daily driving and weekend adventures.
This guy said he couldn’t find parking.
Ford told me directly that emissions aren’t the problem.
Ford proved to us that the Coyote fits. (And sounds perfect.)
So why not let Ford customers decide? Let the market guide the strategy. Many of us are also EcoBoost fans. In truth, I prefer the 3.5L EcoBoost and Powerboost over the Coyote in the F-150, personally. But in a Bronco. Top down. Doors off. Climbing mountains. Racing across desert plains. The Bronco cries out for the heart of a Mustang. Just like the best examples from the past and the restomod visions of the present.
Our world is changing. The end of the gasoline engine is on the horizon.
Why not go out with a bang… Built Wild?
What do YOU think? Do you want a V8 Bronco? Happy with the EcoBoosts?
Join the conversation HERE in the forums!!!
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Photos: Michael S. Palmer
