With EcoBoost engine development at an all-time high, will Ford risk selling a diesel-powered Bronco?
Last week we asked our members which engines they’re hoping to see in the new Ford Bronco when it arrives in or around 2020. We received lots of replies with a wide variety of ideas, but many people mentioned they would like to see a new Bronco with a diesel engine. In many cases people pointed out that the 3.2L Power Stroke diesel from the Ford Transit would work, as would a variation of the 3.0L Power Stroke coming to the F-150 in 2018.
Ford has diesel engines which would seemingly fit in the new midsized Ford Bronco, and there seems to be interest from within the Ford truck community. But does that mean Ford will offer a diesel?
That is our newest “Question of the Week.” We aren’t asking if you would like to see a diesel in the future Ford Bronco. We want to know if you think that Ford will actually offer a diesel engine in the new Bronco.
A decade ago this discussion wouldn’t have made much sense, as there weren’t many vehicles sold in the US with small diesel engines. But that has changed a great deal in the past few years. The Ram 1500 has a 3.0L diesel, the new Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon share a 2.8L diesel and, as mentioned above, the Ford Transit offers a 3.2L diesel. It’s no longer an oddity to buy an American vehicle with a small, efficient diesel engine.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.