Is This the New 2021 Bronco We've Been Waiting For???

Sneak Peak

The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, held annually in Las Vegas offers many delights for automotive aficionados the world over.  Off-road enthusiasts got a special surprise this year with a sneak peek at a modified 2021 Ford Bronco prototype. The Bronco R is an off-road race prototype slated to run in the 2019 Baja 1000. 

Bucking Broncos

Ford loves anniversaries.  This year celebrates the golden anniversary of Rod Hall and Larry Minor winning the Baja 1000 in 1969.  On November 19, Shelby Hall, Rod Hall’s granddaughter will take on the legendary race in a 2020 Bronco R. While paying tribute to Hall and Minor’s 1969 victory, Ford will be using the infamous crucible consisting of 1,000 miles of Mexican desert as a proving ground to test the mettle of their new off-road vehicle. 

>>Join the conversation about this Bronco prototype right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

What’s in the Box?

It’s still a secret but early reports have a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 powering the off-road contender.  That may come as a surprise in comparison to the 347 V-8 powerplant that took home the win way back in 1969.  Ford seems to be getting more comfortable placing the EcoBoost V-6 engines in their off-road vehicles.  We’ve seen this happening in Ford’s ever-popular F-150 series of trucks. 

>>Join the conversation about this Bronco prototype right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Urban Jungle

Everyone needs an off-road vehicle to go to the grocery store, because why not?  Hummers, lifted 4x4s and Jeeps are more common on college campuses than campgrounds these days which is just a sign of the times.  With a V-6 under the hood and no official information about two-wheel, four-wheel or the somewhat synonymous all-wheel-drive configurations, the 2021 production Bronco may be more popular at soccer games than state parks.  What the production models will offer the daily driver is yet to be seen.  However, what’s clear is that Ford will have a vehicle set to complete with the Jeep Wrangler in the near future.  This may be a counterstrike as Jeep takes on the truck market with the 2020 Jeep Gladiator: a 4x4 Jeep with its own open bed and tailgate.  

>>Join the conversation about this Bronco prototype right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Rugged Good Looks

While the performance options and engine specifications for the 2021 Bronco are still anyone’s guess, the production vehicle should retain much of the same look as the Bronco R that Shelby Hall is taking to Baja.  The Bronco will keep the same square jaw grille and tough lines that make it look suitable to drive through the wastelands.  The Baja 1000 starts on Tuesday, November 19 and concludes on Sunday, November 24, 2019. 

>>Join the conversation about this Bronco prototype right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

For help keeping your truck in great shape, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com