Jeep is working on a V8-powered Wrangler, but it doesn’t appear that Ford has similar plans for the Bronco.
While rumors about a V8 Bronco have surfaced from time to time, company officials downplayed the possibly in a recent interview.
Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Bronco chief engineer Eric Loefller suggested emissions were partly behind the move as he said “We have to manage the CO2 implications of the product. The way the federal requirements are now, it’s all shadow area based.” He went on to say the footprint of the Bronco would give the model a “pretty high target, from a government perspective, in terms of CO2 [emissions].”
Also Read: 2021 Ford Bronco Returns To Blow The Jeep Wrangler’s Doors Off
Besides the emissions issue, Ford seems to believe the optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 – which produces 310 hp (231 kW / 314 PS) and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque – has plenty of power. As Loefller explained, customers are more concerned about horsepower, torque and fuel economy than how many cylinders are under the hood.
These sentiments were echoed by global program manager Jeff Seaman who said “If the customer experience was significantly enhanced with a Coyote engine, it would have been under serious consideration.” That seems to suggest Ford didn’t really entertain the idea of a V8-powered Bronco, and Seaman added the EcoBoost engine is “damn good” and won’t leave customers wanting for a bigger engine.
Of course, at the end of the day, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 is significantly less powerful than the company’s 5.0-liter V8 which develops 460 hp (343 kW / 466 PS) and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm) of torque in the Mustang GT. However, a Bronco Raptor seems inevitable and the latest rumors suggest it could use a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.
In the Explorer ST, the engine develops 400 hp (298 kW /406 PS) and 415 lb-ft (562 Nm) of torque. While it’s no V8, that’s 90 hp (67 kW / 91 PS) and 15 lb-ft (20 Nm) more than the Bronco with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6.
