The new Ford Bronco will launch very soon. While we’ve surmised a fair about what the new SUV will look like, the powertrain beneath its boxy remains one of the biggest outstanding questions. Now, we may have an answer: according to Ford Authority, the Bronco will use Ford’s 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
That’s the same engine Ford uses in the F-150 pickup truck, as well as the Edge ST and Lincoln Nautilus crossovers. In the F-150, it puts out 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
If this report proves correct, the big remaining question is whether the 2.7-liter V6 would be the bigger, smaller, or sole engine on offer when the Bronco goes on sale early next year. (The original Bronco, for the record, had a V8, but those were very different times.)
If we had to guess, we’d bet the 2.7-liter turbo V6 will be the larger of two engines. The Bronco, after all, will share much of its underpinnings with the Ranger, so bringing over the Ranger’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline four-cylinder as the base engine would be natural. Indeed, an earlier report based on Canadian Tire’s website suggested that I-4 would power the Bronco when it reaches the market.
That engine — offering 270 hp — lines up well with the base powertrains in competitors like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner. The V6 would then provide a substantial power upgrade, which would give Ford an edge.
We also don’t know from the report whether the 10-speed automatic transmission will be the only one offered. A Jalopnik report said Ford has partnered with Getrag to produce a seven-speed manual gearbox for the 2.7-liter V6.
A stick shift would be popular with enthusiasts, though perhaps not essential for sales. After all, the 4Runner no longer has a manual, and the manual take rate on the Jeep Wrangler is only around 10 percent.
