which is like an XLT grade. The next
three trims have different missions:
Outer Banks is a sport/luxury trim, Black
Diamond features tough/rugged cues,
and Wildtrak has a blacked-out aesthetic
with a high-speed desert-running focus.
Badlands aims to be the most all-around
capable off-roader, and the First Edition
is a limited-production (3,500) 2021
model based on Badlands with Wildtrak
elements and unique graphics. All come
in either body style.
Time for what our editor calls “the specs
spew,” so pay attention. The base engine
is a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four producing
270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque,
which ties the 2.0-liter turbo Jeep Wran-
gler for horsepower and beats it (295
lb-ft) in torque. The 2.7-liter twin-turbo
V-6 stumps up 310 hp and 400 lb-ft,
handily besting the Wrangler’s aging
3.6-liter V-6 (at 285 hp and 260 lb-ft).
Ford has no answer to Jeep’s 260-hp,
242-lb-ft EcoDiesel V-6. That said, there
will be a Raptor version of the Bronco
coming in a few years.
There are two transmission options:
Ford’s version of the 10-speed auto-
matic co-developed with GM or a new
Getrag 7MTI550 six-plus-one-speed
manual. What’s the plus-one mean? A
super-low granny gear that works in
either high or low range and gives thetransmission a gear ratio spread (first gear
divided by seventh) of 11.0, as opposed to
the Wrangler six-speed’s 7.1. First gear is
located down and to the left, below reverse
in a dogleg configuration. That means
second through seventh gears function
like a normal first through sixth whenever
you’re not rock crawling, pulling a heavy
boat up a wet ramp, or something similar.
The two transfer case options include
an electric shift-on-the-fly unit like
the F-150’s, offering 2Hi, 4Hi, 4Lo, and
neutral. The low-range gearing in this one
is 2.72:1. The optional upgraded version
with electromechanical shifting adds a
full-time 4-Auto mode and comes with
a 3.06:1 low range. With this case, the
granny gear provides a 95:1 crawl ratio
(first x low x axle), according to Ford,
besting the manual Wrangler Rubicon’s
84:1. (There hasn’t been a rear-drive
Wrangler since 2010, and there’s no plan
for a rear-drive Bronco, either.)Previewing the next-gen Ranger, the front
suspension is by control arms, and the
rear gets a live axle with trailing links and
a Panhard rod. Coil-over shock units serve
at each corner. Ford claims overall suspen-
sion travel bests the Wrangler’s by 17
percent in front and 10 percent in the rear.
Maximum ground clearance of 11.6
inches tops the best Jeep’s 10.8, and the
approach, departure, and breakover
angles are also said to be class leading at
43.2, 37.2, and 26.4/29.0 degrees, respec-
tively (four-door/two-door models).
Those figures reflect the largest 35-inch
(315/70R17) tires, which come standard on
Badlands models but are optional on all.
Base Broncos get 255/70R16 tires on
steel wheels, with various aluminum
wheel options wearing 255/75R17,
255/70R18, 265/70R17, or 285/70R18 tires
of all-terrain or mud-terrain spec.
The most Rubicon-optimized Badlands
and Wildtrak variants (and the optional
Sasquatch package) on the monster tires
get a sophisticated electro-hydraulically
actuated front stabilizer bar disconnect
system from BWI Group that can disen-
gage while under load. Once disengaged
it automatically re-connects at speeds of
20-plus mph, then automatically disen-
gages again when speeds drop sufficiently.
These variants also get fancy posi-
tion-sensitive Bilstein monotube dampers
that provide lots of damping for large
bumps, far less on small washboard
bumps. Their large diameter provides
ample oil to remain cool in prolonged
higher-speed desert running, evincing
some inherent Raptor DNA.The seven-speed transmission includes a
class-exclusive dogleg first “granny gear.”SEPTEMBER 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 31