Quarterly results from the Big Three in Detroit are full of grandiose statements and boring stuff. On the other hand, certain manufacturers also include snippets of information about future products. The Ford Motor Company, for example, recently confirmed that it's planning "new extensions of the Bronco and Maverick nameplates."
Extension means plenty of things in this particular context. From yet another Bronco spin-off to a design package for the most affordable pickup truck in production today for the US, anything is possible. But alas, Ford being Ford also means that we'll have to be patient for the time being.
Regarding said extensions, one might wonder if the Ford Motor Company has changed its mind in regard to the Bronco pickup. Development of the stillborn truck ended abruptly in August 2021, most likely because Ford already had the Ranger Raptor in the works for the US market.
We also have to remember that Jeep dealers barely move Chrysler's only mid-size pickup truck in production today. Speaking of which, the only major confirmed change is the Gladiator 4xe for 2025. The plug-in specification is likely to borrow the Wrangler 4xe's powertrain, which is getting an update for 2025 as well.
Turning our attention back to the Bronco, a couple of possibilities come to mind: plug-in hybridization for the body-on-frame Bronco (à la Ranger PHEV for markets outside North America) and either hybrid or plug-in hybrid muscle for the Bronco Sport. The unibody crossover has a hybrid sibling in the form of the Maverick Hybrid and a plug-in hybrid equivalent in the Escape Plug-In Hybrid.
Photo: Ford / USPTO / edited
As for the Maverick, a street-oriented performance truck may be in the cards. Maverick Lobo was trademarked on August 14 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, although Maverick ST shouldn't be ruled out either. Ford already uses the Lobo moniker in Mexico for certain versions of the F-150, namely XLT grades and higher. The XL is marketed as the F-150. Indeed, the F-150 Raptor R is known as the Lobo Raptor R in this part of the world.
Another possibility for the Maverick would be all-wheel drive for the hybrid, a combo that's certain to sell in large quantities. Previously standard, the hybrid powertrain is currently optional. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost of the Bronco Sport Badlands is the standard engine, a four-pot mill connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission rather than the hybrid's continuously variable transmission.
Now available to configure at $23,400 for the 2024 model year, the Maverick is considerably more affordable than the Bronco Sport. Can you believe Ford wants $31,230 for a 1.5-liter turbo inline-three lump? Insane might be the word you're looking for, especially given the longer overall length and longer wheelbase of the $29,345 Escape.
The Bronco that's twinned with the Ranger mid-size pickup is pricier still, costing $39,130 at the very least. The reason why the Bronco has become so expensive is the discontinuation of the Base trim level, meaning that both the two- and four-door Bronco start with the Big Bend.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News