Orange cables, skinny tires and strange camouflage are all in full force.
A Ford Bronco Hybrid is in the works. Jim Hackett, Ford’s ex-CEO, stated the same in 2019, and this sighting of a heavily camouflaged Bronco fuels the hybrid theory. This time, we’re not just talking about weird cables.
However, we’ll start with this. A bundle of orange cables is clearly visible under the passenger front door. These cables were previously seen twice on Bronco test cars and again on a larger version which could have been a Raptor or Warthog model. These orange cables have been seen on other Ford hybrid vehicles, but our spy sources also saw them in camo wrap. It is easy to see the symbols in the black dots. There are also small images of flags, mountains and tents. This is very fascinating.
The prototype is clearly not as beefy as our previous sighting. This Bronco is street-oriented with narrow tires that we believe are mild Bridgestone Duelers. This spec would probably favor lower rolling resistance, which in turn would result in better fuel economy. The Bronco hybrid will use the same 3.0-liter V6 hybrid twin-turbocharged engine as the Explorer PHEV. Rumours suggest that it will. This would allow the SUV to have an electric-only range.
Let’s not forget electricity for a moment, because it may also explain the camouflage used on the test vehicle. The prototype’s roof is a little taller, unless it’s a ruse. It could conceal a roof-mounted camper and solar panel to keep it charged up, according to our sources. A plug-in hybrid offroader has one advantage: a mobile power source for weekend camping trips is already included. Ford seems to have no choice but to include such an arrangement on the Bronco.
We don’t know what is under there and when it might be revealed. The standard Bronco is now in dealerships. We still have the Bronco Raptor and the hybrid awaiting us. The production delay caused by the shortage of microchips could mean that the hybrid Bronco may not be available until 2022.