Ford might not only be tackling the Jeep Wrangler with the upcoming Bronco SUV, they might also be aiming for the Jeep Gladiator with a Bronco pickup truck.
It’s still a little too early to tell how well the Jeep Gladiator is doing, but judging by the ridiculous markups some dealers are placing on the new Jeep pickup, we’re going to guess that demand for the new Gladiator is pretty high. It’s likely to be another high-profit success for Jeep, a brand that a lot of carmakers have in their sights.
None more so than Ford, who believe themselves to be the one truck maker to rule them all. Ford plans to take on the ever-popular Wrangler with a reborn Bronco in 2021, but now we have a rumor saying that Ford also has the Gladiator in their sights too.
The rumor comes from sources speaking to Automobile Magazine that say a pickup version of the Bronco is coming, although those sources vary on when. Some say it will begin production late into the Bronco’s life cycle, or around 2024, while others say it could come as early as 2022.
The publication also quotes car marketing firm “AutoForecast Solutions, which indicates design and engineering began no more than a few months before the Jeep pickup launched."
All those sources say to expect a Bronco pickup in 4-door double cab mode only and to also come with a shorter bed than the Gladiator. Everyone mentioned the old Explorer SportTrac as inspiration for the Bronco pickup, although it won't share the Explorer's body style.
Expect the Bronco pickup to also have a removable roof and doors, as well as its rumored hybrid powertrain.
A previous online leak revealed the Bronco to share not just the Ranger’s platform, but also its engine. That being a 2.3-L turbocharged engine with between 270 and 300 horsepower, depending on which vehicle you find it in (the same engine also powers the new Explorer and EcoBoost Mustang).
We’re still a long way away from the expected arrival of the Bronco and even further away from whenever the Bronco pickup should arrive, so expect things to change between now and then.