Are you sick of 2021 Bronco news? Can you believe that there is any more to discuss? There is, but it wasn’t supposed to be this way. A leaked Ford video reveals a secret for the 2021 Bronco: A gauge cluster with EV graphics. Showing an “EV Coaching” option confirms an electric or hybrid Ford Bronco is on the way. 

EV Coaching refers to a program that shows you how to maximise your vehicle’s regenerative braking. It’s available in many hybrid and EV applications. The Ford Ranger has been rumored to have a plug-in hybrid option coming soon. And the Bronco is based off of the Ranger so it is probably already set up to build these PHEV models. 

Should you expect the Bronco’s 2.3-liter will see a hybrid option?

The PHEV Ranger will give an additional 92 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque over the non-hybridized 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine. That extra grunt makes for a 362 hp engine with 502 lb-ft of torque. Should you expect the Bronco’s 2.3-liter will see a hybrid option? Not necessarily.

Ford’s got plenty of other engines that will work under the Bronco’s hood. There is also the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 which could offer about 450 hp and almost 600 lb-ft of torque. Beyond that there is the F150’s hybrid 2.7-liter engine that would post numbers slightly less than the EcoBoost V6 specs. 

While all of this is a bit speculative, a hybrid Bronco is not. Back in mid-2019, Ford CEO Jim Hackett went on the record saying, “Ford is adding hybrid electrics to high-volume, profitable vehicles like Explorer, and the new exciting Bronco.” So we all knew it was coming and honestly, in this era of electric everything it was probably more surprising that the Bronco didn’t have a hybrid or EV option than it would have been to have one.

Ford has big plans for the Bronco much as Fiat Chrysler has for rival Jeep

As you can well imagine Ford has big plans for the Bronco much as Fiat Chrysler has for rival Jeep. The Jeep brand has not really had much competition in decades but that has changed. Bronco will see a pickup truck in the future and there are still other plans in the works.

It brings to mind that while GM is on the cusp of bringing out the all-electric return of the Hummer, it doesn’t appear to have any plans like Ford. Jeep has been a lucrative product for decades. Why it has taken so long for stiff competition to appear we don’t know. So the question now becomes “How will GM respond?”

With Fiat Chrysler and Ford in the Jeep business it means GM isn’t far behind

The Detroit 3 are different from each other to an extent, but in many ways, they’re almost identical. Once one shifts a certain way they all do. If Fiat Chrysler and Ford are in the Jeep business it means that GM isn’t far behind. 

As the days and weeks pass there will be plenty more Bronco news flashes. Just look at Jeepas a template for where Ford is going with the Bronco. As for GM? It remains to be seen.