New Ford Bronco to get Ranger’s 2.3-liter four-cylinder

Automakers tend to keep details of upcoming products under tight control. Still, vendors need at least some access to certain information if suppliers need to have have OEM and aftermarket replacement parts on the shelves when those vehicles go on sale. And that’s just how Off-Road.com found out that the upcoming revival of the Ford Bronco nameplate will indeed be powered by the same 2.3-liter four cylinder Ecoboost gasoline engine—likely the same one found in the engine bay of the 2021 Ranger pickup.

While checking out spark plugs in Canadian Tire’s digital parts guide, Off-Road’s Matthew Guy noticed that the menu choices included the 2021 Bronco. The entry for that vehicle shows only one engine choice, “4-140 2.3L DOHC”. That’s the same turbocharged 140 cubic inch four from the Ranger. In the Ranger the four valve per cylinder motor is rated at 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

There have been rumors that the new Bronco would have the 2.3-liter Ecoboost four, but this is the closest thing to confirmation thus far. Given the Bronco is based on the same T6 platform Ford uses for the new Ranger, it’s not a stretch.

The new Bronco is expected to go head-to-head competing with Jeep’s popular, and profitable, Wrangler. Last year, FCA sold about 250,000 Wranglers. Like the Wrangler, the reborn Bronco could have a removable roof and/or doors.

In addition to the four-cylinder engine, the upcoming Bronco had been rumored to feature the more powerful V-6 EcoBoost, but that is still just speculation. Another rumor had the new SUV offering a seven-speed manual transmission, perhaps with a very low “creeper” first gear for off-road use.

Maybe we’ll check at Canadian Tire to see if they have clutch parts listed for the new Ford Bronco.