Ford adds manual transmission for Sasquatch-equipped Bronco
When it was first announced, the 2021 Ford Bronco could not be optioned with both the Sasquatch off-road package and a manual transmission. In response to customer feedback, Ford announced today that it will now offer the seven-speed manual transmission as an option with the rough-and-tough Sasquatch package. The 2021 Bronco officially hits showrooms in spring 2021.
The change of heart comes after an un-ending stream of tweets, petitions, and other communications from fans, many of whom presumably plunked down a $100 deposit to hold their spot in line.
The Sasquatch package nets Bronco buyers 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, Dana front and rear electronic locking axles with a 4.7:1 final drive ratio, as well as a burlier Bilstein suspension and a track that’s almost two inches wider than your non-Sasquatchian Bronco brethren. The best part: You can get the Sasquatch package on every version of the Bronco, from the Base to the Badlands. For comparison, most of the Jeep Wrangler’s off-road goodies—electronic lockers, heavy-duty Dana axles, and 33-inch tires—require you to spring for a top-trim Rubicon spec.
If you opt for the Bronco Wildtrak or the First Edition models, you’ll get the Sasquatch goodness as standard. Seven-speed Sasquatch Broncos will have a maximum crawl ratio of 94.75:1, which sounds darn near unstoppable.
It’s worth noting that the seven-speed, currently, can only be paired with the 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine. That motor produces 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to handle business off the beaten trail. The other engine, a 2.7-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6, makes 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque but only pairs with the 10-speed automatic. No word yet on whether or not Ford will eventually offer the DIY gearbox with that larger engine, but we’re not holding out breaths. So long as the turbo-four isn’t guilty of massive boost surges, we think it will be just fine in even the nastiest off-road situations.
This might the best Bronco formula of the bunch. Ford says it is targeting late 2021 for Sasquatch packaged/manual transmission Broncos. What’s a few more months when we waited as long as we did for the nameplate itself to make a comeback?
Obviously, the Blue Oval has a sense of humor about the change of heart, if this tweet from Ford North American Product Communications manager Mike Levine is any indication:
https://twitter.com/mrlevine/status/1308060960112869376
