V8 ruled out for Ford Bronco, in for Jeep Wrangler

Fresh reports from the US suggest a V8-powered Ford Bronco is unlikely to ever happen, even as Fiat Chrysler appears ready to offer V8 firepower for the first time in its direct rival, the Jeep Wrangler.

The world went Bronco-mad when the blue oval brand revealed and opened the order books for its born-again 4x4 icon, the new-generation Ford Bronco, in mid-July.

All 3500 First Edition models were snapped up within hours and by the end of the month Ford had received 150,000 Bronco reservations, extending the waiting list out to mid-2022.

Even before the standard two-door and four-door versions enter production in March 2021, a hard-core Ford Bronco Raptor was apparently confirmed by Ford itself and by more recent spy shots ahead of an expected launch in 2022.

As with right-hand drive production and an Australian release, Ford is yet to confirm a Raptor version of the Bronco, which rides on the same Australian-engineered T6 platform as the Ranger ute.

But until now it seemed the only question was: will the Ford Bronco Raptor be powered by a higher-output version of its 2.7-litre V6 turbo engine, the F-150 Raptor’s twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 or a Ford V8?

Speaking to Muscle Cars & Trucks on Friday, Bronco chief engineer Eric Loefller said there won’t be a Bronco V8 due to corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations in the US.

“We have to manage the CO2 implications of the product. The way the federal requirements are now it’s all shadow area based. If you look at the shadow area of a small off-road vehicle, it has a pretty high target from a government perspective in terms of CO2,” said Loefller.

Separately, Ford Global Program Manager Jeff Seaman told Muscle Cars & Trucks that the car-maker’s 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 would match Ford’s 5.0-litre Coyote V8 when it comes to power, torque, capability and, perhaps most crucially, efficiency.

“If the customer experience was significantly enhanced with a Coyote engine, it would have been under serious consideration,” said Seaman.

“In all honesty, that EcoBoost motor is damn good and when you get out of it you don’t say ‘I wish I had a bigger engine’.”

On the same day that Ford ruled out V8 firepower for the Bronco, Jeep further fueled expectations it’s about to launch its first Wrangler V8, at least in limited-edition form, by letting US journalists loose in the Rubicon 392 Concept.

First teased in early July and then revealed in full later that month, the 392 Concept is powered by a circa-335kW 6.4-litre V8 that should propel the 4x4 to 100km/h in less than five seconds, which would make it the quickest factory Wrangler ever.

Jeep has gone quiet on the 392 since its mid-July reveal, perhaps because it wanted to instead focus attention on the first plug-in hybrid version of Jeep’s most iconic model, the Wrangler 4xe, which was teased the followed day and revealed earlier this month.

However, spy shots of the Wrangler V8 testing on public roads in late July prove that development of the 392 Concept continues, and Jeep has now let US journalists loose in the concept car.

According to those who drove it at the official media event last week, Jeep executives said they continue to gauge public reaction to the concept, which has been universally positive, leading some to speculate a global launch date some time in 2021.

Whenever it’s launched, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is likely to be a limited-edition model – perhaps only for the US – priced close to $A100,000.

FCA Australia chief Kevin Flynn told carsales last month the a V8 Wrangler would be in huge demand Down Under.

“I love a V8. To have a V8 Wrangler would be phenomenal. Whether it’s going to fit into the right-hand configuration or anything like that, time is going to tell, but I’m glad they’re doing it.

“If it was possible to bring it to Australia we would sell a lot of them.”

Flynn said Australia’s appetite for V8 power was evidenced by the success of the supercharged 6.2-litre Trackhawk and 6.4-litre SRT versions of the Grand Cherokee.

“We actually just sold out of Trackhawks and we’re waiting for our next batch of SRTs and Trackhawks to arrive,” he said.

The local Jeep boss said the end of the V8 was inevitable, but indicated that could be further away Down Under.

“There is an appetite still in this country for HEMI V8 and long may it continue,” said Flynn.

“But I think we all know there’s a changing scene out there and I think we all know the direction it’s going in.

“We’ve got to embrace it I know. [But] It’s still a lot cheaper filling up a HEMI V8 petrol tank here than it is in the UK.”