Ford Is Already Developing the Next Ranger — And Bronco Fans Should Be Paying Attention
Ford isn't wasting any time planning its next generation of off-road vehicles.
Reports now confirm that development of the next-generation Ford Ranger is already underway, even though the current Ranger still feels relatively fresh here in the United States.
Normally, that would be interesting news for Ranger fans.
But here at BroncoBusting.com, there's another reason we're paying very close attention:
The Ford Ranger and Bronco are closely related — and what Ford is developing for the next Ranger could give us some clues about where the next-generation Bronco is headed.
Ford's Australian Team Is Already Working on the Next Ranger
Ford Australia President and CEO Fadi Mawal has confirmed that work on the next-generation Ranger is already taking place in Australia.Ford's Australian operation employs roughly 1,500 people, with its engineering team playing a major role in Ranger and Everest development.
Mawal made Ford's intentions pretty clear:
Even more importantly, when asked about the next-generation Ranger, he confirmed:
That means Ford isn't simply discussing what might replace today's Ranger someday. The engineering work has already begun.
Current industry reporting points toward the next major Ranger redesign arriving around 2029 or 2030, although Ford hasn't announced an official launch date yet.
Why Should Bronco Owners Care?
Because the Ranger and Bronco aren't strangers.The current Bronco and Ranger are members of Ford's T6 vehicle architecture family, and both are currently assembled at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant.
That relationship means development work surrounding Ford's next midsize truck architecture becomes extremely interesting from a Bronco perspective.
And there's another piece to this puzzle.
Reports have also pointed toward a next-generation Bronco around the end of the decade, potentially putting the next Ranger and next Bronco on very similar development timelines.
Coincidence?
Maybe.
But we're definitely watching.
Ford Could Be Preparing a Much Bigger Off-Road Push
Things get even more interesting when you look at everything Ford has been doing lately.
We've already been covering Ford's seemingly endless stream of patents involving off-road equipment, vehicle recovery systems, camping accessories and other ideas that appear particularly well suited to vehicles like the Bronco.
There have even been patent drawings that some observers believe could offer an extremely early glimpse at styling ideas for a future Bronco.
Then we have reports that Ford may once again be considering something Bronco fans have wanted for years:
A Bronco pickup.
Reports have suggested a Bronco-based pickup could enter production around 2029, potentially sharing the Michigan Assembly Plant with the next-generation Bronco.
Ford hasn't officially confirmed that vehicle, so don't start clearing garage space just yet.
But suddenly we're looking at a pretty interesting timeline:
Next Ranger.
Next Bronco.
Possible Bronco pickup.
New off-road patents.
New powertrain possibilities.
And much of it appears to be converging around the end of this decade.
What About a Hybrid Bronco?
This may be one of the biggest questions.Ford already offers a Ranger Plug-In Hybrid in overseas markets, pairing a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with an electric motor.
Ford engineers have also acknowledged that they're studying different levels of electrification for future Ranger products while balancing towing, payload and serious off-road capability.
That doesn't automatically mean the next Bronco will receive the Ranger's current plug-in hybrid system.
But the next-generation Ranger program gives Ford an opportunity to rethink the underlying hardware for both trucks and off-road SUVs.
By the time we're talking about a 2029 or 2030 Bronco, Ford could potentially have far more options available than it did when today's Bronco was being engineered.
Hybrid?
Range-extended electric?
Traditional EcoBoost?
Something completely different?
Right now, Ford isn't telling us.
Could Ranger Development Tell Us What the Next Bronco Will Be?
That's the part we'll be watching most closely.The current Bronco proved that Ford could build a legitimate Wrangler competitor while taking a different engineering approach — most notably with its independent front suspension.
The next generation gives Ford an opportunity to take everything it learned from the Bronco's return and push the formula even further.
More suspension travel?
Better factory recovery equipment?
More integrated camping accessories?
Hybrid torque on the trail?
More onboard electrical power?
And perhaps even a Bronco pickup sitting beside it?
None of those features has been confirmed for the next Bronco, but Ford's current development activity makes the next few years extremely interesting.
BroncoBusting Take
The headline may say “Next-Generation Ford Ranger Is Already in Development,” but Bronco fans shouldn't scroll past this one.The Ranger has been deeply connected to the modern Bronco story from the beginning.
If Ford's engineers are already designing the Ranger that will carry the company into the 2030s, there's a good chance we're entering the period when some of the engineering decisions that will shape the next Bronco are being made as well.
And considering Ford's recent patents, rumors of a Bronco pickup and the company's continued investment in serious off-road vehicles, we're starting to wonder if the current Bronco was simply Ford's opening act.
What do you want to see on the next-generation Bronco?
Hybrid power? More suspension travel? Factory 37s? Integrated recovery equipment? A Bronco pickup?
Jump into the discussion at BroncoBusting.com and tell us what Ford needs to get right with Bronco 2.0.
