Breaking News: Leaked Photos of the 2021 Bronco Sport
Earlier today, photos of the new 2021 Ford Bronco Sport were posted on the Bronco Sport forum. The internet was given just three shots of the Ford Escape based Bronco Sport. Don’t worry, this is not the full-size Ford Bronco, this is a smaller baby brother. It wasn’t supposed to be seen until next month at the New York Auto Show, but you know. Leaked photos are a great way to stir up media buzz before a huge announcement.
This Baby Bronco shares its DNA with the Ford Escape so it will be uni-body construction and presumably share the same power-trains. The standard engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost, with an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. According to Car and Driver, Ford stated that the Escape’s Hybrid 2.5-liter engine may also cross over to the Bronco Sport.
It will offer All-Wheel Drive (not 4×4), which may include a locking differential and/or low range. This is meant to be the urban cowboy Bronco, for curb hopping and grocery hauling. For the loyalists, think of this as the II rather than the XLT.
Based on these photos the Bronco Sport looks big. However, I imagine it will look endearing as a small, boxy, crossover in person. The exterior design sparks images of a Land Rover. I suspect many non-car people will no doubly confuse it with a Jeep. That’s probably why Ford put the word “BRONCO” in big bold lettering in both the front and back of this thing.
The full-size 2021 Bronco is set to debut before this one, yet the Bronco Sport will be in dealerships as early as this year. Anyone waiting for the full-size version will have to wait until 2021. Expect to see this model priced in the high 20’s which will quickly crossover into the 30k range when it arrives at a Ford dealer near you.
