As Ford prepares to overhaul its North American lineup in the next half-decade, the idea of a Bronco pickup truck has re-emerged at the front of the ideas pack.
The automaker has kicked around plans to develop an off-road capable pickup version of its Bronco SUV off and on for a while, but the timing seems right now. It also fits in well with Ford’s broader plan to transform some its most iconic nameplates, such as the F-Series, Mustang and, yes, Bronco into distinct sub-brands.
A herd of Broncos
And of course, the Bronco lineup already includes the core 4x4 SUV and the smaller Escape-based Bronco Sport, with a hybrid powertrain expected to join the family as early as the 2028 model-year. A light-duty truck variant would round out that lineup nicely.
Reports have Ford using the scheduled upcoming cosmetic refresh of the rugged SUV to launch an open-bed twin, directly targeting the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator pairing. The truck is expected to combine the Bronco's signature front-end styling and convertible capability with a utility bed similar in size to that of the midsize Ranger.
It’s believed that Ford will centralize all Bronco manufacturing at its assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, shuttling production of the Ranger off to Tennessee to make room.
How many is too many?
That will make for a lot of trucks in the Ford lineup, what with the upcoming Fathom also set to join in the fun, alongside the existing Maverick, Ranger, F-150 and Super Duty. But since Ford no longer really competes in any car category in North America outside of the muscle car one, can it really have too many pickups in its lineup?
Customers will ultimately provide the answer to that question. But for now, its signals regarding the Bronco pickup show that Ford is doubled down on heritage-driven, lifestyle-focused utility vehicles.