Ford seems to be following a sound strategy of electrifying models in the segments most popular with buyers (rather than those that seem convenient to electrify). The Blue Oval has a hit on its hands (if it wants one) with the Mustang Mach-E, and it could make history with the upcoming F-150 Lightning.

The Bronco was Ford’s first SUV. It’s been on sale since 1966, and is now in its sixth generation. It competes with the Jeep Wrangler, which will soon be available in a PHEV version (Jeep has also shown a pure EV concept called Magneto). An electric Bronco could be a headline-grabber and a big seller, so why doesn’t Ford have an electric version in the pipeline? When a Twitter user put this question to CEO Jim Farley recently, he responded: “Why do you think we don’t?”

Why do you think we dont?

— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 10, 2021

The plot thickens: motor1 reports that a leaked video of the Bronco’s digital instrument cluster showed an EV Coaching mode. motor1 believes that a plug-in hybrid Bronco is in the works, and that it will debut later this year, and go on sale as a 2022 model. The putative plug-in may sport a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine, an electric motor and a 10-speed automatic transmission, and deliver 450 hp (336 kW).

Ford is expanding the Bronco/Bronco Sport lineup into a sub-brand, and plans to offer several new variants. motor1’s Adrian Padeanu is convinced that sooner or later, one of these will be a pure EV.

Source: motor1