Ford testing something "obvious" for future model years of Bronco

Laura

Feb 23, 2026

Yesterday at 7:03 pm

I was reading The Drive's article "The Ford Bronco Has Been Secretly Benchmarking Upgrades at Baja Races for Years." In it, Ford's Seth Goslawski tells The Drive how the motor company has been using this race to test upgrades that have made it onto the Bronco in future model years, something we've covered back in 2022 in our own interview with co-driver Jamie Groves. Read about Ford's covert NORRA testing in 2023 Wildtrak Gets HOSS 3.0 Standard.

The team is repeating their Baja run in April, and Seth tells The Drive there will be something significant they'll be testing.

“I wish I could say but I can’t,” Goslawski said. “It’ll be obvious. I’ll state that!”

SOOooOoo... What do we think it is, Bronco Nation?

~~2021 Oxford White 2-door non-Sas Mid package 2.7L/10-speed Badlands with MIC top~~
2021 Carbonized Gray 2-door Sas High package 2.7L/10-speed Badlands with MIC top
Keeping the Jeeps: ~~stock '89 XJ, 3.5" lifted '00 XJ on 31s and~~ '89 MJ

615_Bronco, Micahman

Sort by date

Reaction Score

Yesterday at 11:27 pm

#20

Deano Bronc
😂 I was actually going to say a V-8. Not that I think that is going to happen.
Maybe a better suspension?

Maybe the Bilstein 8112 DSA+ will become a factory option? If so, no one will be disappointed!

Jakob1972, Laura

Yesterday at 11:32 pm

#21

Mikes2021Bronco
hybrid, completely flat floor, bottle opener in the 2 door, and more conveniently located around the Aux switches 😉, heated headlights for certain states, lay flat tailgate, fake v8 sound piped in thru the speakers, better color options, less recalls, 2 door on a 4 door chassis with a bed, and last but not least we need better grocery bag hangers in the rear like other SUVs.... cause we all know they be hauling them groceries 🤣😂

Since day one I have been a proponent for a 2 door on a 4 door frame👍🏼

Laura, Jakob1972

Yesterday at 11:34 pm

#22

Laura
Easily fixed with a set of keys. You won't even have to do it yourself -- just park poorly and upset someone.

Yeah, doors in the back is a no-go for me even if I could. I have put panels in the back though when I decided it was nice enough.

Soooo, scrub brush stripes can be duplicated by a jealous 1997 Pontiac LeMans key owner? Or just park in the over flow parking at church...🫣

im sure its convenient for some folks, that travel in theirs. But ive never even had the doors off. 😒... maybe thats my 2026 resolution, find out what its like to drive around without doors at 80mph...

2023 Wildtrak, Iconic Silver, Hard top, ordered 10/5, built 12/13, delivered 1/18

Laura, 615_Bronco

Today at 1:43 am

#23

Would love to see a hybrid version, or even an EREV alongside the 2027 F150

Riding OB1, 23 4- door Outer Banks, SAS, MOD, MIC, Lux, Ordered 10/20/22, delivered 1/13/23

Laura, Jakob1972

Today at 2:29 am

#24

Bluestreak57
Would love to see a hybrid version, or even an EREV alongside the 2027 F150

That is a possibility....

Jakob1972, Bluestreak57

Today at 4:25 pm

#25

Mikes2021Bronco
Soooo, scrub brush stripes can be duplicated by a jealous 1997 Pontiac LeMans key owner? Or just park in the over flow parking at church...🫣

im sure its convenient for some folks, that travel in theirs. But ive never even had the doors off. 😒... maybe thats my 2026 resolution, find out what its like to drive around without doors at 80mph...

I have only driven with the doors off once but I have taken the doors off to do interior upgrades lots of times, makes running wires easier. Plus I don’t have to walk around the open door.

BN 1100, Desert Sand Everglades. Reservation 7/30/20. ordered 1/22/21, reordered 10/15/21 dropped tow and hard top, reordered 3/9/22 changed to Everglades. production date 9/7/22 rescheduled 9/14/22 completed 9/26/22, shipped 10/7/22, arrived 10/31/22, delivered 11/03/22

Laura, Mikes2021Bronco

Today at 5:24 pm

#26

Maybe they are testing a Go GO Gadget lift kit option.

Laura, Unicorn

Today at 5:48 pm

#27

TK1215
Since day one I have been a proponent for a 2 door on a 4 door frame👍🏼

With a pick up truck bed. Just sayin'

No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...

Kenneth, Jakob1972

Today at 7:11 pm

#28

Eninty
With a pick up truck bed. Just sayin'

as long as it could tow >= 7000lbs I would trade my silverado in on one of those.

Laura, TK1215

Today at 8:58 pm

#29

Yeah, maybe pickup - Lets hope for a roadster!!

Cheers

TK1215, Unicorn

Today at 10:01 pm

#30

Unicorn
2 door still do not get the rear sway bar... My experience (my opinion) they really do not need it....

They all get a track bar though... they have to. The rear end is a 5 link.... Only way to eliminate the 5th link is to go triangulated... Period...

Now the Watts linkage is a really nice upgrade to the track bar (5th link) It eliminates any and all rear end kick out that is typical with a pan hard rod. They have been running a Watts on the Ranger Raptor for a couple years now with very positive reviews.... This is most beneficial at higher speeds that require articulation like desert running.

Down side is that it really complicates lifting the vehicle. The center pivot of the Watts has to be raised as well AND that changes the roll point. People will find work arounds that will work to varying degrees of success... But that is going to cost money. It will be interesting to see the different solutions. I have not been following the solutions for the Ranger Raptor but I am sure there are several.

Watts link way overkill on Bronco

Based on technical analysis of the Ford Bronco's H.O.S.S. 2.0 suspension system, the maximum lateral (side-to-side) axle movement for a stock Sasquatch Bronco is generally designed to be minimal, with optimal setups producing
less than 0.5 inches of shift at ride height.

Key details regarding the lateral movement of the Bronco's rear axle (which utilizes a Panhard rod/track bar) include:

Panhard Rod Arc: As the rear suspension moves through its range of motion, the rear track bar moves in an arc, causing a slight lateral shift, which is generally well-controlled under 0.5" in stock configurations.
Maximum Suspension Travel: The Sasquatch package features high-clearance suspension, with the rear suspension designed for significant travel (around 10.2+ inches on stock 35s).
Lift Impact: If the vehicle is lifted, the rear axle will shift to one side due to the fixed-length Panhard bar, requiring an adjustable track bar to realign it.
Aftermarket Solutions: ICON Vehicle Dynamics provides an adjustable rear track bar to properly align the rear axle for any lift height, managing the side-to-side movement.
ICON Vehicle Dynamics +4

While the rear axle has lateral movement from the Panhard bar, the front suspension is Independent Front Suspension (IFS), meaning the front wheels do not have "lateral axle movement" in the same way as a solid axle setup, although the CV joints have maximum operating angles (18 degrees standard).

Secondly the rear sway bar is an enormously wonderful addition to the 2dr Sasquatch. I installed one mine after a highway panic stop that felt like it was about to do a somersault at speed 😬. Lean in turns was also greatly improved along with that huge reduction of brake dive. The factory Bilstein’s add to the problem with their softness. I later added Bilstein 6112’s. That was the icing on the cake. I don’t extreme off road so I can’t comment on any negative impact on articulation with the rear bar…

TK1215, Mikes2021Bronco

You must log in or register to post here.