FORD

Bronco R Is an Off-Road Race Prototype Built for the Baja 1000

We've been eagerly anticipating the reveal of the production version of the 2020 Ford Bronco, but in the meantime, Ford is showing off the Baja-focused Bronco R prototype. Built to commemorate the Bronco's victory in the 1969 Baja 1000, it's specially designed to run in the Baja 1000 later this month.
The Bronco R features a racing livery inspired by the Bronco that Rod Hall drove to victory in 1969, but it's been updated to look more modern. Speaking of which, the truck is adorned with 15 separate LED light bars to really sell the modern prerunner image.





Since it's actually going to take on the 1000-mile endurance race, the Bronco R comes with serious desert-running gear. The stance is wide, the tires are huge, and the high-travel suspension is built to soak up sand dune jumps. Power comes from an EcoBoost engine, though Ford doesn't mention displacement or horsepower figures. The production Bronco is also expected to come with an EcoBoost powerplant, likely a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine borrowed from the Ranger.





Ford says the body is designed to pay homage to the first-generation Bronco while hinting at the design of the upcoming production Bronco. The wide stance and most of the front fascia almost definitely won't be seen on the road-legal truck, but the "Bronco" lettering in the grille and body shape are perfect fits for Ford's current truck design language.


© Ford It commemorates the 50-year anniversary of the Bronco's 1969 Baja 1000 win.

This Bronco is also a two-door model, though Ford notes that the prototype race truck still has rear seats. You just have to climb into them from the roof. That'd be a surprising choice in a road car, so figure that's not carrying over, either. The two-door design probably will, though.

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