Anyone could’ve seen this coming. What pads margins better than a big, luxury SUV with some off-road ruggedness thrown in? Ford, evidently, has already started to figure this one out for itself. The latest Ford Bronco and Filson collaboration arrives at that intersection. It makes the Bronco quieter (which it needed desperately), much nicer inside, and much more premium to look at.
This idea is probably testing the waters for another luxury Ford off-roader. This one, the rumor mill indicates, will actually be built by the brand’s dedicated luxury marque: Lincoln.
What Will Ford’s Luxury Bronco Look Like?
Ford
Ford will use Lincoln to bring a sort of cut-rate G-Wagen to market, with production starting up in the next few years at the very same plant Ford builds the Bronco at in Michigan. The new Lincoln, like all Lincolns, will of course draw heavily from its Ford counterpart. Just as the Navigator is inspired by the Explorer, the Lincoln Bronco will be inspired by Ford’s. No one knows what it’ll be called just yet.
What the SUV will look like is a bit clearer, given how similar it will be to the Bronco. I’d expect the general silhouette of the Bronco to stay, including the high waist, boxy front, and upright cabin. A little more chrome will probably make its way into the design, but the rugged essentials will stay put. I’d be mad if they got rid of the handy hood tie-downs, which also help to locate the front inside of the wheels when off-roading, as well as the removable roof.
What Will Lincoln’s Budget G-Class Have Under The Hood?
Ford
It’d be no surprise if the stuff under the sheet metal were the same as the Bronco. There’s no sense in changing it, but Lincoln will likely make some modifications to tame the Bronco’s wild on-road manners. It does, after all, drive like a giant Tonka truck, plastic wheels and all.
That logic probably won’t extend to engines. The Bronco’s powertrains will probably carry over, but I doubt the four-cylinder will make it. That leaves the optional turbo 2.7-liter V6, which produces 330 horsepower. Lincoln is already using another Ford powertrain: the one out of the Bronco Raptor. In the Aviator, it makes 383 horsepower, but in Ford’s Raptor, the twin-turbo V6 makes 418 horsepower. Given the mission of the Lincoln Bronco, the latter figure will probably be employed. More power depends on how directly a competitor Lincoln wants this thing to be with the G-Class.
Cost And Timeline
Cole Attisha
It’ll likely be a few years before the SUV debuts. The model should arrive before the end of the decade, though, which points to a debut sometime in 2028 or 2029. The money depends on how upmarket Lincoln thinks it can take an SUV based on the basic Bronco architecture.
The G-Class is a lofty target, with its dedicated architecture and super-luxe interior accompanied by a massive $155,000 MSRP (to say nothing of AMG models). I think the Defender is more the Lincoln’s speed. The base Defender 110 starts at a more modest $67k or so, which feels like a more realistic target given it’s quite easy to spend that money on a Bronco already.
About the author
Chase Bierenkoven
Senior Editor, Autoblog