Ford Bronco R Racing Prototype Gives Us Closest Look at New Bronco

Feast your eyes on the all new Ford Bronco—sike! This is just the new Ford Bronco R, a racing prototype that’ll be racing in the Baja 1000 race. It’s obviously way more hardcore than the production version, but according to AutomobileMag, the designer said that the Bronco R was just a “hint” at the production version’s design. While it’s completely different on the outside, the underpinnings of the Bronco R shares the same T6 chassis as the regular Bronco, as well as the same powertrain.

The reveal couldn’t be more fitting as it’s just about 50 years since a Ford Bronco, driven by off-road racing legend Rod Hall, won the Baja 1000 way back in 1969. To this day it’s still the only 4-wheel drive vehicle to win overall. And now another Bronco—with a lot more power—will race the Baja 1000 later this month. Will it be able to recreate Tod Hall’s first place finish? We’ll have to wait for the race, which starts on November 19, to know that answer.

Apparently the Bronco R was went from inception to working vehicle in jut six months, but chief designer Paul Wraith says it was closer to three. So if it took Ford three months to make the Bronco R, why are we waiting so long for the Bronco? I jest, but it is a bit sad knowing that there’s still months before the production version of the Bronco is revealed. For anyone still wondering, that’ll be sometime in spring 2021, although the exact date or time haven’t been released yet.

For those who just can’t wait for some Bronco action, remember the Bronco R starts racing in the Baja 1000 November 19. For everyone else, it’s going to be a long wait until spring of next year when we can finally see what Ford has been working on for so long.