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

Laura

Feb 23, 2026

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

timhood, 615_Bronco

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Feb 26, 2026

#40

Mikes2021Bronco
Mine only whistles during cold weather, and obviously when the heater fan is blowing. So im sure its to do with the gaskets/seals shrinking due to cold weather.

Hopefully i get a response something like this... "You didnt buy a $150,000 Lincoln Navigator Black Label.. you bought an amazing offroad, 4 wheel drive with a removable top bada$$ Bronco, what did you expect? " 😄

Jeez, you didn’t buy a … well, you already know. 😉

In all seriousness, I’ve had four different Jeeps and aside from my CJ-7 (soft doors), they were all difficult to take off the doors, which were very heavy and bulky with the frame. I love the Bronco door design that is lighter and smaller for putting in the canvas bags and leaving them at home or even loading in the back. Since I have those doors off every chance I get, it’s easily worth the window inconveniences (noisy and resets every so often). I remember reading the engineers listened to us Jeep owners and our complaints about this. So take those doors off…then you’ll get some REAL wind noise. 👍

Deano Bronc, Mikes2021Bronco

Feb 26, 2026

#41

Badland-Mansquatch-ATX
Jeez, you didn’t buy a … well, you already know. 😉

In all seriousness, I’ve had four different Jeeps and aside from my CJ-7 (soft doors), they were all difficult to take off the doors, which were very heavy and bulky with the frame. I love the Bronco door design that is lighter and smaller for putting in the canvas bags and leaving them at home or even loading in the back. Since I have those doors off every chance I get, it’s easily worth the window inconveniences (noisy and resets every so often). I remember reading the engineers listened to us Jeep owners and our complaints about this. So take those doors off…then you’ll get some REAL wind noise. 👍

Yea, trust me. I know what I got.. haha... but if the internet gets their way.... I could be in the market for a

Lincoln Aeronaut or
Lincoln Aviatrix

Jus sayin... and you can say you heard it here first... 🤫🫣

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

Feb 26, 2026

#42

Mikes2021Bronco
Yea, trust me. I know what I got.. haha... but if the internet gets their way.... I could be in the market for a

Lincoln Aeronaut or
Lincoln Aviatrix

Jus sayin... and you can say you heard it here first... 🤫🫣

Aviatrix like Amelia Earhart so you can get lost, I don't think so Tim.

Joined May 29, 2020 Member 546
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Deano Bronc, TK1215

Feb 26, 2026

#43

Bronco V-8
Aviatrix like Amelia Earhart so you can get lost, I don't think so Tim.

Is that not the idea with offroad toys?

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

Deano Bronc

Feb 27, 2026

#44

Laura
Six doors (technically 7)? Fixed roof? Swing-out tailgate spare carrier? So many options

Ford would sell a ton of fixed-roof Broncos. 4Runner and other buyers would have a better option.

Feb 27, 2026

#45

timhood
Ford would sell a ton of fixed-roof Broncos. 4Runner and other buyers would have a better option.

And that could easily be the so called "Lincoln version" that is rumored.

Deano Bronc

Feb 27, 2026

#46

timhood
Ford would sell a ton of fixed-roof Broncos. 4Runner and other buyers would have a better option.

Ive been screaming this ever since the hard top debacle. Ive even talked to the Ford Bronco Team when ive had a chance in Michigan, at BN events. (For whatever thats worth) Hopefully they have been listening.. and atleast offer it along with removable top in the future. I know they know there is a lot of soccer dads out there that live in the City that either wont buy a Bronco or never take the top off. When your paying premium money for a vehicle, people buy what they want, most of the time.... And mommas have the final say mosr of time. Lol.

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

timhood, TK1215

Feb 27, 2026

#47

Unicorn
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.

Do you use a Watts in your setup? I wonder if the Ranger Raptor's Watts could be ported over to the Bronco.

TK1215

Feb 27, 2026

#48

timhood
Do you use a Watts in your setup? I wonder if the Ranger Raptor's Watts could be ported over to the Bronco.

No I do not... and that is exactly what I was wondering would Ford possibly be considering it for the Bronco?.... It would be easier for me to change over to a triangulated 4 link... Actually I would probably look really hard at Vasher's wishbone 3 link if I was going to go that way. You are talking a lot of work to convert to a Watts if you did not have it originally. I guess it would be easy enough to cut off the pan hard frame mount but then you need to calculate two new frame mounts that attach at a differential height based on the length of the center member which then you would need to attach the center pivot pin to the differential.... and that pin has to have a substantial attachment because it needs to resist ALL of the lateral loading placed on the rear axle. Again I would rather go triangulated because you will get WAY more articulation out of it.... FORD is not about to warranty a triangulated rear suspension though.

Currently I have a Core 4x4 crawler series 5 link.

Feb 27, 2026

#49

Maybe they're saving the Watts linkage for the EV version ...go ahead groan you'll be telling it😂

MAGA Make Archie Great Again

Deano Bronc

Feb 27, 2026

#50

Foxtrot Bravo
Maybe they're saving the Watts linkage for the EV version ...go ahead groan you'll be telling it😂

I would say no... because it is suspension and handling no matter what the drive type is... It would be all or nothing, at least that is my opinion.

Feb 28, 2026

#51

Jokes turn unfunny when you have to explain them
watts... electric...

MAGA Make Archie Great Again

Deano Bronc, Jakob1972

Feb 28, 2026

#52

Foxtrot Bravo
Jokes turn unfunny when you have to explain them
watts... electric...

I dunno sometimes it makes it more funny.😄

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

Deano Bronc

Feb 28, 2026

#53

Jakob1972
I dunno sometimes it makes it more funny.😄

A lot of people laugh at me.... makes me feel included even when I am the butt of the joke. 😊

Obviously not something new in my camp.

Deano Bronc, Jakob1972

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