Bigger engine for BS

[Mark S.]

Ford should have came out of the gate on a dead run with the Bronco Sport showing this little pony meant business. If they put the attached speck version 2.3L in an AWD Bronco Sport then we'd have a baby Stallion!!!

To be honest, I'd be happier with a two-speed transfer case offering a granny gear. Not that I'd turn down a hundred extra ponies...

 

[sajohnson]

To be honest, I'd be happier with a two-speed transfer case offering a granny gear. Not that I'd turn down a hundred extra ponies...

Depending upon the owners' circumstances, high/low gearing can definitely be more useful than the extra power.

Our road has a very steep hill (20-25% grade). A semi-truck driver made the mistake of trying to drive up it and he got stuck. We drove up behind the trailer in our '97 RAV4. It was my wife, a friend and I -- so nowhere near the GVWR, bur several hundred pounds. In order to get around the truck we had to drive up a grass berm -- even steeper than the road itself. With the center diff locked we had plenty of traction, but the RAV was seriously under-powered (half of the output of the 2.0L in the Badlands) and it had no low range. 1st was low, but not low enough. I would have had to smoke the clutch to get it to move, and even then it might have stalled.

We were about 1/2 mile from our lane but had to back down the hill, go out to US 40 and up to the top of the "mountain" so we could come in from the north (which is rough 2-track). No a big deal, but having low range gearing would have been nice. There were a couple other times when it would have come in handy -- like trying to dislodge 'widowmakers.'

Needless to say, some owners would find it even more useful, and others would never use it.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Ford should have came out of the gate on a dead run with the Bronco Sport showing this little pony meant business. If they put the attached speck version 2.3L in an AWD Bronco Sport then we'd have a baby Stallion!!!

Are those the Focus RS European Specs?

 

[Steelbronco]

Are those the Focus RS European Specs?

Why yes they are... lol. I'm not saying they couldn't be improved but we gotta start somewhere....

 

[Steelbronco]

Depending upon the owners' circumstances, high/low gearing can definitely be more useful than the extra power.

Our road has a very steep hill (20-25% grade). A semi-truck driver made the mistake of trying to drive up it and he got stuck. We drove up behind the trailer in our '97 RAV4. It was my wife, a friend and I -- so nowhere near the GVWR, bur several hundred pounds. In order to get around the truck we had to drive up a grass berm -- even steeper than the road itself. With the center diff locked we had plenty of traction, but the RAV was seriously under-powered (half of the output of the 2.0L in the Badlands) and it had no low range. 1st was low, but not low enough. I would have had to smoke the clutch to get it to move, and even then it might have stalled.

We were about 1/2 mile from our lane but had to back down the hill, go out to US 40 and up to the top of the "mountain" so we could come in from the north (which is rough 2-track). No a big deal, but having low range gearing would have been nice. There were a couple other times when it would have come in handy -- like trying to dislodge 'widowmakers.'

Needless to say, some owners would find it even more useful, and others would never use it.

Ok, I agree completely with the gearing comments and I'd love to have the possibility of the lower gear selection also.
So....... can we get some "portals" made for our little Bronco Sports? Or is not a viable option? Adds gearing and lift....

 

[sajohnson]

Ok, I agree completely with the gearing comments and I'd love to have the possibility of the lower gear selection also.
So....... can we get some "portals" made for our little Bronco Sports? Or is not a viable option? Adds gearing and lift....

The fact that you agree with my gearing comments shows that you are intelligent and astute!

I have to admit, I have no idea what a portal is (in this context).

 

[RushMan]

The fact that you agree with my gearing comments shows that you are intelligent and astute!

I have to admit, I have no idea what a portal is (in this context).

Portals are stilts for off-road vehicles. Besides raising a vehicle, they include gearing on each corner.

 

[sajohnson]

Portals are stilts for off-road vehicles. Besides raising a vehicle, they include gearing on each corner.

Good article:
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/what-is-a-portal-axle/

 

[Steelbronco]

Good article:
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/what-is-a-portal-axle/

Yeah... check these sites out for Bronco related. They could manufacture something like this for the Sport however is it intuitive to do so?
I can say it'd be awesome to see a Sport on Portals!

https://broncbustertx.com/products/portals

https://motorsports.74weld.com/bronco-portal/

 

[sajohnson]

Yeah... check these sites out for Bronco related. They could manufacture something like this for the Sport however is it intuitive to do so?
I can say it'd be awesome to see a Sport on Portals!

https://broncbustertx.com/products/portals

https://motorsports.74weld.com/bronco-portal/

Very cool!

That looks like the way to go for serious off-roading.

I do question this claim: "Off-Road Warrior AND Daily Driver - Now It's Possible." Possible maybe, for a short, low speed commute.

IDK, maybe it would be doable, but...

 

[daShadow]

They need to make the 2.0 available on all models. When I bought my 2024 Outer Banks, I had to choose between the bells and whistles I wanted or the 2.0. Took the bells but still wish it had the 2.0. Maybe they will change that for my next one.

.

 

[sajohnson]

They need to make the 2.0 available on all models. When I bought my 2024 Outer Banks, I had to choose between the bells and whistles I wanted or the 2.0. Took the bells but still wish it had the 2.0. Maybe they will change that for my next one.

.

We went the other route --a base/stripped Badlands.

Definitely nothing wrong with the bells and whistles though. In our case, my wife and I have been driving for ~50 years. Our first cars had manual everything -- transmission; service brakes; steering; mirrors; locks; emergency/parking brake; vent windows; and vents in the panels next to your feet. No remote hood/hatch/trunk/gas cap cover release.

Our last cars (before the Badlands) were a '97 RAV4 and a 2002 WRX. Both manual transmission and just the normal power stuff -- windows/locks/mirrors.

Point being, 'you can't miss what you never had.

We went through the list of items included with the options package (name?) on the BS BL, and found that while there were some that sounded good/useful, most we wouldn't use. So the only options we got were the tow package and the cross bars for the roof.

A loaded OBX cost almost as much as a stripped Badlands (~$700 less, IIRC). For us, the BL made more sense, but I can totally understand others choosing the OBX or one of the other trims. We live on a "mountain" (big hill) and our road has a steep grade with a hard right at the bottom (= no running start) and a hard left halfway up. So we chose the Badlands as much for the engine as for the AWD system.

The Badlands is really my wife's SUV. I rarely drive it. The extra power is nice, but the 1.5L would more than adequate. Most people don't need the 2.0L engine (my wife and I included). The 2.0L would come in handy towing in the mountains with the GCWR maxed out, but how many BS owners are doing that?

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