Ford's Bronco R Race Prototype Gives Shape To The Production SUV

It was just yesterday that we told you about the world premiere of the Ford Bronco SUV and now the company has shared pictures of the Bronco R race prototype which gives us subtle hints as to what to expect from the production model. The Ford Bronco R race prototype debuts in the desert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rod Hall's historic Baja 1000 win. As a tribute, the new Bronco R race prototype was parked alongside the Bronco that Rod Hall and Larry Minor drove on an overall win 50 years ago at the 1969 Baja 1000 - a victory that no other 4x4 has replicated.

The Ford Bronco R race prototype has been developed by Ford Performance in collaboration with builder Geiser Bros Design and Development

Featuring a race livery inspired by Hall's winning vehicle, the Bronco R passes the torch to off-road racer Shelby Hall, Rod's granddaughter, who will drive it for portions of this year's race in honor of her late grandfather. As a test, the Bronco R will head back to the Baja Peninsula later this month to take on the near 1,000-mile grueling off-road course and challenge the production Bronco's powertrain and architecture.

And as a tease, the Bronco R - developed by Ford Performance in collaboration with builder Geiser Bros Design and Development and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele - drops heritage-inspired design and proportion hints of what enthusiasts can expect to see on the production model.

The Ford Bronco R race prototype incorporates 15 LED lightbars from Rigid, including a grille sequence framing the new Bronco brand lettering

To make this Bronco R prototype a possibility, the team worked in secret to create a one-off build that hints at the all-new Bronco to come, while paying homage to the first-generation Bronco's styling and proportions. With its compressed body height and long-travel suspension, Bronco R features an ultra-wide stance, while a variety of aero components reinforce its performance intent. The prototype's lightweight composite body includes a clamshell hood and roof, as well as clean body panels. A cut-roof design allows rear seat passengers to use a second-row hatch for access.

The exterior incorporates 15 LED lightbars from Rigid, including a grille sequence framing the new Bronco brand lettering. Washers inscribed with the Bronco name are visible at various points around the exterior and secure the composite skin to the roll cage beneath it.

The Ford Bronco R race prototype features an independent front suspension with 14 inches of travel and a production-based five-link rear chassis design with up to 18 inches of travel and custom Fox shocks

A unique race-focused interior features lightweight off-road racing shells from Recaro for all three seating positions. Simple surfaces of the instrument panel nod to the first-generation Bronco, and the integration of a MoTeC data acquisition system enables real-time monitoring and measurement of the prototype's performance attributes.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Bronco's Baja 1000 win, Wraith and team worked in concert with Ford Performance, builder Geiser Bros Design and Development of Phoenix, Arizona, and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele to make the Nov. 22 race start. They used high-tech virtual reality, polygon modeling and 3D printing to develop parts, but also incorporated low-fidelity prototyping and role-playing to aid problem-solving and swift decision-making.

The race prototype is built on a modified Ford T6 architecture that will provide the base for the production model. Beefed up for Baja, Bronco R features an independent front suspension with 14 inches of travel and a production-based five-link rear chassis design with up to 18 inches of travel, plus custom Fox shocks, 17-inch beadlock-capable aluminum wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires.