There’s no telling if the Warthog name is truly heading to the Bronco, as the application only deems it for, “Land motor vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles.” That’s an admittedly broad list of possible applications.
Nevertheless, internet forums have circulated the possibility of the top-dog Bronco model donning the “Warthog” name for some time now. Although Bronco fans aren’t product planners, the fact they’ve been predicting a name that the Blue Oval only just got around to trademarking does lend credit to the possibility of a future Bronco model bearing the Warthog name.
Adding fuel to the fire is a recent photo put out by Ford on its social media channels. The image shows a camouflaged Bronco “flying” through the air in a possible nod to the A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft, which goes by the nickname “Warthog.”
Whatever it’s called, we expect the most hard-core Bronco model to follow much the same trajectory of its F-150 Raptor stablemate. Look for wider fenders, extra ground clearance, beefier springs and shocks, and more power from the SUV. The switch from “Raptor” to “Warthog” nomenclature may suggest a shift in off-road priorities, too, from the former’s high-speed desert-runner vibe to a lower-speed, rock-crawler Jeep Wrangler-esque mission. While the most powerful 2021 Bronco packs a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6 with 310 hp under its hood, the Warthog may sport an even larger twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 with at least 350 ponies.
With sales of the 2021 Ford Bronco still some months off, it’s unlikely the Bronco Warthog will debut anytime soon. Nevertheless, it’s always possible the name finds its way to another Ford vehicle first. If you ask us, Expedition Warthog has a nice ring to it.
This story has been updated since it’s original publish date of September 14.
