Ford announces investment Of $1.2 Billion in Michigan for Ranger, Bronco

Ford Motor revealed a cumulative investment, and more interestingly in its home state of Michigan of $1.2 billion, consisting of $850 million at the Michigan Assembly plant located in Wayne, which presently develops the Ford Focus. Additional investments consist $150 million at the Romeo Engine plant and $200 million for a innovative data center related to the automaker’s mobility and autonomous automobile efforts. The investments are in addition to the formerly announced $700 million investment to the Flat Rock plant for the developing electric and autonomous vehicles.

Of note is that not a single of the engine presently built at the Romeo plant seem to be well-suited to the Ranger or Bronco. The plant’s existing production is exclusively V-8 engines and parts, consisting of the 6.2 L gas V-8 used in the Super Duty and blocks and rods for the 5.0 L V-8 engine utilized in the Mustang and F-150. The Ranger and Bronco’s engine lineup is most likely to consist mainly of I-4 and V-6 engines. The 2.0 L and 2.3 L I-4 EcoBoost engines are presently sourced from the Cleveland Engine Plant, which likewise develops the 3.5 EcoBoost V-6. The 2.7 L EcoBoost is constructed at Ford’s Lima, Ohio, plant.

Ford has not yet formally announced engines and powertrains for the Ranger and Bronco, however most likely prospects are the brand-new 3.3 L naturally aspirated V-6 that will be the basic engine in the 2018 F-150 and a variation of the 2.5 L naturally aspirated I-4 as the base engine. An I-4 or V-6 EcoBoost engine is a potential choice.