Ugly Test Mule

[BroncoBuyer]

I’ll put my “wild guess” down in writing. 95-105” wheel base.
A regular cab LONG BED ranger, not available in the US has a 126” wheel base. Take 2 foot off that bed at a minimum and you end up with the morphadite hacked bed you see above on that mule.

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[Stampede.Offroad]

Shamelessly stolen from another forum - allegedly seen at Silver Lake Dunes yesterday.

Interesting stuff to look at here.

I'm amazed no more images have shown up, and the auto blogs/storytellers haven't regurgitated it into some sighting of a Bronco lunar rover.

 

[BroncoBuyer]

I'm amazed no more images have shown up, and the auto blogs/storytellers haven't regurgitated it into some sighting of a Bronco lunar rover.

I was thinking the same thing. That thing must have been trailered and taken away immediately after the photo was taken. Everybody has a cell phone and could have taken a couple more shots if it lingered.
For me it’s THE most exciting and revealing picture taken to date. I am wanting a two door and that picture confirms it’s coming.

 

[BroncoMike]

I'm amazed no more images have shown up, and the auto blogs/storytellers haven't regurgitated it into some sighting of a Bronco lunar rover.

Write up your copy, I'm sure there are several sites that will pay you for it.

Just be sure to confirm the 2-door will only be available as a FWD-only plug in electric. The sound of exploding heads should be deafening across the Internet.

 

[Nickp]

I’m curious if this mule was a bit more “complete” than the previous ones. Possibly even having the final suspension design? We may never know, it is pretty wild that there hasn’t been any other pictures. Even looking at the Instagram geotag for the dunes there’s no other pictures of it.

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

I’m curious if this mule was a bit more “complete” than the previous ones. Possibly even having the final suspension design? We may never know, it is pretty wild that there hasn’t been any other pictures. Even looking at the Instagram geotag for the dunes there’s no other pictures of it.

It's hard to say if anything other than structural and driveshaft length were different. It does appear very similar in wheelbase to the 2-door Wrangler. The storage/passenger space will be quite limited, so it will need to deliver on some other functional or aesthetic level to drive sales.

 

[BroncoMike]

It's hard to say if anything other than structural and driveshaft length were different. It does appear very similar in wheelbase to the 2-door Wrangler. The storage/passenger space will be quite limited, so it will need to deliver on some other functional or aesthetic level to drive sales.

With the design of a modern pickup body on it as shown in the mule, yes - the cargo/rear seat area would be very limited. But if the top hat is of a different design, more upright and forward than a modern pickup and closer to that of a Wrangler or early Bronco, perhaps some space can be salvaged. I'm sure that modern safety designs and features are going to make old-school ratios of interior:exterior dimensions difficult to approach, but somehow Jeep manages to deliver a reasonable package under the same constraints. All signs point to the Bronco body being larger than the Wrangler, provided the interior space is scaled proportionally it shouldn't be painfully small.

I don't recall the interiors of my EBs having been insufficient when used for my purposes - but I never tried to move a sectional couch or carry ten people in it either (okay, I may have had that or more on several occasions at dune parties, but not for trips to the mall). Early Broncos were less of a hauler/family car - as are 2DR Wranglers - due to their size and interior constraints. But what they did well, they did very well. I'm hoping the "functional" degree of your equation delivers; the most amazing retro look bolted to a chassis no more capable than an Explorer won't open my wallet.

 

[Jalisurr]

I'm expecting it to be very similar to a 2 door wrangler - you can carry 4 people reasonably comfortably, or 2 people and a fair amount of cargo, but not both at the same time, that would be what the 4 door is for.

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

Frankenranger mule with the extra pudgy butt fluffing about in the sand somewhere ...

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I can't figure out where it was. My google-fu is too weak to find more of them. Swiped these from a Wrangler forum ...

 

[Nanook]

Geezus that thing gets worse looking every time I see it

 

[Husker]

Shamelessly stolen from another forum - allegedly seen at Silver Lake Dunes yesterday.

Interesting stuff to look at here.

From the same site.

 

[Idahorocks]

Kinda sad. Haven’t seen an escalation of trolling by Ford with the ugly mules lately. The Ranger mashup is hideous. And the Chevy Colorado skin was a brilliant dig. So Ford, if you are not going to show the real Bronco in camo anytime soon I’d like to offer a suggestion for the next ugly mule:

 

[SpursFan]

From the same site.

These aren't even in the states or I'm totally misreading the plates, stickers and surroundings.

 

[BroncoRevital]

These aren't even in the states or I'm totally misreading the plates, stickers and surroundings.

Australia. It's where they designed the T6 frame.

 

[Jalisurr]

Some more testing photos from australia posted today, can't see anything new of note though:
whichcar.com.au/news/ford-bronco-mules-australia-spyshots

And also a pic of what may be the test mule for the next Ranger that'll share a platform? Who knows

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