Brian WilliamsCar and Driver
- Watchful Reddit users recently uncovered a document that suggests the 2021 Ford Bronco could have a manual transmission.
- The Magna PT Getrag sourced MTI550 manual gearbox can support five-, six-, and seven-speed configurations and support rear- and all-wheel-drive applications.
- Automotive News previously reported that the Bronco will finally be shown in production form later this month.
It’s been rumored for some time now that the upcoming Ford Bronco will offer a manual transmission, and we now have some more evidence that this is happening for real. Someone on Reddit noticed a posting about an MTI550 manual transmission from supplier Magna PT’s Getrag-Ford division, and several clues in the specs suggest that this gearbox slated for the Bronco that’s set to be revealed this month.
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Called the 5/6/7MTI550, this modular transmission is intended for longitudinal applications with either rear- or all-wheel drive. It can be configured to have five, six, or seven speeds, with the seven-speed version boasting a “crawler” gear for off-roading. Though the current specs for the seven-speed model do not list specific gear ratios, they do indicate a potential gear ratio spread of up to 11. By comparison, this offers more range than the 7.1 spread of the six-speed manual in the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Provided the Bronco is equipped with a two-speed transfer case, the low-range gearing will offer even more rock crawling capabilities.
Getrag-Ford
The seven-speed gearbox could potentially pair with two engine options: a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four or a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6. A 10-speed automatic will also be available to handle more thoughtless shifting duties. But all this speculation and agony will soon come to fruition as Ford is set to debut the Bronco lineup later this month.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
