It looks like Jeep is getting ready to put a V8 engine in the Wrangler, which was previewed with the Wrangler Rubicon 392 concept, but will the Ford Bronco get one too? We’d love to see an eight-cylinder engine under the new Bronco’s hood, but it looks like it isn’t going to happen. Bronco chief engineer Eric Loefller recently told Muscle Cars and Trucks that it has no plans to offer a V8 in the new Bronco, mainly due to emissions regulations.

2021 Ford Bronco

“We have to manage the CO2 implications of the product. The way the federal requirements are now it’s all shadow area (footprint) based. If you look at the shadow area of a small off-road vehicle, it has a pretty high target from a government perspective in terms of CO2,” Loefller stated.

According to Loefller, buyers are more concerned with the power figures and fuel economy specs rather than the number of cylinders under the hood. Since the Bronco’s 2.7-liter V6 already has pretty impressive spes, Ford doesn’t see the need to pay the emissions fines for using a V8.

“If the customer experience was significantly enhanced with a Coyote engine, it would have been under serious consideration,” said Ford Global Program Manager Jeff Seaman. “In all honesty, that EcoBoost motor is damn good and when you get out of it you don’t say, ‘I wish I had a bigger engine.’”

If you want more power, the Bronco Raptor is expected to get the same 400-hp 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 as the Explorer ST. If you still really want a V8 under the hood of the new Bronco, there’s a good chance that the aftermarket may come up with a fix.