Few vehicles are as hotly anticipated in 2020 as the Ford Bronco. Scheduled to be revealed later this year, the Bronco should be a thrilling off-road rival for the Jeep Wrangler, removable roof and all. After leaked photos of the Bronco surfaced just a few days ago, we didn't think any more exciting news would emerge until the reveal. Well, we were wrong.

Leaked photos of the smaller Ford Bronco Sport (formerly called the baby Bronco/Maverick) have appeared on Bronco Sport Forum. This example is painted in a new color called "Area 51," which should also be available on the larger Bronco and was revealed in another leak of exterior colors.

We have no reason to believe these pictures aren't legitimate because the design matches the leaked images from back in 2018. The boxy shape gives the new model a rugged appearance even though it won't match the off-road capability of its larger sibling. Given the apparent production readiness of the model pictured here, we'd be shocked if Ford wasn't planning to reveal the Bronco Sport next month at the 2020 New York International Auto Show. Revealing both the Bronco and Bronco Sport at the same time would be a great way for Ford to drop the mic in the Big Apple.

The Bronco Sport is based on the same platform as the Escape, so it should utilize the same engine options. A base 1.5-liter EcoBoost provides 180 horsepower while a larger 2.0-liter mill boosts the output up to 250 hp. Ford could choose to only offer the more powerful engine in the Bronco Sport but we'll have to wait for the official reveal. These photos do show the vehicle with the hood up but the angle isn't good enough for us to tell what motor is resting in the engine bay.