What's more exciting than the new Ford Bronco? We have four words for you: The Ford Bronco Raptor. The most powerful street-legal Bronco ever, equipped with elite off-road technology and hardware. And it arrives this summer.
Ford recently introduced the newest member of Ford's Raptor off-roading beast and desert-racer family, dubbing it the world's first "Ultra4 Racing-inspired SUV", capable of "highway-speed desert-dune conquering and Baja rock-crawling." (If you're not familiar with it, Ultra4 Racing is the epitome of grueling off-road competition, featuring demanding races such as the famed King of the Hammers in the Johnson Valley in California.)
“Raptor is the apex of our off-road lineup and is now a full lineup with race proven content and design that you can’t get from anyone else,” said Jim Farley, chief executive officer, Ford Motor Company. “Only Ford could create a Bronco Raptor.”
The Ford Bronco Raptor is, as you'd expect, designed and engineered by Ford Performance - with the goal to make the Bronco even faster and bring more off-road capability, agility, and maneuverability than it already delivered.
“We had to build the Bronco Raptor – it’s our ultimate vehicle for hardcore off-road enthusiasts who demand something more,” said Carl Widmann, Ford Performance chief engineer. “Like the Ultra4 desert race trucks, the ‘Raptor of SUVs’ conquers desert dunes at highway speeds and is equipped with competition-level off-road technology and hardware.”
We don't have specifics yet other than Ford promises the most powerful Bronco ever, targeting more than 400-horsepower with its Raptor-tuned twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Ford also says the engine's intercooling and air-induction systems are designed to endure the higher ambient desert temperatures.
The compacted graphite iron-block engine provides strength for added durability while also saving weight which helps in higher-speed desert capabilities or rock crawling. Ford Performance also had its hand in tuning the Bronco Raptor's 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.
To make it all happen, the Ford Performance team started with Raptor-specific Bronco frame which Ford says increased suspension travel and track width for handling stability during high-speed desert runs. The fully boxed, high-strength steel frame also has new shock towers that increase wheel travel and off-road durability. It's equipped with heavy-duty bash and skid plates that provide continuous driveline coverage from the front bumper to the back of the engine, transmission and transfer case. In the upper body, B-pillar cross bar and C-pillar reinforcement help deliver a greater than 50% total body-in-prime torsional rigidity increase over a standard Bronco four-door model.
Competition-level, Ford Performance-developed axles, also used on the Bronco DR race truck, further deliver on the Ultra4-inspiration. The solid rear axle is upgraded to a semi-float Dana 50 Heavy-Duty AdvanTEK with 235-millimeter ring gear, while the Dana 44 AdvanTEK front-drive unit includes upgraded half-shafts with 210-millimeter ring gear. These upgraded front and rear axles increase the track width by 8.6 inches (73.6 inches versus 65.0 inches) over a base Bronco for even more sure-footed confidence. Larger front and rear driveshafts support increased wheel torque. Bronco Raptor also runs with a minimum ground clearance of 13.1 inches, 4.8 inches more than a base four-door model.
An advanced 4x4 system with three modes includes a higher-capacity clutch designed to withstand the demands of high-performance desert events. The upgraded transfer case also features a 3.06 4x4 LO ratio for up to 67.7:1 crawl ratio.
The Ford Performance team collaborated with FOX to upgrade the High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) system with Live Valve technology. Similar to the F-150 Raptor truck’s position-sensitive damping design, the Raptor HOSS 4.0 system features FOX 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers (3.1-inch diameter) that are uniquely tuned at the front and rear and feature integrated reservoirs up front and remote reservoirs in rear. Suspension height sensors and other sensors at each corner monitor terrain conditions independently hundreds of times every second and adjust suspension tuning accordingly.
Unique Ford Performance-designed front and rear control arms help deliver maximum wheel travel of 13.0 inches in front and 14.0 inches at the rear, or 60% and 40% more, respectively, than a Bronco base model. To deliver the confidence and high-speed needs of the world’s first Ultra4-inspired SUV, the Ford Performance team reached out to BFGoodrich for standard 37-inch KO2 all-terrain tires (37x12.50R17LT), the largest of any production SUV in America. Two Ford Performance-designed 17-inch x 8.5-inch beadlock-capable wheels are available. An electric-power steering rack and housing influenced by F-150 Raptor, as well as larger-diameter inner and outer tie rod ends, were added to further upgrade Bronco Raptor.
Of course, it also comes equipped with an improved version of the brand’s exclusive G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) Terrain Management System designed to help drivers better navigate off-road. Seven driver-selectable modes include a uniquely tuned Baja Mode that activates a turbo anti-lag calibration to maximize performance over high-speed desert runs. A new to BroncoTow/Haul mode helps enable a tow rating of 4,500 pounds, a 1,000-pound boost over the base model. Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist and Trail One-Pedal Driving are also included.
As for sound, the Bronco Raptor is equipped with a true dual-exhaust system, featuring first-for-Bronco active-valve technology. Ford says it uses near-equal-length pipes that allows drivers to alter the sound of their Bronco Raptor with four selectable exhaust modes: Normal, Sport, Quiet and Baja.
As you might imagine, the Bronco Raptor is designed to look as extreme as it is capable with model-specific features.
“As the most badass Bronco yet, the Bronco Raptor design is extreme,” said Paul Wraith, Bronco design chief. “It’s muscular, while maintaining an underlying simplicity with performance-focused details added only for outstanding high-speed capability.”
Familiar Ford block lettering at the front stretches across the signature two-piece rectangular grille. Model-specific LED headlights featuring amber daytime running lamps and integrated amber marker lamps further tie in the DNA of Raptor to provide a menacing look. A Ford Performance heavy-duty modular steel front bumper features tow hooks, removable bumper end caps for improved off-road clearance, integrated removable Rigid LED fog lamps and Rigid off-road lamps for greater illumination.
The hood is made of sheet-molding compound, allowing the design team the ability to dramatically sculpt its muscular shape. An integrated hood vent is molded-in-color Carbon Black and fender vents are painted body color. Raptor logos on the left and right of the hood bulge hint at the twin-turbo power underneath.
Bronco Raptor leverages the Bronco SUV’s patented off-road modular design, stripped it to its base, and replaced components with unique-to-Raptor front and rear quarter-panels, fenders, fender flares and door appliques. Sheet-molding compound is once again used to sculpt the wider front fenders and integrated bodyside heat extraction ducts, which provide additional engine cooling. Sheet-molding compound rear-quarter panels are equally bolstered for a muscular look. Together with fender flares, Bronco Raptor sits 9.8 inches wider than a standard Bronco. Bronco Raptor-specific reinforced rock rails with removable running boards increase rock crawling capability.
If you want to go all out, an available Bronco Raptor Graphics Package includes new splatter graphics on the rear bodysides and hood that use an overlapping broken trapezoidal pattern and floating shapes to present a sophisticated digital appearance. Exterior colors include Hot Pepper Red Metallic, Velocity Blue Metallic, Eruption Green Metallic, Shadow Black, Iconic Silver Metallic, Area 51, Cactus Gray, Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, Oxford White, plus Ford Performance-exclusive Code Orange paint.
The interior is a stand-out from the crowd affair as well. There are some familiar Bronco features of course including a heritage-inspired horizontal dash and integrated 12-inch digital cluster. The cluster adds a Bronco Raptor-exclusive Performance View that emphasizes tachometer and gear readings and allows the customization of gauges.
“The Bronco Raptor interior was designed around what we know hardcore off-road racers want in a vehicle,” said Ryan Olsson, design manager. “From the all-new Performance View on the cluster and unique steering wheel with paddle shifters and fingertip access to Raptor-specific controls, to its race-ready, high-bolster front seats, Bronco Raptor leaves the factory ready for the starting line.”
Base Bronco Raptor models are equipped with Black Onyx marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberized washout flooring. The dark interior is accented with Ford Performance Code Orange splashes on the G.O.A.T. Modes rotary dial, dash vents, door netting, steering wheel stitching and Bronco logo on the instrument panel. The push-button ignition also lights up in Code Orange. Touchpoints such as the grab handles, steering wheel bezel and gear shifter wear low-gloss carbon fiber accents.
Upgrades include choices like an all-new laser-perforated Black Onyx Neo suede seats, vinyl-wrapped instrument panel topper, leather-wrapped outer seat bolsters and carpet flooring. A thicker and sport-contoured steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters and gloss black Raptor logo center continues the Ford Performance treatment.
Ford Performance-designed front seats are unique to Bronco Raptor, designed with aggressive foam side bolsters to help keep passengers firmly seated when the terrain gets nasty. Available Code Orange seat belts add more Ford Performance style.
Bronco Raptor comes standard with a High Package that includes SYNC4 with 12-inch touchscreen with swipe capability, information on-demand panel and enhanced voice recognition. Other technology features include an exterior camera with 360-degree viewing capability. The Lux Package adds an available 10-speaker B&O audio system and Adaptive Cruise Control.
Ford says Bronco Raptor order books open in March. Be forewarned, however, that a majority of the 2022 model year Bronco Raptor allocation will go to existing reservation holders based upon their original reservation timestamp. Ford says it will send communications later this month soliciting reservation holders’ interest in Bronco Raptor. Vehicles will begin to arrive this summer.