- Ford confirmed that the high-performance Bronco Raptor will arrive next year, and our illustration shows what the aggressive new model could look like.
- It will have a "Ford" script on the grille much like the F-150 Raptor, a wider track with available 37-inch tires, Fox dampers from the Raptor truck, and it's expected to use a 450-hp twin-turbo V-6.
- The Bronco Raptor will be on sale by the end of next year as a 2023 model starting in the mid-$60,000 range.
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The All-New Ford Bronco® Raptor™ | Ford
Watch onFord just confirmed that the high-performance Bronco Raptor will arrive next year, showing a glimpse at the "Ford" script in its grille, and our illustration shows what the aggressive Baja-ready SUV could look like. Earlier rumors and trademark filings suggested that the more capable Bronco would take the Warthog name, but now we know that it'll follow in the F-150 Raptor's footsteps, and it could be joined by the Ranger Raptor in the U.S. soon as well.
The Bronco Raptor will make the Sasquatch package look like a Power Wheels. It'll ride higher than the standard SUV, likely even more so than the Sasquatch-equipped Broncos, which ride on 35-inch tall rubber and are equipped with Bilstein dampers. Raptors will be fitted with Fox Live Wire adaptive dampers, the twin-tube bypass technology from the F-150 Raptor, and 37-inch BFGoodrich K02 All-Terrain tires will be available along with standard 35s. We also noticed beefier axles and a rear anti-roll bar on numerous test vehicles caught by our spy photographers. This setup will allow the Bronco Raptor to traverse uneven terrain at high speeds.
It's unlikely that Ford will shove a V-8 in the Bronco Raptor, even though the Jeep Wrangler 392 is equipped with a 470-hp 6.4-liter V-8. We expect the Bronco Raptor will use the same twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 as the F-150 Raptor, which produces 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque in the pickup. A 10-speed automatic transmission will be the only option. Currently, a 310-hp 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 is the Bronco's most powerful engine, and a manual gearbox is available on the less powerful turbo four.
Although the standard Bronco is available with a soft top and as a two-door model, the Raptor is likely to only be available in a four-door configuration with a hardtop based on the prototypes we've seen testing. Bronco Raptors will have a much wider track than the regular Bronco, and larger fenders and unique wheels to go with the tough stance. The teaser image showed amber marker lights, just like the F-150 Raptor, which are legally required on trucks more than 80 inches wide.
Look for Ford to slowly reveal more info about the upcoming high-performance Bronco variant before its arrival sometime in 2022. Pricing should start higher than the loaded First Edition four-door's $62,605 starting price, as the F-150 Raptor starts just over $65,000.
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Updated 9/21/2021 with Ford's confirmation that the Bronco Raptor is arriving in 2022.
With customers finally starting to take delivery of their 2021 Ford Broncos, eyes are now on the upcoming performance model, the Bronco Raptor. Just confirmed by Ford, this hardcore variant of the off-roading icon promises to bring capabilities and learnings from the F-150 of the same name. Here's everything that we think we know about the SUV at this point.
Bronco Raptor or Bronco Warthog?
One cannot begin to explain the Bronco Raptor without addressing the naming issue. For months now there was a debate surrounding whether the SUV will wear the familiar Raptor nameplate or the long-rumored Warthog moniker. Ford cleared that up when it confirmed the Bronco Raptor name at the 2021 Motor Bella event outside Detroit. Still, there's a chance that the Bronco Warthog could be a reality as well.
The standard Bronco lineup includes several trim levels tailored to various off-road activities. The Wildtrak trim for example has been touted as a higher-speed desert runner, while the range-topping Badlands is more geared to rock crawling and trail duty. It is possible that the Bronco Raptor will fall more in line with the Baja-bashing capabilities of its F-150 sibling, while an additional Warthog package comes geared towards more technical off-roading. For now, however, no official word exists as to what name the upgraded 4x4 will wear. For the sake of keeping things clear, we'll utilize the Raptor nameplate below.
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Improved Hardware
Ford Bronco Raptor prototypes have been spotted with a higher frequency as of late, giving us a better look at the hardware we can expect. The prototypes are clearly more aggressive than the standard trucks, with massively swollen fenders and a much higher ride height than we've seen on the production models. Hiding beneath those fenders is a set of Fox Racing dampers easily identified by their orange casing, first reported by
The Drive. These are likely similar to, if not the same units used on the F-150 Raptor, and should provide plenty of travel off the pavement. As with the F-150 Raptor, expect a wider track, raised suspension,
upgraded chassis components, and skid plates galore to accompany the shocks. Recent spy photos uploaded by Muscle Cars and Trucks also show the hardcore Bronco rocking the same
37-inch BFGoodrich tires as the F-150 Raptor, though expect these to be an optional extra. A set of 35-inch rubber will likely serve as the standard option, which is better suited for high-speed dune running. Other upgrades will include revised facias with the
classic "FORD" grille as reported by
Bronco6G, as well as a higher clearance front bumper.
A New Powertrain
The standard Ford Bronco is available with a choice of two EcoBoost engines: a 300-hp 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a 330-hp 2.7-liter V-6. While the 2.7-liter EcoBoost could find its way under the hood of the Bronco Raptor, rumors have pointed to a different engine entirely. A new 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 is expected to power the upcoming 4x4, borrowed from the Ford Explorer ST and the Lincoln Aviator. This new powertrain was first hinted at by the team at RevMatchTV. The engine produces 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque in standard trim, while the hybrid variant doles out 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The Bronco Raptor is expected to get both the standard and hybrid variant of the engine, though output figures are subject to change. The sole transmission option will likely be the 10-speed automatic available on the lesser Bronco models.
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Door Count, Trim Levels, and Colors
Images of what are claimed to be a leaked order guide for the Bronco Raptor were published to the Bronco6G forums in September 2021, uncovering a wealth of trim-level info. The guide, should it be legit, says the Bronco Raptor will arrive for the 2022 model year and only come in four-door guise. The post claims the Raptor will be available in two trims, a base level and a more luxurious trim that'll come with things like adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, and the Lux package which, on the normal Bronco, includes a 12-inch infotainment screen, a 360-degree camera, more sound deadening, a 10-speaker sound system and two additional USB smart-charging ports.
The leaked guide also suggests the Bronco Raptor will be available with three new colors: Eruption Green, Hot Pepper Red and Code Orange. The latter is the same orange hue seen on the new F-150 Raptor, for what it's worth.
Of course, none of this info has been confirmed by Ford, so it's best to take it with a grain of salt.
Pricing
The Bronco Raptor will arrive as the new range-topping model, and as such, it is expected to be the most expensive of the bunch. With the First Edition model carrying an MSRP of $60,800, a base price in the mid-$60,000 range is expected, according to Car and Driver. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 carries an MSRP of $73,500, so anything below that will make the SUV seem like a bargain performer.
A Late Arrival
It's no secret that Ford's timeline with the Bronco has been thrown off by the pandemic. Early rumors suggested that the Bronco Raptor would arrive as a 2022 model, though that's shifted. Ford only confirmed that the Bronco Raptor would arrive some time in 2022, so that should make it a 2023 model-year vehicle. Whenever it shows up, this new 4x4 will undoubtedly be welcomed by the resurgent Bronco's fans.
Lucas Bell Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry.
Brian Silvestro Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.