Ford Bronco Raptor spotted playing in the dirt

Wednesday, 10 November 2021

Ford is working hard on the Bronco Raptor, the most potent of the Bronco family. As per the norm for Raptor models, it should be an absolute monster off-road, and new photos of a prototype playing in some mud confirm that’s where Ford is focusing its efforts.

Uploaded to the Bronco Nation forum (which, at the moment is for US residents only) and quickly redistributed across the Internet, the images show the camo-clad Bronco boasting wide, vented fenders, huge 37-inch off-road tyres with a wider track and jacked-up suspension. It also appears to have a different taillight set-up as well.

Styling changes include a different front grille spelling out ‘FORD’ with yellow daytime running lights.

The Bronco Raptor is being tested right now, with power potentially reaching as high as 335kW.

As for power, Bronco Nation thinks the Bronco Raptor will get a version of Ford’s 3.5-litre EcoBoost petrol-powered V6, producing around 257kW, which could be a low estimate considering the 2.7-litre V6 in the already available Bronco makes 231kW.

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Expect new suspension to go with the power-up.

* Ford officially teases Bronco Raptor

* Ford hypes next-generation Ranger, confirms launch date

Meet the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept. What's a Bronco again?

* Is Ford planning Bronco-based ute?

* Is Ford working on a plug-in Bronco Raptor?

Previous rumours were leaning towards the F-150 Raptor’s 335kW/691Nm 3.5-litre V6 or the new Explorer’s 272kW/515Nm 3.0-litre V6.

Unfortunately for those hoping for a competitor to the V8-powered Jeep Rubicon 392, it doesn’t seem like that will happen any time soon, even despite the Bronco DR race truck debuting at Sema last week using Ford’s 5.0-litre V8.

Should that new suspension be similar to what’s found in the F-150 Raptor, we can expect a new ‘jump mode’, which uses an internal ride-height sensor to variably adjust suspension damping depending on the road conditions.

The system should end up offering a more rigid ride with added flexibility when driving over rocks or doing jumps.

The range-topping Bronco should debut by the middle of 2022. Price is yet to be confirmed and there’s little chance of it coming to New Zealand in any official capacity, considering we miss out on the regular Bronco.

However, the Bronco is based on the same platform as the Ranger ute, so whatever the Bronco Raptor gets, the next Ranger Raptor could potentially pack as well…