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Ford
Yes, the Bronco Raptor is as tough as it looks.
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Ford
Rock crawling was obviously a priority with a ground clearance of 26 cm (10.3 in) and an upgraded transfer case for a crawl ratio of up to 67.7:1.
Words by Perry Mack Photos courtesy Ford
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the ‘regular’ Bronco, other than using the word ‘regular’ in the same sentence as ‘Bronco’. Even Jeep fans (like me) have to applaud it if for no other reason than it has gotten Stellantis to start investing more time and effort in the Jeep brand, including ‘hero’ versions of the Wrangler such as the 470 hp Rubicon 392.
“We had to build the Bronco Raptor,” says Carl Widmann, the chief engineer of Ford Performance. “It’s our ultimate vehicle for hardcore off-road enthusiasts.”
You have now our attention Carl, now let’s see if there’s more meat on the grill.
Ford
A side-by-side comparison shows the wider stance and increased ground clearance over the base Bronco.
Following the formula used to build the F-150 Raptor pick-up, Ford has now elevated the already stellar Bronco Raptor by dropping in a 3.0 L V6 with more than 400 hp, bolting on 37” tires and a unique long-travel suspension with 33 cm (13 in) of travel in the front and 35.5 cm (14 in) in the rear. We forgive Ford for failing to provide a V8 option in the Bronco Raptor, as it was only wishful thinking on our part. Ford has invested greatly in the smaller, lighter engines and their design teams are committed to this philosophy.
Unlike many other off-road branded trucks, this is not just a make-over with a few extra accessories and unique badging. We do see many similar features of the standard Bronco including the same sized interior, driver-selectable Goes Over Any Type of Terrain (G.O.A.T.) tuning system and removable body panels. Yet, Ford has raptorized the Bronco with extra-wide fender flares, its own unique grille for a distinctive look plus what the company calls ‘Ford Performance’ accents throughout the interior.
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Ford performance designed high bolster seats to keep occupants secure driving off-road.
But this is not your neighbour's Bronco.
Behind the wheel is where the real excitement begins as the enlarged fender flares conceal not only the 37” BFG K02s but also the 24.9 cm (9.8”) wider-than-standard track. Shifting should be seamless and powerful at every speed with the included 10-speed transmission. We also expect big things from the ride as this Bronco has a HOSS 4.0 race-ready suspension system using FOX 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers similar to what we’ve driven in the F-150 Raptor.
Ford
More than just a pretty skin on a base Bronco frame, the Raptor has reinforced shock towers, Fox 3.1 Internal Bypass shocks, beefier and wider axles, stronger drive shafts and Raptor specific control arms for more wheel travel.
Although it’s designed for high-speed running like it’s F-150 cousin, Ford has not forgotten to keep rock crawling performance at the top of the feature list with its ground clearance of 26 cm (10.3 in) and an upgraded transfer case generating a crawl ratio of up to 67.7:1.
While it isn’t as sexy as power and suspension, the skeleton of this Raptor is key to off-road performance, especially since Ford describes this off-roader as ‘the world’s first off-road inspired SUV’. To us, that means hang-time, hard turns and brutal terrain bashing.
Ford
Nothing says ‘built tough’ like airtime on a production truck.
Here we salivate over a fully-boxed, high-strength steel frame, Raptor-specific shock towers for more wheel travel and durability, HD skid plates protecting the driveline from the front bumper to the transfer case and in the upper body, B- and C-pillar reinforcement for a 50 percent gain in torsional rigidity over a standard Bronco four-door model. And yes, the Bronco Raptor is only available in a 4-door.
Ford talks about ‘competition-level’ parts and reports, “The solid rear axle is upgraded to a semi-float Dana 50 Heavy-Duty AdvanTEK with 235 mm ring gear, while the Dana 44 AdvanTEK front-drive unit includes upgraded half-shafts with a 210 mm ring gear. Larger front and rear driveshafts support increased wheel torque.”
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Every Bronco Raptor gets the High Package that includes SYNC®4 with a 30 cm (12 in) touchscreen, information on-demand panel and exterior camera with 360-degree viewing capability.
It all adds up to adrenaline-pounding, off-road exhilaration once you recover from the sticker shock. For Canadians, the 2022 Raptor will have a starting price of about $102,000, which is about $40,000 over the starting price of the top trim in a 2021 Bronco (the Wildcat, which includes the Sasquatch package).
This new 4x4 Ford completes the trifecta of the Raptor franchise, the F-150 Raptor, Bronco Raptor, and the Ranger Raptor (which isn’t available in Canada nor the U.S.). The only thing left for us is the off-road test drive – dusty smiles included.
Ford