Ford has confirmed the worst-kept secret in the industry: a Bronco Raptor is coming.
Its existence had already been inadvertently mentioned on LinkedIn, before a leak from Ford USA’s internal ordering system was shared online.
Now, Ford has officially teased the 2022 Bronco Raptor with a short promotional video.
It doesn’t show much of the car, with only a quick glimpse at the front before it disappears behind a conveniently placed dust cloud.
We can see, however, it receives a new grille which, in classic Raptor fashion, spells out ‘Ford’ in giant lettering.
The aforementioned ordering system leak, published on the Bronco6G forum, revealed the more rugged variant will be available only in the four-door body style.
Two models of Bronco Raptor will be offered. The first will be a more pared-back option, while the second will pack adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, and a more luxurious interior.
In the USA, it’ll be offered with Eruption Green, Hot Pepper Red, and Code Orange paint colours atop the standard spread.
Ford Authority reports the Raptor will be powered by the 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 engine used in the Explorer ST, where it makes 298kW of power and 562Nm of torque.
Should that tune be carried over to the Bronco Raptor, it’ll give the new flagship an increase of 67kW and 22Nm over the Bronco’s most powerful engine at present.
It’s not clear what will change under the skin. The locally-developed Ranger Raptor (which shares its bones with the Bronco) offers a substantial upgrade over regular Rangers, though not in terms of power.
Instead, its enhancements include a new coilover rear suspension, Fox 2.5 shock absorbers, more ground clearance, a beefed-up exterior and a slate of other changes under the skin aimed at boosting off-road capability.
The Bronco Raptor will likely feature a series of aesthetic tweaks, and may receive a similar slate of off-road enhancements to the Ranger Raptor.
Not that the standard Bronco is light on for off-road ability.
Even the base model offers four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case, a Dana 44 solid rear axle, heavy-duty bash plates, and an available seven-speed manual transmission with an ultra-low 94.75:1 crawler gear.
A more advanced four-wheel drive system is available, as well as Spicer Performa-TraK electronic differential locks, beefy 35-inch off-road tyres, a suite of electronic off-road aids called the Trail Toolbox, and a sway bar disconnect function.
While there are regrettably no plans for Ford to bring the Bronco to Australia, the next Ranger Raptor will make it to the US.
It’ll pack the same turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 as the regular Bronco, but with slightly more power and torque – with 242kW of power and 542Nm of torque, it’ll be up by 11kW and 2Nm.
That’ll give Ford US three Raptors – the original F-150, the Bronco and the Ranger – while Australian showrooms will have only one.
