This is the new 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, now the most powerful street-legal Bronco on offer. Of course, it’s not all about power and speed, as the Blue Oval’s official Baja-inspired take on the popular Bronco resurrection is designed to attack sand dunes just as well as it handles tarmac miles. It’s said to be the first SUV inspired by the Ultra-4 Racing series, the off-road discipline that is marketed as the most demanding one-day off-road race on the planet.
The new Bronco Raptor is 25 cm wider than a
base four-door, with plenty of visual cues to remind onlookers that this is no
ordinary Bronco. It measures 4,851 mm long, 198 cm tall, and 2,177 mm wide, with a base curb weight of 2600
kg. And it certainly looks the part, with the unique bodywork making the
uprated SUV instantly discernible from the base model. However, as with the
rest of the Raptor line-up, this is much more than just a dressing up: there’s
an expansive list of upgrades applied to the Raptor under the skin.
The latest edition to the Raptor range is powered by a
3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost engine with a graphite iron-block engine. Unlike aluminum
blocks, iron ones are typically more durable, even if they usually carry a
weight penalty. Ford says it’s targeting over 400 hp,
although official SAE power and torque figures are yet to be revealed. That’s
compared with 330-hp for the current top offering powered by a 2.7-liter
turbocharged V6. The Raptor’s V6 is aided by intercooling and air-induction systems
designed to endure the higher ambient desert temperatures. Power is transmitted
to the road via a 10-speed gearbox, similar to the one found in the F-150
Raptor and Ranger Raptor. The four-wheel drive system will feature seven
different “G.O.A.T” modes for off-road exploration. Included is a new Baja mode
that actives a turbo anti-lag system. With pops and crackles guaranteed, it’s
designed for “high-speed desert runs,” although we can see owners using it to
disturb the peace every now and again too.
But for those wishing to keep a low profile, the Bronco
Raptor will also feature four selectable exhaust modes, including a quiet mode
for flying under the radar (and not waking up the neighbors). The exhaust
itself features near-equal-length headers, for what Ford describes as an
improved exhaust note. As you’d expect for anything bearing the Raptor moniker,
the Baja-inspired SUV sees a fair amount of work carried out to the chassis.
Agility is improved with new shock towers that increase wheel travel. These are
aided by new Ford Performance control arms, which enables the Bronco Raptor to
achieve 33 cm of wheel travel in the front and 35.5 cm in the rear. Also included are larger-diameter inner and outer tie rod ends.
As far as the suspension is concerned, the Bronco Raptor
features a set-up similar to the F-150 Raptor. The FOX dampers are internal
bypass and semi-active, monitoring the height of each wheel hundreds of times
each second. They’ve been tuned specially for the new platform, with integrated
reservoirs up front and remote reservoirs at the rear. Moreover, there are
heavy-duty bash and skid plates protecting the underside continuously from the
front bumper to the rear of the engine, transmission, and transfer case.
Meanwhile, the chassis sees reinforcement at the B-pillar crossbar and the
C-pillar, with a 50 percent increase in total body-in-prime torsional rigidity.
The 2022 Raptor Bronco employs competition-level drivetrain
components, including axles from Dana (semi-float 50 AdvanTek at the rear and
44 AdvanTek at the front), as well as upgraded half shafts. The track is
widened by 21.8 cm to 187 cm, while ground clearance
is increased by 12 cm over the standard Bronco. Further setting
the Raptor apart from the base Bronco is an improved 4×4 system with a
higher-capacity clutch that’s able to withstand the demands of high-performance
desert events. There are also Raptor-specific reinforced rock rails with
removable running boards that increase rock-crawling capability.
Leaving no stone (or rock) unturned, the transfer case has
been beefed-up too, with a 3.06 low-ratio for up to 67.7:1 crawl. There are
also larger front and rear driveshafts to support the added torque from the
more powerful engine. For those attempting trails, Ford has added a one-pedal
driving mode to the Bronco Raptor. Also improved is the SUV’s towing ability,
as a new Tow/Haul mode enables the Bronco to pull 2,041 kg,
which is 454 kg more than the standard car.
Ford is calling the Raptor its “most badass Bronco yet,” and
from just looking at it, you can tell that enough Raptor DNA has been injected
to make the new SUV certifiably muscular. There’s a heavy-duty steel front
bumper with removable end caps for better clearance, as well as integrated tow
hooks. The front and rear quarter-panels, fenders, fender flares, and door
appliques are all unique to the Raptor version, and contribute to making the
car 25 cm wider. The front fenders, which are sheet-molded,
include vents that aid cooling to the engine. The hood also features added
cooling ducts, with a power bulge for an added touch of menace to the
appearance.
Fitting under those arches are standard-from-factory 37-inch
all-terrain tires from BF Goodrich. The KO2 all-terrain tires are claimed to be
the largest available of any production SUV in the U.S. These can be specced
with two designs of 17-inch diameter, 8.5-inch width rims with beadlocks. The
headlamps are specific to the Raptor, with amber daytime running lights and
integrated marker lamps. The front bumper features removable and integrated
Rigid LED fog lamps coupled with Rigid off-road lamps for even greater
illumination come nightfall.
Of course, all these visual tweaks aren’t nearly enough to
scream “Raptor,” so, in case buyers have any doubts about the SUV’s identity, a
range of Bronco Raptor graphics are available. These can be coupled with 10
different exterior colors, including the Ford-Performance exclusive Code
Orange.
Code Orange can also be found in the interior if the
optionally bright seatbelts are specced. Standard splashes of orange feature
throughout the interior, which features standard vinyl seats. Black Onyx “Neo
Suede” seats are optional, as is a thicker sport steering wheel and carpet
flooring. There’s the added option of Ford Performance-designed front seats,
too, which sport aggressive side bolsters. The Bronco Raptor comes standard
with a 12-inch touchscreen with exterior cameras for 360-degree viewing.
There’s also a Lux Package available which includes a 10-speaker B&O sound
system and adaptive cruise control.
Ford will open order books in March 2022. However, most of
the 2022 model year allocations will go to existing reservation holders.
Pricing for trim levels and individual options are yet to be announced, but the
2022 Bronco Raptor will start at US$ 68,500 plus US$ 1,495 for destination and
handling for a total of US$ 69,995. That’s more than double the price of the base
4-door Bronco (US$ 33,785) and a whopping US$ 20,000 jump up from the 4-door Bronco
Wildtrak (US$ 47,780) and leaves room for a much heftier final tag once spec’d –
not to mention any Raptor-size markups over MSRP from dealers. It’s a steep, if not completely unexpected
premium, while the Raptor will also be offered with a three-year/36,000-mile
warranty.