As the 2021 Ford Bronco shares a platform with the midsized Ranger, it’s long been assumed that the SUV would eventually receive a Raptor variant. North America already enjoys access to the F-150 Raptor and the smaller Ranger Raptor (which is already available in other parts of the world) is said to make it our way by the 2023 model year. Considering the Bronco is supposed to rivaling Jeep’s Wrangler, having the ability to add a zestier motor, gnarly tires, a beefed-up suspension, badging that denotes enhanced off-road capabilities, and a loftier MSRP seems like an obvious course of action for the Ford Motor Company.
While the automaker has yet to officially confirm such a vehicle, leaks have resulted in numerous positive rumors. The latest are of particular interest, as they show the manufacturer adding a Raptor-edition Bronco to its dealership ordering system for the 2022 model year.
Tuesday morning, the Bronco6G forums claimed to have uncovered a new body code that didn’t exist previously. Additional digging appeared to reveal that there were actually two different trim levels for the presumed Bronco Raptor — one of which opens the door to adaptive cruise control, voice-activated navigation, wireless device charging, an upgraded audio system, heated steering wheel, and some kind of luxury package.
New paint colors were also said to be uncovered, including the rather exclusive Code Orange that’s on the 2021 F-150 Raptor. If you like striking hues, it’s not a bad option. Though Ford probably could have called it Tomato Red to avoid confusion.
From Bronco6G:
After looking through the Model Year 2022 Bronco Raptor is coming around. Two different levels a base Raptor 373A and a higher package that includes lux in a 374A. Also see the new colors in Erupution Green, Hot Pepper Red and Code Orange. Really exciting stuff and will continue to see if there are other options available and keep everyone posted.
Another new trim level I found for 4 Door Advanced only is an Everglades. Only has a few colors available with it. Its a 922A order code but no content information. CONCEPS is no longer used for retail/stock ordering so information is limited, but it gives all of us something to look forward to or drive us insane! I checked CONCEPS first because Ford updates the database before WBDO which is the main ordering system for Retail/Stock units.
Ford is unlikely to confirm or deny any of the above, but we’re inclined to think it’s legitimate. There have been numerous leaks pertaining to the Bronco Raptor, including one from 2020 where a longtime Ford engineer mentioned a work history connected to the 2023 Bronco Raptor in their LinkedIn profile. Odds are good the off-roader is coming and, if the latest data is to be believed, much sooner than originally anticipated.
What can you expect when it arrives? Well, we’ve heard that it could come with the same (450-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter) Ecoboost V6 that installed in the base F-Series Raptor. But we’ve also been told that it could be a beefed up version of the 2.7-liter V6 that goes into the standard SUV tuned to make at least 350 hp. Either way, it’s going to have loads of suspension upgrades so it can mimic the dune hopping seen in basically all the marketing materials Ford releases under the Raptor banner. At a minimum, that means hardware furnished by Fox, hardcore off-road tires, and substantially more ground clearance than would be standard.
[Image: Ford Motor Co.]
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These things are already difficult to get, a Raptor version is going to be YouTube flippers dream.
I doubt they would fit a Bronco Raptor with the same engine as the F-Series Raptor, because then it would out-Raptor the Raptor.
Depends… If and that’s a giant IF, Ford actually brings the Raptor R and it has a different heart than the 3.5 (please be a Coyote of some form!!), that means that the 3.5 can then go in to the Ranger assuming it will physically fit… which then means the Bronco. Once the 3.5 is no longer the sole option (or at least is the lower tier option) in the F150 Raptor, it’s free to be used in other models.
That’s my bet (read: hope).
Project 1: Raptor R with a new, different powertrain
Project 2: Ranger Raptor rocks the 3.5TT
Project 3: Bronco Raptor rocks the 3.5TT
@CoastieLenn – I’ve heard of a version of the GT500’s engine going into the Raptor R. The next-gen Raptor will also have a 5 link rear along with the option of 37’s. I believe the 3.5TT will remain in the base Raptor. IIRC, the 3.5TT in the current Raptor and next-gen “base” Raptor is a variation of the 3.5TT found in the Ford GT as opposed to a beefed up standard F150 engine.
The 3.5TT would be an interesting fit into the Bronco/Ranger chassis. The 3.5TT dimensionally and weight wise is supposed to be slightly bigger than the 5.0 V8.
I would say it’ll be some derivitative of the Lincoln 3.0 Twin Turbo tuned for truck duty and nicely slotted between the 2.7 and Raptor 3.5 power wise.
I think out Raptoring the 392 Jeep is more important than not out Raptoring the other Raptor. But even if Ford decides that it isn’t the plain old F-150 tune for the 3.5 (400/500) would be a solid step up while still being less than a Raptor.
The 392 Jeep is nothing F needs to worry themselves with. It’s not a “here to stay” thing. Guaranteed this is a “last hoorah” of sorts. Look what everyone else is doing to make sure CAFE legalities can be met. Smaller engines, turbos, hybrids (hell, even the Jeep has a hybrid). I’d wager the 392 only lasts a model year or two. They had the product, they had the engine, they had a few die hards that wanted to see it forever, so they obliged before their blissful huge V8’s have to go away.
And a Bronco on 35s at 15 MPG sticker is a here-to-stay thing? Driving a car at all is a last hoorah, the Dems don’t make any secret that they’re closing that door forever, but it isn’t closed quite yet and 75K a copy is there for the taking if Ford has the guts to take it.
@Dan: Yeah, I guess you have a point on that. Somehow, I think they’ll take the leap but it won’t be with anything near the 75K starting mark, but I could be wrong.
“The 392 Jeep is nothing F needs to worry themselves with.”
I’ve read a few tests where they found it “undrivable” in technical terrain with all of the traction control nannies off. The Rubicon has an extremely low crawl ratio that just compounds all of that horsepower. It might be a different story with the “Extreme Recon” package on 35’s or 37’s but in that case I just see it as a driveline breaker.
But then again, I’m going on the premise that anyone buying a Jeep will actually take it off-road.
Agree that the target here is not the 392. A Bronco Raptor will be $20k cheaper than the 392 and sell many times more copies. It’s to be solidly more attractive than the rest of the Wrangler lineup.
Jeep has the Rubicon and now the Mojave. The former for crawling and the latter for desert running. It makes sense that Ford would capture that formula for the Bronco.
I’d rather see a Raptor Ranger. The F150 Raptor like the TRX, are as wide as a dually F350. The Ranger Raptor would be closer to a standard F150 in width.
They are, but they are waiting until the next gen Ranger comes out next year.
@SD 328I – I’d love to see a Ranger Raptor. My 1st choice would be a ZR2 Colorado with the diesel. GM is going to put the 2.7 turbo out of the 1/2 ton into the next-gen Colorado and deleting the diesel and V6.
The 2.7 has a lot of torque might be cool in the colorado. I really want a diesel Colorado (or Canyon preferably) but the reliability of the emission systems on these still seems to be in question.
@Lou_BC–Since you said you were going to wait till the chip shortage and craziness in the market subsides you might want to wait till the Ranger Raptor comes out and see if you like it.
@Jeff S – I was going to look for a 2021 diesel ZR2 when I heard that GM was going to drop the 2.7 turbo in the Colorado. It turns out that GM isn’t going to do that until 2023 so I still have time to watch how the market plays out.
Yawn. It would be exciting if them mentioned if the roof was actually going to, you know, work.
Given how thoroughly Ford has fuc… “Forded” up the Bronco launch, I wonder if this latest “leak” isn’t a sign that demand has already waned to the point the Blue Oval is under the gun to juice up interest again.
The more Broncos I see the more I like them. Ford did an outstanding job at capturing the essence of a Land Rover Defender a Raptor version would be a natural progression
I’ve only seen one in the wild and one on the local dealer’s lot. Canada didn’t get any until late summer.
I live in an area with a lot of Land Rovers and I often confuse the Defender with the Bronco, they’re that similar
I’ll have to look for that. I find that the Ford Exploder and Land Rover look alike.
Not true a out Canada not getting any until late summer. Had mine since mid July. Was built early June but took 5 weeks to get shipped.
@Lou_BC–I have heard that the diesels in the Colorado are good. I believe that is one of the diesels GM developed with Isuzu. I haven’t gotten notice on the production date of my hybrid Maverick XLT but I am prepared to wait a year. My neighbor wants first dibs on my 2008 Ranger (miles are at 108k) which I will sell a little below what I have invested in it for the past year. It has been a good truck but I want the hybrid and since I will be retiring at the end of the year a smaller truck meets my needs better especially 40 mpgs. If I still lived in the country I would want a bigger truck but I just need an open bed even if it is 4″6″ I will still use it as a truck.