Ford continues to ask consumers to hold their horses as the new Bronco witnesses unprecedented demand. Meanwhile, the engineers continue to correct the issues with the detachable roof of the beefy off-roader. The Ford Performance team, however, spent their 2021 building something we have been expecting for a long time. The Ford Bronco Raptor has arrived, and it's a behemoth. We take a closer look at the brand new Ford Bronco Raptor.
The Bronco Raptor: What’s The Big Deal?
The Bronco Raptor is not a weekend’s job with some muscular arches, bigger suspension, and 37-inch tires. The team has given a comprehensive upgrade for the Bronco Raptor. The biggest noticeable change is that the Raptor is much larger than the standard models. In fact, it is 85.7 inches wide. It is sprung with the help of a new set of Fox suspension with 13.1 inches of ground clearance. That is 1.6 inches more than the Bronco Sasquatch.
Ford has decided to go with the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine instead of a V8. Power figures are yet to be released. But it is expected to be comparable to the same engine in the Lincoln Aviator or the Ford Explorer ST.
However, while most of the surface of the Bronco Raptor has been spoken about, let us dive in deeper to see what lies under the skin for a closer look.
Ford Bronco Raptor: Bigger And Bolder
The wider vehicle dimensions mean that a lot of standard elements on the vehicle had to be redesigned. The Raptor uses additional amber clearance lights that are integrated into the new higher airflow grille. The forward-facing lights have been switched to amber, as well as the round accent lighting in the headlamps.
The Raptor uses big, knobby 37-inch tires. So the large and heavy spare mounted on the tailgate meant that the standard tail lights would not be visible from certain off angles. Ford had to redesign the taillights that stick further out than the regular models. They are more prominent and the LEDs are even brighter. However, because they also house the sensors for the blind-spot monitors, replacing a cracked one will cost you dearly. Additionally, the heavier spare wheel meant that the steel carrier on the tailgate had to be reinforced. But it is ‘accessory ready’, making it the ideal place to mount a recovery board or an off-road jack.
The Raptor is much taller than the regular Bronco. So much taller that it meant shorter people would find it difficult to get in and out. Ford added steel running boards as standard on the Raptor. They may rob some ground clearance for hardcore off-roading. But they are integrated into the Ford Performance rock sliders that only require a few bolts to attach and detach. The idea is to use the running boards daily, and then take them off if you’re venturing off-road to drive over some rocky trails over the weekend.
Ford Bronco Raptor: Easter Eggs
Some Easter eggs of the Bronco Raptor are harder to find. Some on the other hand are instantly noticeable. The new hood features a sheet metal compound with an insert power dome with heat extractors. If you look closely, you will find the numbers 67, 69, 71, and 72 on the air vent veins. These are tributes to the original Bronco’s Baja 1000 wins. Additionally, the bigger wheel arches mean that the raptor gets a smaller fuel inlet door. Upon opening it, you will find pictograms of the original 69 Bronco Baja, the 2019 Bronco R race truck, and the new Raptor.
Ford Bronco Raptor: Other Changes
The flared wheel arches on the Raptor feature replaceable clip-on trims, as rock chips and scuffing would be inevitable. Additionally, added structural bracing in the interior can be seen in the form of an aluminum extrusion with cast feet and a brace in the rear. Not only does it improve the vehicle’s torsional rigidity by 50 percent, but it also has been designed with helmet clearance in mind.
Thanks to a specially designed new beefier tow hitch, the Bronco Raptor can tow 4,500lbs – a full 1,000lbs more than any other Bronco. This was possible because the muffler has been repositioned within the wheelbase for the multi-mode dual exhaust on the Bronco Raptor.
Raptor Puts The Bro In Bronco
If you just paid a huge dealer markup for a Bronco, or even decided to get a Jeep Wrangler, my heart goes out to you. Sure, the Raptor sacrifices some retro design and charm of the regular Bronco model. However, the handful of extensive updates helps set new standards and higher benchmarks for a no-nonsense off-roader.
Source: Road Show