The introduction of the Bronco Raptor was indeed an important thing for Ford. And boy! What a great start it was for Ford in 2022! Currently led by the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, the launch of the Bronco Raptor had Jeep worried about its future and also marked Ford’s arrival into the SUV game with the Raptor moniker. The Bronco Raptor, as we expected, fared well in the off-road SUV segment and continues to impress with its prowess, features, and curves.
What comes to your mind when we talk about tuning American cars? For us, it’s obviously "Hennessey" because this company has not only showcased its magic on sheer American muscle cars but also taken pickup trucks and already-powerful SUVs to insanity. Hennessey's expertise has recently been applied to the Ford Bronco.
No! Not the raptor! Instead, they have chosen the lower models with smaller engines and made them torquier than the Raptor. However, it’s only good if it’s true in real life, and to find out how the VelociRaptor 400 fares against the Bronco Raptor, they have put these two mammoths in a drag race.
The Behemoth Side Of Hennessey VelociRaptor 400
Eager to find out how the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor fares against the Hennessey VelociRaptor 400, Mike, Alec, and the Hennessey team decide to put these two off-road monsters to a drag race test in the Lonestar Motorsports Park in Sealy, with Mike driving the VelociRaptor and Alec in the Raptor.
It should be noted that both of these cars are set in sport mode, and both drivers intend to use the full potential of the automatic gearbox to enjoy hassle-free acceleration. In the first run, we see the VelociRaptor 400 take the lead at the very onset of the race. Mike performs a smooth takeoff and takes full advantage of its higher power and meatier punch to dominate Alec, who is in the Stock Bronco Raptor.
In the second attempt, both Mike and Alec agree to race against each other in a drag race, but this time with a 20 MPH rolling start. Once both of these cars reach the 20-mph mark, the race starts. At first, Alec and his Bronco Raptor stay slightly ahead of the latter, but in no time, when the higher torque finally kicks in, Mike takes a significant lead and finally dominates the second attempt.
With both contenders being basically "Broncos," will this race ever be complete without an off-road drag race? We don’t think so, and neither do Alec and Mike. To kick-start the third attempt and find out whether the VelociRaptor 400 reigns off-roads as well, Alec decides to put the Raptor against the VelociRaptor 400 on the unpaved field nearby.
However, despite having a sport-tuned chassis with stiffer suspension settings, the VelociRaptor 400 takes advantage of its 500+ lb-ft of torque to stay ahead of the latter and ends up winning the off-road drag race. With Mike winning all three races, the VelociRaptor 400 ends up with a clean win of 3:0 and proves its massive prowess over the latter.
Ford Bronco Raptor: Price, Capabilities, And Features
The 2022 Ford Bronco arrives with a starting price of $31,300 and eight different trims: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak, Everglades, and the new Raptor. For 2022, Ford has finally introduced the much anticipated Bronco Raptor, which is also nicknamed the Braptor. This flagship Bronco Raptor is priced at $68,500 and gets the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with a 10-speed automatic gear changer and an advanced AWD system.
In stock form, this 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 unit makes 418 horses and 440 lb-ft of torque. Performance-wise, the Raptor does the 0–60 mph sprint in 5.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.4 seconds. Fuel economy is rated at 15 and 16 MPG in the city and on the highway. The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor exhibits excellent off-road capabilities and decent on-road handling. The Raptor can tread anywhere with its stout engine output, HOSS suspensions, Bilstein dampers, and a massive 13.1-inch ground clearance.
The Bronco Raptor provides decent handling. Features like 17-inch alloy wheels with 37-inch all-terrain tires ensure a good grip on all occasions. Above these, crucial driver assistance features like trail control and turn assist, trail one pedal drive, electronic locking front and rear axles, ACC, forward sensing systems, trailer sway control, and a 360-degree camera keep the car stabilized on most occasions.
The Bronco Raptor’s interior is pretty loaded too. Vinyl or leather-covered seats, manual or power front seats with heating, dual-zone AC, a hardtop sound-deadening headliner, a pair of 12-inch displays (one working as the instrument cluster and the other for entertainment), a 10-speaker B&O premium audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, SiriusXM, wireless charging, BLIS, lane keep assist, a departure warning system, and various other features also come along.
Ford Bronco Raptor Gets Ferocious With The "Hennessey" Treatment
When it comes to the Hennessey VelociRaptor 400, it adds or replaces features depending on their significance. The VelociRaptor 400 gets the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with the 10-speed automatic and the stock all-wheel-drive unit. Still, this one in the VelociRaptor offers 400 horsepower and a bonkers 503 lb-ft of torque owing to the larger turbochargers, a performance ECU and software upgrade, larger air filters, a better heat management system, and a performance exhaust system.
The exterior also features 18-inch wheels with 35-inch off-road tires, a front and rear leveling kit, an off-road-oriented front bumper with LED fog lights and an LED bar, and a sportier rear bumper. As far as pricing is concerned, the Hennessey VelociRaptor 400’s pricing starts at $80,000, and it increases with further customizations.
Sources: Hennessey, Ford USA