The Ford Bronco Raptor is the Bronco that some Ford customers have been waiting for. Even after the order book for the Bronco has opened, some chose to wait if Ford would offer a more hardcore performance version of the Bronco, especially for the one that would be born with the Raptor formula – more powerful, more capable, and more tough-looking.
Their waiting attitude paid off, as the American carmaker soon unveiled the Ford Bronco Raptor, the spicier and wilder off-road version of the SUV. Ford is already offering the Bronco with a package that makes it more off-road capable. But the Bronco Raptor is simply different.
At launch, the Ford Bronco Raptor looked like the hottest thing in the cold winter. People couldn’t help but be amazed by the information that the carmaker released about the Bronco Raptor. Bronco was already the off-roader they were seeking, and yet Ford unleashed a more astonishing version.
Known for his intricate reviews of various vehicles, YouTuber Doug DeMuro thinks the new Bronco Raptor is the ultimate off-roar Bronco. He has many reasons to think so, especially after getting an exclusive closer look at a pre-production Bronco Raptor.
Ford Bronco Raptor R Is Coming?
Available in only four-door body style, the new Bronco Raptor is powered by a proven twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine with specific Raptor-level tuning, providing 400 hp of max output. Doug noted that some people expected the Bronco Raptor to share the 450-hp 3.5-liter turbo V6 mill found in the F-150 Raptor.
Around 400 hp is enough for the Bronco Raptor to stand above the rest of the Bronco family. Nevertheless, that makes the Bronco Raptor less potent than the rival Jeep Wrangler 392, which big HEMI V8 offers 470 hp. Price-wise, the Ford is up to $6,000 less expensive than Jeep, thereby making up for the power gap.
Doug, however, suspects there is a reason for the relatively underwhelming power – Ford might be making room for the more hardcore Bronco Raptor R. This would be in parallel to Ford’s move to offer an F-150 Raptor R.
Wider, Higher, And Reinforced For The Off Road
Compared to a regular Bronco, the Bronco Raptor is wider (85.7 inches) and higher (ground clearance: 13.1 inches). Doug says one of the reasons for this is to allow the Bronco Raptor to accommodate its massive 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, which are the largest ever fitted to a production SUV in North America. Ford also widened the track for the Bronco Raptor to about 73.5 inches, which is around 8.5 inches wider in a base Bronco.
Doug noted that the Bronco Raptor has been significantly beefed up and reinforced. It even features a higher strength frame, as Ford expects drivers to abuse the hot SUV more than other vehicles. In addition, the carmaker made the Bronco Raptor more suitable to off-roading by making bead-lock wheels available and fitting heavy-duty brakes.
A Distinctive Bronco Raptor-Only Exterior
The Ford Bronco Raptor features a distinct front end – it doesn’t have usual 'BRONCO' letters. Instead, 'FORD' was spelled on the beefy muscular grille, just like other Raptor models. The front features specific LED headlights with amber running lights, while the rear comes with a unique spare tire carrier designed to carry the massive 37-inch rubber.
The front, side, and rear of the Ford Bronco feature orange light dots. These are actually government-mandated, as the Bronco Raptor is wider than 80 inches. Three of these orange light dots are found on the grill, two each on the mirrors, and three more on the rear (incorporated on the third brake light).
Interestingly, the Bronco Raptor’s brake lights were designed to emulate the appearance of the counterparts on the Bronco R racer. The SUV features four fog lights, but two of them are covered during dealer shipments since four are already too bright as per regulations. Of course, they can still be used.
A Ford Bronco With Some Easter Eggs
Other exterior details of the Bronco Raptor include a steel bumper with extra bolts and silver-painted mid-section, a removable plastic panel below the bumper (for aerodynamics), various Raptor logos, and massive unpainted fenders.
The exterior of the Bronco Raptor also comes with a number of Easter eggs. These include the graphics of Baja-winning Bronco models on the fuel door; the Baja-winning years ('67, '69, '71, '72) of the Bronco under the hood openings; the word “Raptor” printed backwards inside the third brake light; and the coordinates of the desert in Southern California on the hardtop.
A Code Orange Interior Just For The Bronco Raptor
The SUV also features Bronco Raptor-specific interior elements. These include a fully digital gauge cluster in the 12-inch digital gauge cluster. It features a new Ford Performance mode that allows the driver to be in full control during off-roading.
Ford offers two interior versions for the Bronco Raptor (base and premium), with the availability of High Package and Lux Package.
The cabin of the Bronco Raptor is filled with a number of details in Code Orange – which is Ford’s Performance distinctive color for the Raptor models. Code Orange inside the Bronco Raptor include the stitching on the gear lever, center armrest, and steering wheel. Code Orange is also found on the seat centers, the dial for the G.O.A.T. modes, the dashboard, and on the switches for the air vent slats. The seats belts are also in Code Orange.
Source: Doug DeMuro, Ford