Bigger, brawnier and faster off-road than any Ford SUV that came before, Ford's 2022 Bronco Raptor will hit the road this summer with more power, luxury and a seriously upgraded suspension and chassis.
Prices will start at $68,500, plus $1,495 destination charge.
That's more than double the base price of a 2022 four-door Bronco, which is $33,450, according to Ford.
That gets you a Bronco that's wider, tougher looking, better equipped and more capable of both high-speed desert racing and slowly crawling over rocks, Bronco brand manager Esteban Plaza-Jennings said.
Ford will start taking orders for the Bronco Raptor in March, but most of the first year's production is expected to go to people who convert existing Bronco reservations to the Raptor. The automaker won't say how many Raptors the Wayne, Michigan, assembly plant that builds Broncos can make, but output will be 'limited.'
The Bronco Raptor's bi-turbo V6 is expected to produce more than 400 horsepower, compared with 315 for the top current model.
You think the Bronco looks tough?
The Bronco Raptor — the second Ford to get a Raptor performance model, after the F-150 pickup — is 9.8 inches wider than a regular Bronco, design chief Paul Wraith said. That includes 8.6-inch wider track — the distance between the center of each wheel on the front or rear axle — and massively bigger fenders and flares. The extra size makes room for 37-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, the largest production tires made in America and not coincidentally 2 inches bigger than the tires on the Wrangler Xtreme Recon, the off-road warrior Jeep added last year to fight a wave of positive publicity for the Bronco.
Other exterior changes include a new grille with "Ford" written across it and a bigger opening for increased cooling. The front bumper is also new, and there's a visible silver skid plate with tow hooks. High-intensity LED lights mounted in the bottom outboard corners come with caps because they're too bright to legally use on-road.
The front fenders and hood have functional vents. A rock rail with steps helps with entry and exit, given the Raptor's 4.8 inches of additional ground clearance to 13.1 inches.
Better look and feel
The interior features a super-clear customizable 12-inch instrument cluster that emphasizes the tachometer and 12-inch touch screen.
The beefy leather steering wheel is thicker than the standard Bronco and has buttons to adjust suspension, steering and exhaust, plus an "R" button for customized driving preferences. Magnesium paddle shifters also are standard.
The base interior has marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberized floor. Seats with leather bolsters and suede inserts are optional. Other options include carbon fiber trim.
Adaptive cruise control and 10-speaker B&O audio are available.
Tougher chassis, more towing
A 3.0L bi-turbo V6 is expected to produce more than 400 hp, 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive are standard.
The chassis and suspension were reinforced to handle the extra power and impacts from high-speed off-roading.
The frame largely carries over from the base Bronco, but new shock towers and other changes increase wheel travel to 13 inches at the front and 14 in the rear. The rear axle and front half shafts — all from supplier Dana — were both upgraded to handle the extra power and impacts.
A cross bar in the roof and C-pillar brace help increase torsional stiffness more than 50%. The plastic hard top is removable.
A rear brace increases towing capacity 1,000 pounds, to 4,500. The drive mode selector adds a tow/haul mode.
The Bronco Raptor also borrows some parts from the bigger F-150 Raptor, including its brakes.
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor at a glance
Four-wheel five-passenger midsize four-door off-road performance SUV
Base price: $68,500 (excluding $1,495 destination charge)
On sale: Summer, 2022
Engine: 3.0L bi-turbo V6
Output: Projected over 400 hp
Transmission: Ten-speed automatic
EPA fuel economy rating: NA
Wheelbase: 116.5 inches
Length:191 inches
Height: 77.8 inches
Width: 85.7 inches (mirrors folded)
Passenger volume: 103.7 cubic feet
Cargo space: NA
Minimum ground clearance: 13.1 inches
Maximum wheel travel: 13 inches front, 14 inches rear.
Towing capacity: 4,500 pounds
Payload: 1,100 pounds
Base curb weight: 5,733 pounds
Assembled in Wayne, Michigan
