The Most Powerful And Street-Legal Built Wild SUV, Ford’s 2022 Bronco Raptor

Built for desert running and boulder crawling, two icons that have tackled off-road terrain for years have combined forces to present the all-new 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor. 

The Bronco Raptor is the newest member of the Bronco outdoor brand of Built Wild SUVs, and Ford Performance designed and engineered it as a calling to hardcore off-road enthusiasts.

Offering next-level performance, it debuts as the most powerful street-legal Bronco ever and the world’s first Ultra4 Racing-inspired SUV.

Plus, with the addition of the Bronco Raptor, Ford further expands its Raptor high-performance off-road vehicle franchise, which includes the F-150 Raptor and Ranger Raptor.

Ford Motor Company’s chief executive officer, Jim Farley, remarked, “Raptor is the apex of our off-road line-up and is now a full line-up with race proven content and design that you can’t get from anyone else. Only Ford could create a Bronco Raptor.”

To build the world’s first Ultra4-inspired SUV, Ford Performance has set the bar high and has unleashed an extremely capable and durable Built Wild that is the Bronco Raptor.

Significantly, it had to be even faster and bring more off-road capability, agility and manoeuvrability than the outgoing Bronco already delivers.

“We had to build the Bronco Raptor, it’s our ultimate vehicle for hardcore off-road enthusiasts who demand something more. Like the Ultra4 desert race trucks, the ‘Raptor of SUVs’ conquers desert dunes at highway speeds and is equipped with competition-level off-road technology and hardware,” expressed Ford Performance’s chief engineer, Carl Widmann.

Starting with the Bronco frame foundation, the team needed a Raptor-specific version for increased suspension travel and track width for handling stability during high-speed desert runs. 

Thus, at the Raptor core is a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame with new shock towers that increase wheel travel and off-road durability. 

Heavy-duty bash and skid plates provide continuous driveline coverage from the front bumper to the back of the engine, transmission and transfer case.

Then, in the upper body, B-pillar crossbar and C-pillar reinforcement help deliver a greater than 50 percent total body-in-prime torsional rigidity increase over a standard Bronco four-door model.

Making it competition-level worthy, Ford Performance-developed axles were also used on the Bronco DR race truck.

Said solid rear axle is upgraded to a semi-float Dana 50 Heavy-Duty AdvanTEK with 235 mm ring gear, while the Dana 44 AdvanTEK front-drive unit gets upgraded half-shafts with 210 mm ring gear. 

These upgraded front and rear axles increase the track width by 8.6 inches, which is 73.6 inches versus 65 inches over a base Bronco for even more sure-footed confidence. 

Notably, the larger front and rear driveshafts support increased wheel torque, and this beast runs with a minimum ground clearance of 13.1 inches, 4.8 inches more than a base four-door model.

Furthermore, an advanced 4x4 system with three modes includes a higher-capacity clutch, designed to withstand the demands of high-performance desert events. 

On top of that, the Ford Performance team collaborated with FOX to upgrade the High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) system with Live Valve technology. 

Similar to the F-150 Raptor truck’s position-sensitive damping design, the Raptor HOSS 4.0 system features FOX 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers (3.1-inch diameter). 

In which, it is uniquely tuned at the front and rear, and features integrated reservoirs up front and remote reservoirs in the back. 

Apart from that, its suspension height sensors and other sensors at each corner monitor terrain conditions individually hundreds of times every second and adjust suspension tuning accordingly.

Unique Ford Performance-designed front and rear control arms deliver maximum wheel travel of 13 inches in front and 14 inches at the rear, or 60 and 40 percent more, than a Bronco base model. 

Moreover, to deliver the confidence and high-speed needs of the world’s first Ultra4-inspired SUV, the Ford Performance team has reached out to BFGoodrich.

Thanks to them, fitted as standard is a set of 37-inch KO2 all-terrain tyres (37x12.50 R17 LT), the largest of any production SUV in America. 

Nonetheless, two Ford Performance-designed 17-inch x 8.5-inch beadlock-capable wheels are also available. 

Adding extra finesse, an electric power steering rack and housing influenced by F-150 Raptor and larger-diameter inner and outer tie rod ends were added.

Performance-wise, to give it even more desert-running power, the Ford powertrain team further developed the proven twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost engine with specific Raptor-level tuning.

Boasting more than 400 hp, the Bronco Raptor is now the most powerful street-legal Bronco, with intercooling and air-induction systems designed to endure the higher desert temperatures.

Complementing it, the durable and weight saving compacted graphite iron-block mill is paired with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission tuned to meet Ford Performance standards. 

Mated to the setup is a dual-exhaust system featuring first-for-Bronco active-valve technology that uses near-equal-length pipes for an improved exhaust note. 

Giving it a variety of mating calls, the system allows drivers to alter the sound of the Bronco Raptor with four selectable exhaust modes, including Normal, Sport, Quiet and Baja.

Speaking of which, the Bronco Raptor builds on the brand’s exclusive G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) Terrain Management System designed to help drivers better navigate off-road. 

Featuring seven driver-selectable modes, it includes a uniquely tuned Baja Mode that activates a turbo anti-lag calibration to maximise performance over high-speed desert runs. 

Besides that, new to the Bronco is Tow and Haul mode, which helps enable a tow rating of 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg), also included are Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist and Trail One-Pedal Driving.

Now, in terms of its aesthetics, the Bronco Raptor delivers purpose-built design, infusing Raptor-family signature cues with the truck’s Built Wild innovative design.

Bronco’s design chief, Paul Wraith, commented, “As the most badass Bronco yet, the Bronco Raptor design is extreme. It’s muscular while maintaining an underlying simplicity with performance-focused details added only for outstanding high-speed capability.”

Staring at the beast head-on, it can be seen with familiar Ford block lettering at the front that stretches across the signature two-piece rectangular grille. 

Model-specific LED headlights featuring amber daytime running lamps and integrated amber marker lamps further tie in the DNA of its Raptor half to provide a menacing expression. 

Other fitments include a heavy-duty modular steel front bumper with tow hooks, removable bumper end caps for better clearance, integrated removable Rigid LED fog lamps and Rigid off-road lamps.

Then, the hood on the Bronco Raptor is made of sheet-moulding compound, offering the design team the ability to dramatically sculpt its muscular shape. 

Its silhouette also features an integrated hood vent moulded-in-colour Carbon Black and body colour painted fender vents. 

Further complementing it, Raptor logos can be seen on the left and right of the hood bulge, hinting at the twin-turbo power underneath.  

Proudly leverages the Bronco SUV’s off-road modular design, which has been stripped to its base, it takes on unique-to-Raptor front and rear quarter-panels, fenders, fender flares and door appliques. 

Again, sheet-moulding compound is used to sculpt the wider front fenders and integrated bodyside heat extraction ducts, which provide additional engine cooling. 

Rear-quarter panels, also with sheet-moulding compound, are equally bolstered for a muscular look, and together with fender flares, Bronco Raptor sits 9.8 inches wider than a standard Bronco. 

Noticeably, Bronco Raptor-specific reinforced rock rails with removable running boards further increase its rock crawling capability.

Accentuating its Raptor-styling DNA, it comes with a Bronco Raptor Graphics Package that includes new splatter graphics. 

Appearing on the rear body sides and hood, the splatter graphics use an overlapping broken trapezoidal pattern and floating shapes to present a sophisticated digital appearance. 

Exterior colours for the Metallic finish include Hot Pepper Red Metallic, Velocity Blue Metallic, Eruption Green Metallic, Iconic Silver Metallic and Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat.

Meanwhile, Shadow Black, Area 51, Cactus Gray, Oxford White and Ford Performance-exclusive Code Orange paint complete the options.

Jumping inside, the Bronco Raptor features an overall interior that is very race-focused and performance-optimized.

Bronco Raptor’s design manager, Ryan Olsson, remarked, “The Bronco Raptor interior was designed around what we know hardcore off-road racers want in a vehicle. From the all-new Performance View on the cluster and unique steering wheel with paddle shifters and fingertip access to Raptor-specific controls to its race-ready, high-bolster front seats, Bronco Raptor leaves the factory ready for the starting line.”

First and foremost, the Bronco Raptor features a familiar heritage-inspired horizontal dash, integrating an all-digital 12-inch cluster. 

The cluster allows drivers to select from various views, including a Bronco Raptor-exclusive Performance View that emphasises tachometer and gear readings and the customisation of gauges.

For the base Bronco Raptor models, they are equipped with Black Onyx marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberised washout flooring. 

Accenting the dark interior, Ford Performance Code Orange splashes are seen on the G.O.A.T. Modes dial, dash vents, door netting, steering wheel stitching and the instrument panel’s Bronco logo. 

Even the push-button ignition lights up in Code Orange, whereas touchpoints such as the grab handles, steering wheel bezel and gear shifter wear low-gloss carbon fibre accents.

Owners can also opt for upgraded features, e.g., laser-perforated Black Onyx Neo suede seats, vinyl-wrapped instrument panel topper, leather-wrapped outer seat bolsters and carpet flooring. 

That’s not all, a thicker and sport-contoured steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters and gloss black Raptor logo centre continues the Ford Performance treatment. 

Continuing said treatment, its Ford Performance front seats are unique to the Bronco Raptor, with aggressive foam side bolsters to help keep occupants firmly seated when the terrain gets nasty. 

Not to forget, the Bronco Raptor comes standard with a High Package that gets SYNC 4 with a 12-inch touchscreen that has swipe capability, info on-demand panel and enhanced voice recognition. 

Whereas, other technology features include an exterior camera with 360-degree viewing and a Lux Package, available for customers looking for a more human-centred feel.

Namely, the Lux Package comes with instalments such as 10-speaker B&O audio system and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Wrapping it all up, the majority of the 2022 model year Bronco Raptor allocation goes to existing reservation holders based upon their original reservation timestamp.

Interested customers can begin placing their orders for the Bronco Raptors in March, with arrivals to respective owners slated for this summer.