The reborn Ford Bronco will gain a new high-power Raptor variant next year, but it’s not bound for Australia.
UPDATE, 10 November 2021: Ford has released new images of the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor in camouflage, revealing nearly all of its production-ready design.
While the ‘FORD’ grille and yellow lights have been seen in previous teasers (see the update below), the new images – published via Ford’s official ‘The Bronco Nation’ owner forum – showcase the off-roader’s ultra-wide wheel arches for the first time, surrounding standard-fit 37-inch (940mm) tyres with hardcore off-road-oriented wheels.
New front and rear bumpers feature, along with what appear to be new tail-light graphics.
The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor will go on sale in the US by mid-2022, The Bronco Nation confirms (via Motor1), with unspecified engine upgrades confirmed for the new model. Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest.
22 September 2021: The new 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor has been teased, confirming a 2022 reveal for the dune-jumping, high-performance version of Ford’s four-wheel-drive.
After months of rumours that new model would wear the Warthog name, Ford has confirmed the reborn Bronco four-wheel-drive – not built in right-hand-drive for Australia – will become the third vehicle to wear the Raptor nameplate, following the US-market F-150 pick-up and smaller Ranger ute sold in markets including Australia.
A teaser video released by the American brand confirms the Bronco Raptor will wear the off-road badge’s signature ‘FORD” script across the front grille, joined by yellow LED daytime-running light signatures (as per the latest F-150 Raptor), wider wheel-arch flares, and what appear to be reworked LED tail-light signatures.
The video also shows a four-door body style – which recent rumours suggest will be the only configuration offered with the Raptor variant, with the short-wheelbase two-door body to be off-limits – while spy photos also point to an increased ride height and larger 37-inch (940mm) BFGoodrich K02 off-road-oriented tyres.
It’s widely expected the Bronco Raptor will be powered by the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 used in the US-market Explorer ST SUV – and rumoured for use in certain versions of the next-generation Ranger Raptor – developing 298kW and 563Nm.
That’s a notable increase over the standard Bronco’s 2.7-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, which sends 242kW and 542Nm (on premium fuel) to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid version of the Bronco Raptor has also been rumoured.
Specific launch timing for the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor hasn’t been announced, bar confirmation of a North American sales launch sometime in 2022.
As with the standard Bronco, the Raptor won’t be built in right-hand-drive (for now), meaning it’s off-limits for Australian buyers.
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