Ford has ripped the covers off its Bronco Raptor desert racer, and while the flagship SUV won’t be making it to Australian showrooms anytime soon, it could show the way for what is to be expected of the upcoming 2022 Ranger Raptor.
The Blue Oval brand says the Bronco Raptor is the first Ultra4-inspired SUV, and is designed to go from the dealership lot to sandy dunes without a fuss – much like the existing Ford Ranger Raptor.
Underneath, the Bronco Raptor scores a reinforced steel frame and new shock towers that allow for more wheel travel, while the B-pillar cross bar and C-pillars have also been strengthened for greater torsional rigidity.
Ford has also beefed-up the Bronco Raptor’s underbody protection, meaning the engine, transmission and transfer case are shielded from any tricky terrain.
The front and rear axles are swapped out for Dana-branded components, which push out the track width by 218mm to 1869mm, making it wider than the Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport (1665mm track width front and rear).
Meanwhile, Ford has again tapped Fox to provide its suspension componentry for the flagship Bronco, just like in the Raptor versions of the F-150 and Ranger, and makes use of bespoke-tuned position-sensitive dampers.
As a result of the increased suspension height and 37-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres, ground clearance in the Bronco Raptor is now rated at 333mm.
To take advantage of all this, Ford’s four-wheel-drive system features seven drive modes, including a low-range 4×4 options for rock crawling and a tow mode that will haul up to two tonnes.
But what does all this mean for the Ford Ranger? So far, not a whole lot, given many of the changes are Bronco specific, but the engine could be what makes its way from the Ford SUV to ute.
Powering the Bronco Raptor is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, with outputs currently undisclosed, but Ford is claiming a targeted output of “more than 400 horsepower (298kW)”.
The same-size engine is used in the US-market Ford Explorer ST, which develops 298kW/565Nm, which puts the Bronco Raptor behind its 6.4-litre V8-powered Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 rival that punches out 354kW/635Nm.
Paired to the engine is a 10-speed automatic transmission, while a variable exhaust system will also allow drivers to adjust the aural tone between Normal Sport, Quiet and Baja.
Ford has indicated in the past that a petrol engine will return to the Ranger line-up in the new generation, but whether this engine makes it to Australia or is kept for international Ranger Raptors is still unclear.
It is much more likely the local Ford Ranger Raptor will be powered by a new 3.0-litre Power Stroke turbo-diesel V6, which should punch out around 190kW/600Nm.
However. Ford has also indicated it could greenlight a V8-powered Ranger, if the business case stacks up.
Keyword: What's in store for the 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor? New Bronco Raptor flagship points the way forward for Toyota HiLux Rugged X, Mazda BT-50 Thunder and Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior rival's return!