2022 FORD BRONCO RAPTOR

Ultra4-inspired SUV with no compromises in the dirt

- Jered Korfhage

With its roots tracing back to 1966, Ford has truly honored the off-road heritage of its Bronco brand with an Ultra4-inspired SUV that compromises nothing for the W dirt enthusiast. The '22 Bronco Raptor is unapologetically fast across rough tracks, confident and composed on the blacktop, and one of the most adept machines available from the factory for picking through hair-raising obstacles.

Ultra4 racing is an off-road decathlon. Excelling at these events requires a machine that can navigate punishing mud and deep sand, grind across rocks, twist over logs, and throw down the raw power to conquer sloppy hillclimbs and the open desert. Ultra4 racing is the heart of the Bronco Raptor, and the integration of competition-validated equipment elevates it beyond the other vehicles in the Bronco lineup, where it joins the ranks of the F-150 Raptor and the Ranger Raptor (for global markets).

Ford Bronco Family

Until the release of the Bronco Raptor, the Bronco family consisted of the Bronco Sport, a four-door SUV sporting independent suspension at each corner; the two- or four-door Ford Bronco, an SUV with independent suspension in the front, a live rear axle, and trim levels offering different powertrains, wheel and tire packages, locking differentials, dampers, and other accessories; and the Bronco DR, a limited-edition, 5.0L V-8-powered, off-road-only Bronco with a rollcage, 35-inch tires, and other race-ready accoutrements. The Bronco Raptor enters the stable somewhere between those last two rigs as a four-door-only SUV powered by the 3.0L twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6. The goals for the Bronco Raptor were simple: uphold the Raptor name by covering the rugged desert at freeway speeds while sacrificing nothing when faced with gnarly rockcrawling. Intrigued? We were.

Engine