What’s With the Hype? Unwrapping the 2022 Bronco Raptor

There’s been a lot of excitement at local Ford dealerships around the US. Not only was the release of the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport an important moment in automotive history, but the appearance of the Bronco Raptor marks a milestone in off-road accomplishments, as well. If you aren’t already asking yourself, “Is there a Ford Bronco dealer near me?”, let us explain further why we’re so enthusiastic.

Sport Utility Vehicles, or SUVs, were originally designed to handle asphalt and mud with the same dignity; however, over the years, some vehicles have become sportier, while others have leaned into the utilitarian designation. The Bronco Raptor manages to handle both names with the utmost class and capability.

Those vehicles worthy of bearing Ford’s Raptor badges are truly autos of distinction. These vehicles are carefully engineered to perform respectfully on the pavement and take charge when the pavement ends. Therefore, if you’re an avid off-road aficionado or plan to get your tires muddy soon, the time has come to learn more about the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor and how it might just be the best thing that has happened in off-roading since all-terrain tires.

How Does the Bronco Raptor Differ From the Bronco?

The 2022 Ford Bronco is offered in several trims, each of which has a very distinct personality and, in many cases, offers a different expertise in the area of off-roading. The Base trim is a great vehicle for those beginning to explore the area beyond the pavement. The Big Bend has an appetite for adventure but maintains its composure on the city streets. The Black Diamond takes its duties more seriously, with floor drains that signal its readiness to get dirty. The Outer Banks stands out with its suave urban styling, while the Wildtrak adds mud-worthy talent to those good looks. The Badlands trim is all business when it comes to crawling, fording, and climbing. The Everglades model is equipped with a snorkel and a marine-grade interior for wet work.

Each new generation Bronco’s trims have been designed to perform a specific job at peak performance level, and they each succeed magnificently. But there’s a breed of off-roader who needs something more. Something that doesn’t always come in factory-installed features and eludes familiar street-legal design. It is an SUV that can only be created from the ground up.

It’s for these drivers that the Raptor was created. At the top of the trim lineup is the Bronco that can ostensibly do it all. It features the good looks and sophistication of the Ford Bronco, with a few added features to help it live up to the Ultra4 Racing events that inspired it. The Raptor isn’t just a Bronco trim—it’s the most capable off-roading trim to date.

“The Apex of Our Off-Road Lineup”

When the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor was announced to the public in January 2022, Ford Motor Company chief executive officer Jim Farley referred to it as, “the apex of our off-road lineup,” going on to describe the concept behind the Bronco Raptor to provide “race proven content and design that you can’t get from anyone else.” So what does he mean by this? The Bronco Raptor was specifically engineered for the challenges encountered at top levels of off-road racing, including cruising through sand dunes at top speeds or climbing intricate rock paths.

That design starts with a fully boxed high-strength steel frame with increased rigidity to carry the Bronco solidly and aggressively towards whatever obstacle it may encounter. The Raptor Bronco comes equipped with heavy-duty skid and bash plates to keep the undercarriage protected.

High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension, or HOSS, is available on other Bronco trims, but the Raptor trim includes a special HOSS 4.0 system developed in collaboration between Ford Performance and FOX. Featuring FOX 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers, this system is specifically tuned for this model to provide the best suspension action with constant sensor monitoring.

The Bronco Raptor also stands taller than its siblings, with 13.0 inches wheel clearance at the front and 14.0 inches at the rear. It is 9.8 inches wider than the rest of the Bronco lineup, with upgraded Dana axles that increase the overall track width by 8.6 inches over other Broncos.

Altogether, this means that the Bronco Raptor has powers that even its rugged stablemates don’t have—the power to crawl, ford, climb, baja, and still drive home at night on the city streets. Paul Wraith, Bronco design chief commented, “As the most bad*ss 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.”

But It’s Still Meant to Be Driven

With intense focus on the Bronco Raptor’s rugged off-road capabilities, it’s easy to overlook that it is still, at its core, a street-legal vehicle. For all of its prowess on the world’s toughest terrain, the Bronco Raptor still needs to be able to run to the store for last-minute groceries, after all. In fact, many drivers consider that the special element that makes this particular Bronco so impressive is it’s G.O.A.T. Modes ( which stands for Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) includes the highways and city streets as well.

With its 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, the Bronco Raptor is fully capable of keeping up with traffic. It can also tow loads up to 4,500 pounds, with up to 73 cubic feet of cargo space within the cabin.

Ford has also provided the Bronco Raptor with a selection of safety and driver assistance equipment that functions just as well on the road as it does off of it. This includes a 360-degree exterior view camera, Trailer Sway Control, and automatic high beams. Drivers can also choose to include additional safety features, such as Lane Keep Assist and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, when selecting available optional packages.

Is the Ford Bronco Raptor Right for Me?

There are plenty of things each driver needs to keep in mind when choosing their next vehicle. This can include your budget, lifestyle, driving style, and daily commute. The Ford Bronco Raptor has gained the attention of serious off-roaders, thanks to its rare combination of Ultra4 Racing-inspired features and street-legal status. While each vehicle in the Bronco lineup is designed to handle atypical terrain, the Raptor version is exceptionally well-prepared for whatever may come. Every inch of the Bronco Raptor has been specifically engineered to produce the highest level of performance in some of the most grueling conditions.

Drivers who need their vehicles to take on rocks, mud, sand, water, and more look to the Ford Bronco Raptor as a new era of off-road-ready SUV. While many SUVs rise to the challenge of off-roading, with aftermarket modifications, the Bronco Raptor has been designed to meet each obstacle head-on, from its frame to its axles and the very wheels it rolls on.

If this type of description makes your pulse race a bit, the time has come to check out the Ford Bronco Raptor. Stop by a Ford Bronco dealer near you to experience Ford’s most rugged vehicle yet and decide if you’re ready to step into the wild world of the Bronco Raptor.