After renewing several teasers, Ford announced the flagship model of the new generation Bronco SUV, the Bronco Raptor, on January 24, 2022. Bronco Raptor, which inherits the spirit of ultra 4 off-road racing, not only has a more rugged appearance, but also a significant increase in power, with a maximum horsepower of at least 400 horses, while improving the high and low speed off-road performance through suspension upgrades.
Compared to the well-known Dakar Rally, the ultra 4 name may be unfamiliar to domestic fans. In fact, ultra 4 is a race car category, and the biggest race is called King of The Hammers. The relationship between the two is somewhat similar to the DTM Germany Touring Car Race and the GT3 category. Sponsored by Ford, the King of The Hammers off-road race is held every February in California, USA, and includes high-speed sections of more than 100 miles per hour (about 160 kilometers) and low-speed rock climbing, which is a considerable challenge for both vehicles and runners.
According to the original factory, the Bronco Raptor released this time is based on the spirit of the Ultra 4 group, so in order to cope with the needs of high-speed off-road and low-speed rock climbing, Ford introduced the reinforced drive shaft of the Bronco DR off-road factory car (which cannot be legally on the road), and based on this, it is equipped with a high-performance off-road suspension system of HOSS (High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension). The shock absorber is the same as the F-150 Raptor, using Fox's semi-active vibration damping barrel.
In the exterior section, as in the trailer, bronco Raptor's water tank shroud was redesigned, and the front lettering was changed from "Bronco" to "FORD". In addition, the most eye-catching thing is that after the introduction of oversized plastic wheel arches, the width of the car is 9.8 inches wider than the basic bronco, and the combination with the extra-long suspension travel (front 13 inches, rear 14 inches) gives a very tough appearance impression. In addition, to further enhance the terrain traversal capability, the Bronco Raptor's wheelbase is 8.6 inches wider than the normal version, the chassis is 13.1 inches above ground level, and the torsional rigidity of the body is also increased by 50%.
Just as important as the chassis suspension is the powertrain of the Bronco Raptor. The original 2.7-litre Ecoboost engine was abandoned in favor of a 3.0-litre V6 Ecoboost twin-turbo engine. Although detailed power data has not been announced, the maximum horsepower is determined to exceed 400 horses. According to the original press release, Bronco Raptor will be on public display for the first time in the King of The Hammers off-road race that starts in February 2022 and will begin taking orders after March.