Confirmed: Ford is making a Bronco Raptor for 2022

One of the worst kept secrets in American motoring has been confirmed overnight, with Ford releasing its first official footage of the Bronco Raptor off-road dynamo. 

The reveal sees the further expansion of the Raptor name. Initially exclusive to the F-150, the Raptor nameplate has since achieved acclaim in this part of the world via the fun show-jumping Ranger Raptor. 

The brief release video (which you can watch below) shows the fascia of the Bronco Raptor, and a brief sighting of it kicking up some dust in its natural habitat. It also confirms the model’s 2022 release date. 

The revised nose gets the Raptor’s signature block-letter ‘Ford’ motif and a more aggressive honeycomb mesh. Spy images published overseas show that the model is set to get wider flared arches, too. 

Some outlets have rumoured that the Raptor will only be available as a four-door, which might get a few purists up in arms. Truth be told, it’s been quoted that as many as 75 per cent of standard Bronco buyers opt for the longer wheelbase four-door version. 

The newest Raptor is expected to be powered by a 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 sourced from the Explorer, producing in the ballpark of 298kW of power and 562Nm of torque; a handy 52kW upgrade from the standard 2.7-litre V6.

As previously reported, the Bronco is highly unlikely to ever be produced in right-hand drive and, therefore, is unlikely to ever come to New Zealand officially (despite its shared Ranger architecture).