To quote UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, It’s Time! The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor has officially debuted to the delight of performance enthusiasts everywhere, and it’s much of what the world had expected. The Bronco Raptor not only takes the nameplate of the iconic SUV to to levels of off-road capabilities, but it also does so to the entire segment. You won’t find another production SUV with 37 inch tires for sale here in America, and with an estimated 400 horsepower on tap, the Bronco Raptor will offer class-leading V6 horsepower courtesy of a 3.0L EcoBoost engine. Sure, the Jeep Wrangler 392 still has the final say in the horsepower wars for now, but the BRaptor has a few other party tricks to convince you to part with your money.
Fully Boxed-Frame, Race Truck Axles, Fox Live Valve Dampers
To tolerate the heavy duty cycles that customers are bound to put the 2022 Bronco Raptor through, Ford Performance engineers integrated a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame with new shock towers that allow for increased wheel travel and more structural rigidity, as well as integrating upper B-pillar and C-pillar reinforcements. In total, the Bronco Raptor boasts a 50 percent stiffer chassis than the standard model, allowing for improved control during both high-speed and low-speed off-road events.
Part of the package includes axles that are shared with the Bronco DR racing truck that debuted last November. The rear is a semi-float Dana 50TM Heavy-Duty AdvanTEK live axle with a 235-millimeter ring gear, while the Dana 44TM AdvanTEK front-drive unit includes upgraded half-shafts with 210-millimeter ring gear, while larger front and rear driveshafts support increased torque. The upgraded transfer case also features a 3.06 4×4 LO ratio for up to 67.7:1 crawl ratio.
Along with the larger tires, the new Dana front and rear axles help increase the track width of the BRaptor by 8.6 inches (73.6 inches versus 65.0 inches) over a base Bronco.
Image via FordImage via Ford## Over A Foot Of Ground Clearance
To clear whatever may come its way, the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor features a minimum ground clearance of 13.1 inches, which is 4.8 inches more than a base four-door model, and .2 inches more than a Jeep Wrangler Xtreme Recon – the tallest one they’ve got.
The Bronco Raptor also sees a unique suspension system courtesy of a set of Fox Live Valve position sensitive dampers measuring 3.1 inches in diameter. These dampers are integrated to Ford’s High-Performance Off- Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) 4.0 system. To keep things cool, the dampers feature integrated fluid reservoirs up front and remote reservoirs in rear. Suspension height sensors and other sensors at each corner monitor terrain conditions independently hundreds of times every second and adjust suspension tuning accordingly.
The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor also features unique front and rear control arms for improved maximum wheel travel of 13.0 inches in front and 14.0 inches at the rear. That’s 60% and 40% more, respectively, than a Bronco base model.
Now for the most obvious off-road hardware: the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor features a unique set of BFGoodrich for standard 37-inch KO2 all-terrain tires (37×12.50R17LT), straight from the Ford F-150 Raptor 37 Package. It’s the only size available. Three wheel options will be available, with two of them being beadlock capable.
Image via Ford## 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Interior
The 2022 Bronco Raptor introduces an all-digital 12-inch instrument cluster that’s highly configurable, with unique graphics that haven’t been seen up to this point. There’s also a special Performance View that emphasizes tachometer and gear readings and allows the customization of gauges.
But wait, there’s more! Magnesium paddle shifters sit behind a unique steering wheel to the Bronco Raptor, which is thicker than the base model with an indicator stripe at the top. A blackened horse is placed at the center of it.
Keeping things weatherproof are marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberized washout flooring. The seats, by the way, are unique to the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, and feature larger side bolsters, their unique stitch patterns, and foam inlays.
Image via Ford.Image via Ford.
As it is a Raptor, this super Bronco interior features Ford Performance Code Orange accents throughout the interior, such as on the G.O.A.T. Modes rotary dial, dash vents, door netting, steering wheel stitching and Bronco logo on the instrument panel. Even the push-button ignition lights up in Code Orange. Other touchpoints such as the grab handles, steering wheel bezel and gear shifter feature a low-gloss carbon fiber accent.
The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor comes standard with SYNC4 through a 12-inch touchscreen with swipe capability, information on-demand panel and enhanced voice recognition. Other technology features include an exterior camera with 360-degree viewing capability. The Lux Package is available for customers looking for even more human-centered technology, such as an available 10-speaker B&O audio system and Adaptive Cruise Control.
Customers can also opt for laser-perforated Black Onyx Neo suede seats, vinyl-wrapped instrument panel topper, leather-wrapped outer seat bolsters and carpet flooring. A thicker and sport-contoured steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters and gloss black Raptor logo center continues the Ford Performance treatment. Available Code Orange seat belts can also be configured.
Image via Ford.## 2022 Ford Bronco Ordering, Reservations, Availability
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor orders will open in March of this year. While Ford has opted not to open up a new round of reservations for this SUV, allocation will go to existing reservation holders that are still waiting on their Bronco builds. The automaker will reach out to these customers later this month.
Production and deliveries of the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor is expected to begin this summer out of the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. It’s the exclusive manufacturing center of the Bronco.
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