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The off-road icon Ford Bronco debuted in 1966 and has been a real hit in the US for over three decades. Production was discontinued in 1996, but Ford offered the sixth generation to be re-released in 2021. A limited number of these are expected to arrive in Europe from overseas by the end of 2023.
As if the regular Bronco wasn’t impressive enough, Ford has now unveiled the Raptor, an almost malevolent top-of-the-line version. Stronger, sharper and more stylish: the 4.85 meter long terrain beast had to show us what it could do.
Nothing for weak asphalt
First impression: The top model of the Bronco series is not for normal traffic. Kraxler rumbles and jumps very clumsily over transverse joints, bumps or holes in asphalt. On the terrain, things are very different – and not on tired dirt roads or fairways, but in the trail area with terrible slopes, slippery rocks and huge boulders. This is exactly where the Raptor feels at home.
“The Raptor is the pinnacle of our off-road range and offers a complete program with race-proven content,” emphasizes Ford CEO Jim Farley, 61. So, it’s the ultimate all-terrain vehicle that is expected to outshine rivals like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.
bad brother
Compared to the regular Bronco, the Raptor is wider due to its wild body inserts and noticeably higher due to the extra ground clearance. The splatter design impresses with brutal war paint, massive bumpers and rustic tow hooks. The heart of the new off-road beast is a high-strength steel frame with a fully sheathed underside and fitted with new shock absorbers that increase off-road mobility at high speeds. The robust underside protection ensures that even sharp stones and debris do not damage modules such as the engine, transmission and transfer case.
Inside, the Bronco is rustic and holds little value, even as a Raptor version. The sports seats are additionally covered, and the different views in the infotainment system facilitate off-road use. The hardtop remains the Bronco’s weak point: the removable roof modules hardly lock, especially when slightly bent.
top class land
In rough terrain, nothing works without suitable off-road axles. The normal rear axle was discarded and replaced with a more stable variant. This also increased the track width by an impressive 22 centimeters to 1.87 meters. The wider track, together with high-performance axles, allows for maximum sure-footedness on sand and dirt.
The all-wheel drive system with seven drive modes is designed for demanding desert missions. The ten-speed automatic transmission and differentials should not loosen even under maximum load. Similar to its big brother Ford F-150 Raptor, the damping system provides the necessary support even in the toughest conditions. Numerous sensors monitor the condition of the terrain and adjust the mooring runner’s movement pattern accordingly.
It is impressive at higher speeds on narrow mountain roads and soft terrain: Here the Raptor is almost unrecognizable compared to the tame series model. If you drive over strong wood, mud or water, you benefit from direct but highly tense steering as well as a height of more than 33 centimeters from the ground. Wading depth: majestic 94 centimeters.
Snarling Bronco
But the Bronco Raptor not only crawls slowly over terrain, it shines with its symbiosis of drive and chassis, especially at high speeds. This is ensured not only by the three-liter V6 turbo with 418 hp (309 kW) and almost 600 Nm, but also with off-road tires suitable for off-road use.
Particularly in the relevant driving mode, the beast rushes out of all the tubes, thereby losing both the senses of passengers and the environment. The exhaust sound can be changed to “Normal”, “Sport” or “Baja” (Baja 1000 is a 1000 mile desert race in Mexico). For the good of the neighbors, the whisper mode can be used late at night.
The Raptor can be personalized with plenty of accessories according to taste. These include a winch and additional headlights that can be operated with assignable buttons on the dash. The base price abroad starts at $86,000. Converted, this would be 73,800 francs. It is not yet known whether he will follow his pet sibling to Europe and whether Ford is planning a comeback.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
