Ever since Ford pulled the covers off the revived Bronco earlier this year, fans have been wondering as to whether the blue oval will take the off-roader to the max, and release a Raptor variant.
Overnight, Ford made a lot of off-road enthusiasts happy by seemingly confirming the Bronco Raptor with a high-flying image that was posted on Twitter.
Testing. Testing. Is this thing on? 🎤 #FordBronco pic.twitter.com/9oGCIeX5Jc
— Ford Motor Company (@Ford) September 15, 2020
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While it's not a certain confirmation of the Raptor, if there's one thing that both the F-150 and Ranger Raptors are known for, it's the ability to jump around without ending up like the General Lee.
News of the Bronco Raptor doesn't come as too much of a surprise as the first taste of Ford's reborn off-roader came in the form of a desert-bashing Bronco R racer built for Baja.
For this to happen, both the racer and the on-road SUV would've been developed simultaneously, meaning that there would've been a crossover between the two.
Like both the F-150 and the Ranger Raptor, we can imagine that the hardcore Bronco will ride on Fox Racing suspension, but the powerplant still remains a mystery.
Either a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 from the explorer, or a tuned version of the turbocharged V6 currently in the Bronco are two front-running theories. Due to Ford's current line-up, a V8 has basically been ruled out.
But then, what will it be called? A Raptor would be the obvious choice, but there are conflicting reports stating that it will be called a Warthog to distance itself from the F-150.
Either way, the Bronco doesn't look like it's going to be made in a right-hand drive layout, and if so, Ford won't be selling them new in New Zealand. That won't stop importers though, so keep an eye out for when they start coming in.