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Ford is still working on getting their Bronco to dealerships, but there are some impressive additions to its lineup on the horizon.
Ford Is Updating the Bronco for 2022
After all the hype, waiting, and recalls that happened with the Ford Bronco in 2021, we get to look forward to all the updates coming this year. Ford is ready to move onto its 2022 model of the Bronco after a bumpy start, but overcoming its setbacks will only make this SUV’s future stronger. Updates and additions to the Bronco includes some new powder-coated steel bumpers with LED fog lamps on the Black Diamond and Badlands trims, a soft top roof is standard on the 4-door Wildtrak models, a manual transmission is available on the Sasquatch packaged models, plus there are the new “Pepper Red” and “Eruption Green” exterior paint choices.
Ford is also adding an all-new slide out tailgate feature to the 2022 Ford Bronco that’s cleverly hidden under the rear cargo area’s floor. This nifty addition works as a makeshift table area, work bench, or even as an easy access step when addressing cargo items on the roof. Toyota already provides a similar sliding cargo deck on their 4Runner, but it isn’t as ingeniously implemented as Ford’s example.
It has been leaked that a Heritage Edition may be coming to the lineup for 2022 as well. This model is rumored to feature a white grille, four-slot wheels, and possibly even the white top that would harken to the original Ford Bronco’s classic appearance. We’d love to see the call back to the original and it would surely be a cherished collector’s model.
All these updates are great and combined with their lessons from last year’s issues, the 2022 Ford Bronco looks to be the off-roading capable competition to the Wrangler and 4Runner we’ve all been looking forward to. But Ford isn’t stopping at some minor tweaks and moderate additions to their Bronco. Instead, this SUV is about to make a massive impact on the off-roading market with the Raptor and Everglades models that are coming into view. Here’s what we’ve seen so far from these new Ford Broncos.
What to Expect from the Ford Bronco Everglades
We’ll start with the newer name for Ford, the Ford Bronco Everglades. The name itself should help paint a picture of what this version of the Bronco is trying to do, as the Everglades is the wetlands found at the southern tip of Florida. The Bronco is already capable of fording water up to a depth of 23.6 inches, but the Everglades adds a snorkel along the Bronco’s passenger side A-pillar that looks to nearly double that water depth maximum. It’s also rumored that the snorkel system has a failsafe trap door found in the induction box that will allow any debris, mud, or whatever else may have travel through the snorkel system to get out with little interruption.
Furthering that water fording ability is the addition of some off-roading 35-inch Goodyear tires that are framed by some new molded fender flares. But a snorkel and some big tires isn’t all you get. Also joining the standard features list of the Everglades is the Ford Performance by Warn Winch Kit that was available catalogue equipment last year. So, if this Bronco somehow does get caught up in the mud and ruts, the available powered winch can be hooked up to a nearby rock or tree to pull itself out of a messy situation.
It’ll also be helpful for those friends that get their rigs stuck on the trail and you need to pull them out. Ford has already started testing for that exact predicament as they were benchmarking an Everglades model against a Toyota 4Runner recently. The Bronco had to help the 4Runner get over some rocks by the looks of it. We’ll know more about what else may come with the Everglades, as well as if this is a trim or package, but it’s looking to be a nice option for those that see wet or aggressive terrains more often.
What to Expect from the Ford Bronco Raptor
Ford’s Raptor nameplate has adorned the F-150 for years now and has even been attached to the Ranger outside of the US, but now it looks to be making its way to the Ford Bronco soon. Spy shots have already been circulating and there’s even some test footage of the beast running around a dirt track. While the camouflage is still hiding some details and we haven’t seen what’s truly powering this Ford Bronco Raptor, there have been some speculative points and some glaring changes to the exterior.
First, let’s focus on what we can see for the new Ford Bronco Raptor. As of right now, it looks like this version of the Bronco is only available in the four-door, hardtop form and will have all the Raptor features we’ve come to expect. That includes the block letter Ford logo across the grille in place of the typical Bronco one, a front skid plate, and some Fox Liver Wire adaptive dampers. The Bronco Raptor also looks to have a larger set of axles, a rear anti-roll bar, and some giant off-roading tires wrapped by larger fender flares.
Those large tires look to be the same 35-inch ones found on the aforementioned Everglades model, but some bigger 37-inch BFGoodrich ones look to be on the docket for the Raptor version too. These wider additions make for a wider track and wider overall Bronco. That entails that the Bronco would have to adhere to the same regulations as the F-150 Raptor does, hence the similar marker lights that are needed for vehicles that exceed 80 inches wide.
Under the hood is still up in the air as of right now, but the running footage sounds like it’ll be something fun and turbocharged. Ford has already said that a V8 isn’t really in the cards for the Bronco, so no direct competition as far as engine size to Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon 392, but that doesn’t mean it won’t support the power to beat that Jeep either. Some engines of note that could make their way into the Bronco are the twin-turbo 3.5L V6 engine from the F-150 Raptor with 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, the 3.0L V6 from the Ford Explorer ST with 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, or even a performance hybrid powertrain that would marry one of their engines with the electric motor found in the Mustang Mach-E GT and possibly even compete with Jeep’s 4xe.
No interior shots have made themselves known as of yet, but it should be just as cool and technologically advanced as the insides we’ve witnessed with the F-150 Raptor models.
The Ford Bronco Is Ready to Be King
Ford is ready to lay it all on the line for the returning Ford Bronco and enthusiasts can’t wait any longer to get their hands on one. The improvements, updates, and new additions to the Bronco lineup are awesome. We’ll know more about the Everglades, Raptor, and possibly even the Heritage Edition in the coming months as Ford plans to fully reveal them some time in quarter one of 2022 ahead of their planned availability that’s listed as summer of 2022. Think the Ford Bronco Raptor can go toe to toe with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392? Is the Everglades going to make the Bronco one of the most capable off-roaders straight from the factory? Only time will tell, but let us know what you think!
