Looking for a no-nonsense, go-anywhere machine? Ford has something for you. The American company has just taken the wraps off the Bronco Raptor. Yes, it is a meaner and off-road friendlier version of the Ford Bronco. And boy, it seems like it’s going to be a hoot! 

Designed by the same folks who worked on the Ford F-150 Raptor, the Ford Bronco Raptor checks all the boxes when it comes to being a serious off-roader. It now sits on big 37-inch all-terrain tyres. The suspension travel has also been changed to 13- and 14-inches, at the front and back, respectively. Apart from this, the front and rear axles have been reinforced to handle rougher terrains.

Cosmetic changes here include a new ‘FORD’ logo on the front grille, instead of ‘BRONCO’ the SUV used to come with. Then there are the headlamps which get amber-coloured DRLs. And least we forget about the heavy-duty bash and skid plates, which serve both a visual and practical purpose.  Ford, however, has kept things pretty simple on the inside. It gets a 12.0-inch infotainment centre, along with a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Then there’s adaptive cruise control and the enhanced 4WD (four-wheel drive) system. The latter comes with G.O.A.T (Go Over All-Terrain) management system with different driving modes, including a ‘Baja’ mode that lets you use all the engine power while being lower down the rev range. Coming to the engine, the Ford Bronco Raptor comes with a 3.0-litre, V6 EcoBoost engine that is capable of around 400hp. In comparison, the standard Ford Bronco, which gets a 2.3-litre and a 2.7-litre V6 mill, puts out 270hp and 310hp, respectively. 

Expected to go on sale later this year, the Bronco Raptor will compete against the Land Rover Defender and the Jeep Wrangler in the US.