The Ford Bronco Raptor has finally been unveiled and it looks to be a significant upgrade over the standard model. However, it does lack one thing that some enthusiasts were hoping for: a V8 engine.
Whereas the flagship Jeep Wrangler 392 features a powerful naturally aspirated V8, Ford hasn’t followed suit with the Bronco Raptor. This comes despite the fact that the (non-street legal) Bronco DR limited-production desert racing SUV also has a V8. Instead, Ford has equipped the Raptor with a 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6. Performance figures haven’t been released but Ford says it’ll be good for over 400 hp.
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Speaking with Muscle Cars & Trucks, Ford Performance Vehicle Engineering manager Derek Bier said that the Bronco Raptor rocks this 3.0-liter, as opposed to its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 or Coyote 5.0-liter V8, because it helps with production.
“The truck has to go through the same assembly line (as Ranger and base Bronco) and we want to follow the same processes… the 2.7L is part of the ‘Nano’ family and the 3.0L is the upgrade to it,” Bier said. “The 3.5L EcoBoost is a different technology, a different power pack. (3.0L) was the most capable of the Nano, also with upgrades unique to the Bronco Raptor, allowing us to follow that same bill of process, that same platform, that same control strategy, and just be efficient.”
Bier added that the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 was always planned for the Bronco Raptor and that no other powertrain was considered.
While the Bronco Raptor won’t rival the Wrangler 392 in terms of sound, it does have a lot going for it, including a strong iron block and bespoke intercooling and air –induction systems.
