Official Bronco Raptor - Only Suspension Setup Impresses Me

YukonCornelius · Jan 24, 2022

The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Is a Desert Racing, Rock Crawling, Built Wild Beast

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www.broncoraptor.com

While I do actually like the Bronco, and LOVE what it has done for Jeep - like bring us the 392 - and was anxious to see the Raptor variant, I'm not all that impressed. From the front and rear, it looks like it is swollen from a violent reaction to a bee sting at each wheel. Those "bulges" that pass for fenders are just weird looking. I do love the active suspension setup taken from the F-150 Raptor. Overall, the proportions just don't jive, IMHO

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-ford-bronco-raptor-first-look-review/

CBH · Jan 24, 2022

YukonCornelius said:
While I do actually like the Bronco, and LOVE what it has done for Jeep - like bring us the 392 - and was anxious to see the Raptor variant, I'm not all that impressed. From the front and rear, it looks like it is swollen from a violent reaction to a bee sting at each wheel. Those "bulges" that pass for fenders are just weird looking. I do love the active suspension setup taken from the F-150 Raptor. Overall, the proportions just don't jive, IMHO

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-ford-bronco-raptor-first-look-review/

I agree. Those flared fenders are not easy on the eyes. I think they should have widened the body first then added smaller flared fenders in order to accommodate the 37s.

Uncommon Sense · Jan 24, 2022

To be honest, I am not that impressed. I originally was waiting on the "Warthog" but then when Jeep came out with the 392 (and then XR) it was enough to make me jump ship; especially after seeing the shenanigans with the regular Bronco. The 392 v8 and performance just seals it for me. I'm also afraid the Bronco design won't be as attractive as the Jeep after a refresh.

I am not feeling those fender flares. They look comical. Sure the aftermarket will come up with a replacement. I just don't think the super wide Raptor look works with the Bronco. Aesthetically, they should have just offered a better engine upgrade for the Badlands / Wildtrak and I think it would have satisfied most folks.

Makes me feel better about going with the 392.

YukonCornelius · Jan 24, 2022

On the live adjustable shocks front, though... these have intrigued me the past couple of years...
SDI is fairly decent...

https://eclikshocks.com/e-clik-jeep/

392Stinger · Jan 24, 2022

YukonCornelius said:
On the live adjustable shocks front, though... these have intrigued me the past couple of years...
SDI is fairly decent...

https://eclikshocks.com/e-clik-jeep/

Thanks for sharing that… New to me but intriguing for sure..

RC-N-TEXAS · Jan 24, 2022

the flares are hideous - especially from the rear....

thebrave · Jan 24, 2022

Uncommon Sense said:
To be honest, I am not that impressed. I originally was waiting on the "Warthog" but then when Jeep came out with the 392 (and then XR) it was enough to make me jump ship; especially after seeing the shenanigans with the regular Bronco. The 392 v8 and performance just seals it for me. I'm also afraid the Bronco design won't be as attractive as the Jeep after a refresh.

I am not feeling those fender flares. They look comical. Sure the aftermarket will come up with a replacement. I just don't think the super wide Raptor look works with the Bronco. Aesthetically, they should have just offered a better engine upgrade for the Badlands / Wildtrak and I think it would have satisfied most folks.

Makes me feel better about going with the 392.

The Bronco reminds of when the Camaro was re-introduced. It was all the rage and now they're everywhere. Nothing special anymore. Bronco is gonna go down that road too, but I don't see the Jeep 392 doing that, since it's a limited production run.

Besides, all I gotta do is start my engine. What's to argue?

Colorado392 · Jan 24, 2022

thebrave said:
The Bronco reminds of when the Camaro was re-introduced. It was all the rage and now they're everywhere. Nothing special anymore. Bronco is gonna go down that road too, but I don't see the Jeep 392 doing that, since it's a limited production run.

Besides, all I gotta do is start my engine. What's to argue?

"Besides, all I gotta do is start my engine. What's to argue?" This is EXACTLY right. Makes me smile every time.

willy · Jan 24, 2022

CBH said:
I agree. Those flared fenders are not easy on the eyes. I think they should have widened the body first then added smaller flared fenders in order to accommodate the 37s.

The fenders remind me of something you would see on a sport UTV such as the new Polaris RZR / Can-am Maverick. The suspension is quite impressive though.

Now that Ford has made it's move, I can't wait to see what Jeep does next

. Game on!

Gladiator 392?

computertom · Jan 24, 2022

CBH said:
I agree. Those flared fenders are not easy on the eyes. I think they should have widened the body first then added smaller flared fenders in order to accommodate the 37s.

They actually did widen the body quite a bit - the fenders are all new - and put those insane fender flares on. This thing is over the top wide.

64Chevy · Jan 24, 2022

Someone made the point to me today that the greatly increased width will help on tippy off-camber situations. That makes sense, thought there are other situations where that width is a negative.

Uncommon Sense · Jan 24, 2022

I'm really curious if Jeep will come out 37 inch package or some other enhanced upgrades. Jeep has the on the power, but being able to get 37s and live valve shocks is pretty nice on the Raptor.

FallCityJeepster · Jan 24, 2022

Not impressed with the flares either, but I’m going for it. 392 is mine and I’ll get the Bronco for my wife.

dog · Jan 25, 2022

FallCityJeepster said:
Not impressed with the flares either, but I’m going for it. 392 is mine and I’ll get the Bronco for my wife.

Will be excited to hear your thoughts on the comparison (pros and cons of each compared to the other), even though they're very different vehicles. What colors are you getting in each?

computertom · Jan 25, 2022

FallCityJeepster said:
Not impressed with the flares either, but I’m going for it. 392 is mine and I’ll get the Bronco for my wife.

Are you looking to convert and existing, passed over res? I’ll be *really* interested to see how that goes. Maybe there will be a silver lining to the 7/14 res I have that just never gets built!

Still more excited about the 392 order we have that’s 10+ weeks and counting though…

FallCityJeepster · Jan 25, 2022

dog said:
Will be excited to hear your thoughts on the comparison (pros and cons of each compared to the other), even though they're very different vehicles. What colors are you getting in each?

I have a black 392. Black.

FallCityJeepster · Jan 25, 2022

computertom said:
Are you looking to convert and existing, passed over res? I’ll be *really* interested to see how that goes. Maybe there will be a silver lining to the 7/14 res I have that just never gets built!

Still more excited about the 392 order we have that’s 10+ weeks and counting though…

Yes, converting day 2 reservation.

I’ll be curious to see gas comparisons. I get 12mpg on the 392. Love the power!

HearHear · Jan 25, 2022

I saw that the next Wrangler refresh will use the same fender flares as the Ford Raptor.

HearHear · Jan 25, 2022

HearHear said:
I saw that the next Wrangler refresh will use the same fender flares as the Ford Raptor.

Just kidding

YukonCornelius · Jan 26, 2022

I'm still really intrigued with this... and having semi-active suspension on a 392 would put it in league of it's own and Bronco Raptor folks would have zero bragging rights. A little pricey for the Pro setup, but I'm really thinking hard about this one...