Ford Won't Put A V8 In The Bronco Raptor

Nov. 04, 2022 3:15 PM ET by Sebastian Cenizo Engine / 3 Comments

This is a pity, but there are good reasons for this.

Since the Ford F-150 Raptor R now exists with a spectacular 5.2-liter supercharged V8 that produces 700 horsepower, some have been wondering if the Bronco Raptor ("Braptor") could get the same treatment. After all, the regular F-150 Raptor comes with a twin-turbo V6 but has enough space for the boosted V8, so surely the twin-turbo V6-powered Braptor could be upgraded similarly also to be eligible for the V8 treatment, right?

Wrong. According to Ford Performance boss Carl Widmann, the Braptor's engine bay is too narrow for anything bigger than the current 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, while the F-150 Raptor was designed to accept a larger 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6.

Speaking with Motor Authority, Widmann explained that the engine bay, specifically the area between the two front shock towers, is too narrow to fit the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 properly. "Properly" is the keyword there. We've already seen that the Bronco can fit a larger engine like a Coyote V8, but Ford also needs to ensure that there's enough space for all the cooling mechanisms and crash structures. Remember, the Bronco Raptor's engine bay is no larger than that of a regular Bronco, and automakers have numerous other considerations to account for than just whether a larger engine can be confined to the space in the engine bay.

As standard, the Bronco Raptor's 3.0-liter EcoBoost is claimed to produce 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, but some independent tests have shown much lower figures at the wheels. Regardless, it's a highly capable vehicle that is built for more than just straight-line speed, but we wouldn't give up hope for a more powerful Braptor at some point, even if it is just a bigger V6.

The hardcore (and not street-legal) Bronco DR came with a V8, and while that vehicle does not require the same components that a road-legal vehicle does, the very existence of a V8 in this body style suggests that Ford is interested in fitting a larger motor at some point. With a smaller supercharger on the 5.2 or even the 5.0 V8, as well as some Tetris-inspired space management, perhaps we will eventually get a Braptor with loads more grunt. The buying public just needs to demand it loudly enough.

Ford Won't Put A V8 In The Bronco Raptor

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