UPDATE, November 10: Ford’s new Bronco Raptor has been put through its paces, with American publication The Bronco Nation providing insights into the Blue Oval’s off-road hero car.
In a post on its Facebook page, The Bronco Nation claims it was given exclusive access to test out the Bronco Raptor, flexing its massive 37-inch tyres, long-travel suspension and pumped guards for a significantly tougher stance than the existing Bronco.
While earlier information led us to believe it would be powered by a 3.0-litre EcoBoost engine, there is now a suggestion Ford’s 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost from the F-150 Raptor is under the bonnet, punching out around 335kW and 691Nm.
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September 22: The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor has been announced, with a short, 16-second teaser video posted on the company’s social media accounts.
The video shows a glimpse of the Bronco’s new F-O-R-D grille – synonymous with Raptor models across the Ford range – with a cloud of dust to reaffirm the vehicle’s off-road character.
With the Bronco designed to compete directly against the Jeep Wrangler, for some time rumours have swirled of a performance variant intended to fight the Wrangler Rubicon 392 V8.
Early indications suggested it would be called the Bronco Warthog, following a trademark filing by the carmaker, but company sources told US website Ford Authority the name was a deliberate misdirection.
It’s widely reported the new Bronco Raptor will gain the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 EcoBoost engine found in the Explorer ST performance SUV – the very same engine rumoured to be powering the 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor – with around 300kW and 600Nm said to be on offer. The 10-speed automatic transmission is expected to carry over.
The teaser comes just a week after a dealership leak was posted to the Bronco 6G forum, revealing the Raptor will only be offered as a four-door, with buyers given access to an exclusive ‘code orange’ paint colour – as seen in the video.
Though details remain scarce, it’s understood two trim levels will be available on the Bronco Raptor, with the higher-spec model offering a 10-speaker sound system, voice-activated satellite navigation, wireless smartphone charging, radar cruise control, and a heated steering wheel.
In the teaser video, we can see the Raptor gains unique amber daytime-running light signatures and revised plastic wheel arches.
The Raptor is also expected to feature Fox Live Valve shock absorbers, a wider front and rear track, higher ground clearance, and 17-inch alloy wheels with BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres in 315/70R17 – or 35 inches in the old money.
While reports earlier this week confirmed the Ford Bronco was being considered for European markets to compete against the Land Rover Defender, there’s no sign the Bronco will be produced in right-hand-drive – ruling it out for Australia for the time being.
Expect full announcement of the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor in the coming months.
Four-wheel-drive accessory company ARB has revealed it has a Ford Bronco at its Australian headquarters.
In a post on the company’s Facebook page, ARB said the Bronco was in Australia to continue research and development – building on the limited number of accessories currently offered to its US customers.
But the Bronco isn’t the only vehicle it’s been working on, with ARB’s Chairman and Managing Director Roger Brown telling shareholders last month the company had secured a contract with US electric ute manufacturer Rivian, according to AFR.
“We’ve been in discussions with [Rivian] for quite a while now, and we are talking about the accessories program,” ARB COO Lachlan McCann told 4X4 Australia.
While McCann was tight-lipped about the relationship, he said the company was currently supplying a product for Rivian on the production line, and had another long-term project the two organisations were working on.
Under a standalone section about Rivian, ARB’s own Environmental Sustainability Report states: “ARB is involved in the development of a range of accessories that integrate and comply with the complex differences in this fast-growing market of electric 4WDs.”
“It’s just quite exciting to be working with an electric-based OEM … regardless of whether it’s a naturally-aspirated, a V8 turbo, or an electric product – the suite of accessories the customers are after is still there,” McCann said.
“So as the electrification of vehicles continues, we’ll certainly be working closely with either the vehicles in the aftermarket or hopefully upfront with the [manufacturers].”
Along with Rivian, ARB is also working alongside Toyota on its all-electric LandCruiser 70 Series trial, and is understood to have a relationship with British newcomer Ineos.
At a recent media event, Ineos Australia’s head of sales and marketing, Justin Hocevar, said the carmaker was giving local four-wheel-drive accessory companies access to its Grenadier prototypes.
While Ineos and Rivian will be bringing their vehicles to Australia, there’s no word yet on whether Ford will be developing a right-hand-drive Bronco.
Australian made, the all-new TAG Extreme Recovery (XR) tow bar has been engineered and designed for both tradies and adventurous off-roaders alike.
The heavy-duty, three-piece bar for the 79 Series LandCruiser (MY2017+) features 89mm x 89mm extreme-duty crossbars; two heavy-duty and load-rated recovery points.
It also has maximum clearance for improved departure angles; extreme-duty powder-coated finish; and dual top-mount trailer and Anderson plug mounts.
A L4171 tow ball mount and UNT010ZP zinc tow are included. The unit is recovery load-tested to 4500kg.
MORE INFO: www.tagtowbars.com.au
When Chris Roberts from TRED Outdoors went looking for a new 4×4 to take on camping and off-road trips, he was torn as to what it would be.
The plan was to always to get one of the big 4×4 wagons and cut and stretch it in to a double-cab ute, but choosing between two popular options wasn’t easy.
“I liked the Y62 because there was a supercharger option from Harrop, but the platform was not well-supported by the aftermarket at the time,” Chris recalled.
He even went as far as ordering a new LandCruiser 200 Series, but when the dealer called to say the delivery was delayed, it made Chris’s decision for him.
“Nissan not only delivered in time, but they were also substantially cheaper which left plenty of money in the bank to build this car,” he said with a smile.
He ended up with a 2018 Patrol and set plans in motion to make it what he wanted.
“One of my frustrations when going away with the car as a wagon, was having to load and unload all the time,” says Chris. “My campsite was always quick to set up, however all the gear needs to be loaded and unloaded a lot. Having a canopy on the back is going to help massively with this.”
Chris enlisted the team at Queensland company ASG4X4 when it came time to get the chop-and-stretch job done. ASG has done a few of these conversions on the big Nissans, with a choice of chassis lengths available. They also manufacture a selection of different size and design trays and canopies, so they are a one-stop shop for these ute conversions.
For the Y62 specifically, with its independent rear suspension, ASG makes its own lower control arms that are much heavier duty than the Nissan arms, allowing for an increase of GVM to carry all of Chris’s gear. This solved one of the challenges Chris foresaw, with choosing the Patrol over a LandCruiser.
An advantage of choosing the Nissan was the ability to fit that supercharger kit to its petrol V8 engine. With the Harrop kit on board and tuned, this Patrol is now pumping out 542hp and 680Nm of torque at the hubs.
After overcoming the hassles of developing a vehicle that isn’t so well-supported with bolt-on equipment, Chris couldn’t be happier with the result.
“There was not much aftermarket support, straight bolt-up like you would get on say a 200 Series. So to make things work, as an example the suspension, there was lots of time spent in researching and planning.
“For me, the sign of a good car and build is when the owner has a story of how you need to drive it,” he says. “The owner knows each strange noise and anticipates what the car will do in certain situations, making it truly a custom build.”
KEY FEATURES
BLOWN AWAY
The Nissan VK56 V8 breathes heavier thanks to a Harrop 2300 supercharger kit and uprated fuel system, helping it pump out 542hp and 680Nm of torque at the hubs. The engine exhales loudly through a custom Legendex 3 to 3½ inch twin cat-back exhaust system.
BULLBAR
Frontal protection comes via an ARB Summit bar (left) which mounts a pair of ARB Solis LED lights, a GME antenna and a VRS 12,000lb winch. The underbody protection plate is from Rival 4×4.
STRETCHED CHASSIS
ASG 4X4 cut the chassis and stretched it 250mm, reformed the back of the cabin with a flat-wall and built the tray and lift-off canopy. The re-engineered Patrol now has a 4200kg GVM to help carry the gear on board.
HD
ASG’s fabricated rear lower control arms bolster the rear end, allowing for heavier loads.
PLATFORM RACK
An ARB Base Rack system mounts atop the Patrol and, of course, there’s a set of bright green TRED Pro recovery boards.
POWER PLAY
Inside the ASG canopy you’ll find a Bushman upright fridge; Projecta DCDC charger, Intelli-RV Power Manager system and Projecta Intelli-wave 2000W inverter; an Invicta 200amp/h lithium battery; and an ARB LINX module to control everything.
MUDDIES ON ALLOYS
KMC ‘Mesa’ alloy wheels and Fuel Gripper mud terrain tyres conceal a brake package using DBA rotors and pads.
EXTRA STORAGE
Tapered under-tray storage compartments house the ARB twin compressor on the passenger-side, with recovery accessories on the driver’s side.
TOWBAR PROTECTION
The TAG XR towbar provides a bit of protection for those neat-looking Legendex exhaust outlets that bellow out the V8’s supercharged symphony.
SPECIAL THANKS
ASG4x4, TRED, ARB4x4, Legendex, Projecta, Invicta Batteries, TAG Towbars, KMC Wheel
SEMA is always a hot breeding ground for seriously gnarly 4×4 concepts, so it comes as no surprise that Chevy went big this year with its Beast desert racer.
The concept car started out life as a basic Silverado short-bed chassis, before Chevy engineers cut even more off it and added structure using 4130 chromoly tubing top to bottom.
For power, the Beast uses the 484kW supercharged LT4 V8 from the previous generation Corvette Z06, mated to a 10-speed 10L90 automatic transmission that sends the power through a two-speed transfer case.
Despite being a racer, the concept car is actually a four-seater. That’s about where the practicality ends for space though, as the boot is filled entirely with two rear wheels.
Speaking of which, the Beast uses appropriately massive 37×13.5-inch AMP Terrain Attach M/T tyres wrapped around 20×10-inch beadlock wheels.
Suspension consists of a five-link setup in the rear – with fully adjustable racing strut units with remote reservoirs, combined with big Brembo brakes that boast six pistons, up front.
The combination of V8 power, massive 37-inch tyres, exo-skeleton exterior and being purpose-built for desert racing really does point to this being Chevrolet’s direct reply to Ford’s recently unveiled Bronco DR.
Like the Beast, the Bronco DR also uses V8 power pinched from a sports car (the Coyote V8 from the Mustang GT) with a 10-speed automatic, tubular roll cage, 37-inch off road tyres and race-built suspension.
However, the biggest difference between the two is that the Bronco is no concept – but rather a prototype that Ford has full intention of building.
Ford plans on entering its own Bronco DR into the Dakar Rally next year, and while the latter won’t be legal for street use, a limited number of customers will be able to purchase one from the US firm by late next year – with prices starting at US$200,000 (AU$270,306).
Our resident US counterpart, Chris Collard, has been busy trawling the SEMA stands this year, and he has sent through a bunch of insane builds on display at this year’s event.
In the above photo gallery you’ll find a selection of the coolest metal on show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, including another Bronco custom, a resurrected 40 Series, a Honda (yep!), and a couple of mint Land Rovers.
The 2021 SEMA Show ran from November 2 to 5.
Have a favourite? Let us know in the comments section below.
Mention the Ford Maverick in conversation, and most Australians will picture a rebadged Nissan Patrol from the late 1980s and ‘90s.
Ford revived the nameplate recently, launching the Maverick as a small ute for the US market, to sit below the Ranger in the line-up.
Brazilian artist Kleber Silva has taken the Maverick and imagined what it would look like if the vehicle was produced as an SUV – and we think it would be the perfect opportunity to revive the Ford Raider badge.
Like the Everest is the to Ranger, the Raider was the wagon version of the Courier ute – offered between 1991 and 1996.
The new Maverick shares its underpinnings with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, offering American buyers a choice of a 2.5-litre hybrid four-cylinder, or a 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine – the latter available with all-wheel drive.
Despite the new Maverick only being made in left-hand-drive, we think there’s space in the Ford Australia line-up to squeeze the theoretical Raider between the Escape and Everest – capturing buyers who can’t fit the upcoming F-150 in their garage.
What do you think of the 2023 Ford Raider? Let us know in the comments section below.
We’ve been on the road for nearly three months now, mainly in Western Australia having traversed some of its deserts and then the fabulous Ningaloo coast.
Scattered amongst the regulars who come to this coast were a few long-term travellers who had been on the road for six months or more and were planning to be roving the country for at least another six months, some for a darn sight longer. We met other long-term travellers in other far-flung places, too.
It was great to see, but what appealed to me were the young families on the road who were thoroughly enjoying it and embracing the gypsy lifestyle.
Tyson and Rebecca Hayes with their young son Jack, who was just seven months old, were just some who had been camped on the beach for a week or so when we caught up. They had left Brisbane in early 2020 and as they headed south COVID raised its ugly head, closing borders and the like; so they hightailed it back to Queensland and worked on a property just out of Goondiwindi. Jack then came along and many friends and family expected them to call their long-awaited dream trip off, but Tyson and Rebecca had other ideas.
Once borders started to reopen and with their AOR camper hooked up to their Nissan V8 Patrol, they first headed to SA and, after a quick look around, always aware of what COVID was doing to borders, they crossed into WA where they slowed down to smell the wildflowers and enjoy the travelling.
Tyson and Rebecca expect to be travelling all this year and next – maybe even longer – and their advice is that the hardest thing to travelling for a long time is to actually go, as once you are on the road it is easier … even with a seven-month old! You can follow their travels on Instagram at @Austrekadventures.
Just up the beach were Will and Krystal Miles with their two young kids, Harvey aged nine and Magnolia aged five. They had left their NSW Central Coast home in February 2020, but after 10 weeks in SA, COVID put a spanner in the works and they headed home for a short time. Once borders opened, they set off again, hightailing it across the eastern states to get into WA where they have slowed down somewhat.
With Will being a keen fisherman and the family loving the sea, they wandered around Cape Arid and Esperance before pushing north to the Ningaloo coast, where they had been for four weeks and were planning on another six before heading on.
But what adventures they were having: catching big fish, finding crays and swimming with whale sharks and manta rays. Young Harvey was in his element, reveling in the adventures his mum and dad were leading him on, while young Magnolia was content to look at the pretty fish and collect shells and the like. It was a hell of an education backed-up by school lessons from the School of Distance Learning for an hour a day, four days a week. The rest of the time the kids were learning in nature, from nature, and socialising with a diverse group of humans young and old. I couldn’t think of a better education for young kids!
Will and Krystal plan to be on the road in their well set-up Hino with custom-made camper, towing a boat, for the next three years or so. Follow their adventures on Instagram at @im_on_fishing.
So get out there, follow your dream – no excuses!
Resto specialist the Royal Overland Company has taken an old Defender 90 and resurrected into something we think is seriously cool.
The firm, which specialises in importing, restoring and revitalising old 4x4s to suit customers needs, has taken a Defender 90 left parted out and rotting away in a workshop and resurrected it for its owner.
The team opted to go with a beach inspired theme for this build, customising the car inside and out – while still keeping true to the Land Rover’s simplistic nature.
Outside, the bodywork now wears a fresh lick of marine blue Land Rover paint with retro ’80s-cool graphics, along with Dirty Life wheels wrapped in 33-inch Interco tyres and a hand fabricated roll cage.
The interior is where the car’s true nature comes to light though. The fit-out was taken care of by Phillip Sell from Sell Design Group using 12 different types of woodwork to create the handmade flooring, belt line across the top of the doors and the rear tail-gate panels.
Suspension consists largely of standard Land Rover gear with Radflo shock absorbers and Swift springs, while the drivetrain is a turbocharged diesel unit plucked from a later model Defender.
Amazingly, the 90 was built in under six months before its debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this week, showcasing the quality of work the Royal Overland Company can deliver.
After a stint on the sidelines in 2020, the SEMA Show returns in 2021 and is currently taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, USA. Our American counterpart Chris Collard is there with camera in tow, and he has taken some snaps of the best rigs on display this year.
Not surprisingly, the all-new Ford Bronco is uber-popular on the stands in 2021, with Collard snapping a number of kitted-out Broncos dressed in premium aftermarket gear.
As expected, Jeep also features prominently, with a Gladiator by Max Built looking mighty fine!
Scroll through our photo gallery above, and let us know what your favourite vehicle is in the comments below.
The 2021 SEMA Show will run from November 2 to 5.