If you’ve been pining for a new Ford Bronco with a brawny V8 under the hood, we have some good news and some bad news.
First the good: Ford is making one. It’s called the Ford Bronco DR, and it will be available in late 2022.
Now the bad news (sorry!): The Bronco DR will be limited to an initial run of 50 vehicles, and is not street legal. It is actually a factory-built race truck designed for desert endurance challenges like the Baja 1000. Oh, and it will cost a pretty penny. Whereas a standard Ford Bronco starts under $30,000, the Ford Bronco DR will have a starting price in the “mid-$200,000 range,” Ford says. Yes, this Bronco will cost more than some homes.
Baja Bronco
Ford says the 2023 Bronco DR – those initials stand for Desert Racer – is a turn-key solution for “the hardest-core enthusiasts,” those who wish to take part in grueling races like the Baja 1000. It is intended for off-road use only and has the looks and gear to back it up.
The Bronco DR actually is based on a 4-door Bronco, but it ups the ante in all other aspects. Fun note: Though its foundation is the 4-door model, this is a no-door model. The pilot and race navigator in the passenger seat get in and out through the windows. So if you plan to save for one, be sure to limber up as well.
Under the hood is something Bronco enthusiasts have been desiring — a big V8 engine. In this case, it’s a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that is being targeted to make over 400 horsepower. A 10-speed automatic transmission with a shift-on-the-fly transfer case sends power to the wheels. Every other component, both inside and out, is made for high-speed desert racing, and it reads like a holiday wish list for such lovers of the sport.
There are Multimatic Positional Selective DSSV dampers and Multimatic safety cage. It rides on 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 all-season tires. Bronco DR also sports massive side air intakes for the rear-mounted radiator, and a 65-gallon fuel tank. Because there aren’t exactly gas stations on every corner of barren desert landscapes.
The Ford Bronco DR is also unmistakable in its livery. Its red, white, black, and blue colors are an homage to the Baja 1000-winning Broncos of the late 1960s.
Takeaways for Ordinary Bronco Owners
This is set to be the most powerful production Bronco ever, and it goes without saying that its highly limited production run and meteoric price tag will be as far removed from the average Bronco owner (or aspiring owner) as the chance of them winning a 1,000-mile desert race.
But there’s still reason to love the 2- or 4-door Bronco that can be bought today. In no coincidence, Ford unveiled the Bronco DR to media at one of its four Bronco Off-Roadeo “Outdoor Adventure Playgrounds.” Ford recently opened these off-road sites in Austin, Texas; Moab, Utah; Gunstock Mountain, New Hampshire; and where this one was revealed at a camp outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you buy a new Bronco, you get a free day of off-road training at a location of your choice. It’s sort of like the complimentary track day you might get if you buy a high-performance car. At the Bronco Off-Roadeo locations, Bronco owners get training in everything from how their 4-wheel-drive hardware works to having fun off-road in a safe and respectful way.
The other takeaway from the unveiling of the Bronco DR is this: While the Bronco currently offers a choice of a turbocharged 4-cylinder or V6 engine, this shows that a growling V8 can fit under the hood. Just sayin’.
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