A digital Bronco Raptor pickup teases what could have been, sparking Jeep Gladiator fans’ biggest concern.
The Ford Bronco Raptor has returned to the spotlight, this time reimagined for hauling thanks to several unofficial renderings. Of course, none of it is real. Surely, you didn’t expect the Blue Oval to revive a project it shelved years ago.
Rumors once suggested that a Bronco Pickup was set to arrive in 2024, but according to whispers, Ford scrapped the plan three years earlier. The company in Dearborn never confirmed anything, though the model was reportedly intended to square off with the Jeep Gladiator. Why was it allegedly canceled? Because it would have shared too much with the Ranger, raising fears of internal competition.
Both the modern Bronco and the latest Ranger ride on the same Ford T6 (T6.2) platform. That architecture also underpins the Everest SUV, which never reached the U.S., and Volkswagen’s second-generation Amarok—a rugged truck that can even feel premium in higher trims.
So, what’s the story with the vehicle shown in these images? Technically, “rendered” is the more accurate word. The pickup exists only in CGI, brought to life on YouTube by AutoYa Interior, imagining the Raptor version of the Bronco that never was. The digital tweaks include a chopped roof behind the C-pillars and a lengthened rear bed. Otherwise, it remains instantly recognizable as a Bronco Raptor, complete with its signature 418-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, 10-speed automatic gearbox, and four-wheel drive.
Had it been real, this truck would have sat at the top of the Bronco range, carrying a price tag above today’s Bronco Raptor, which starts at $79,995. By comparison, Jeep’s priciest Gladiator, the Rubicon X 4x4, begins at $63,265 with a 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and an eight-speed automatic.
It’s unfortunate that a Bronco pickup based on the current generation will never roll off Ford’s assembly lines. Still, you can’t help but wonder: would you have considered buying one if Ford had built it?