Ford has ruled out putting a V8 engine in the Bronco by 2021, so US tuner Hennessey will step in to fill the void. It announced plans to offer the off-roader with an eight-cylinder whose output almost matches that of the GT500.
Available with two or four doors, the Velociraptor Bronco will get a 5.0-liter V8 with a 3.0-liter supercharger. Upgraded fuel injectors, a high-flow intake and a stainless steel cat-back exhaust will help increase the eight’s power output to 750 horsepower, a significant increase over the standard model, which comes in at 310 horsepower from a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 . Hennessey sets the SUV’s 0-60mph time at 4.5 seconds.
Four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission are standard; it doesn’t sound like there will be a manual gearbox available. Terrain-focused suspension upgrades are also part of the package.
Bronco production won’t start until 2021, so Hennessey doesn’t have a functional prototype to show off yet. It has nevertheless released a rendering that reveals that the Velociraptor will get an air intake integrated into a custom bonnet, a redesigned grille bearing the name of the Texas-based tuner, new bumpers on both ends, and aluminum wheels wrapped in sturdy tires. Pictures of the cabin have not been released, but we have been told that the Bronco will get a modified interior with a numbered plaque, leather upholstery and embroidered headrests.
Hennessey plans to make 24 copies of the Velociraptor Bronco for the 2021 model year, and prices start at $ 225,000 before shipping costs are in question, a figure that puts the SUV deep in the supercar territory. Each copy is sold through authorized Hennessey / Ford dealers and is backed by a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty.
Ford blamed its decision not to offer a V8-powered Bronco for emissions-related hurdles, leaving the door wide open to aftermarket companies. Hennessey’s Velociraptor is the first to be built, but it certainly won’t be the last. Jeep, on the other hand, hinted strongly that it would kick a V8 into the Wrangler – the Bronco’s nemesis.
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