Ford expands Bronco performance lineup with ‘more attainable’ RTR SUV

DETROIT — Ford Motor on Tuesday said it is expanding its Bronco SUV lineup to include a new model that the automaker is touting as having a mix of off-road and street performance capabilities.

The 2027 Ford Bronco RTR will become the eighth model in the lineup, beneath a high-performance Raptor version. It looks similar to the traditional Bronco but has some design tweaks and off-road performance parts that are also on the Raptor.

Ford officials declined to discuss pricing for the vehicle but called it a “more attainable” performance model, or a gateway, to the Raptor. That doesn’t mean it will be inexpensive though. It’s expected to be positioned between the $51,475 Bronco Heritage Edition and roughly $80,000 Bronco Raptor. The base Bronco starts at about $40,000.

“The difference is the access point, the accessibility,” said Ed Krenz, Bronco chief program engineer. “This very much can be seen as a step into the Raptor family.”

Ford said the Bronco RTR will be powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is currently rated at 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque in the Ford Mustang. That compares with 418 horsepower and 440 foot-pounds of torque with a 3.0-liter V6 engine for the Bronco Raptor.

The Bronco RTR will be available to order in October with sales starting in January 2027, Ford said.

The vehicle is the second RTR model, which is a partnership with racer Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s “Ready to Rock” brand. The first was a Ford Mustang model the company revealed a year ago. Both were for the Detroit Auto Show.

“Bronco RTR is literally another dream come true for myself, my team; the opportunity to build something for enthusiasts that is attainable, affordable and have the looks, the capability, that only RTR and Ford can do together,” Gittin said during the event.

The new model follows Ford’s strategy of leaning into its most well-known brands such as Bronco, Mustang and F-150.