images: Ford
Tomorrow kicks off the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, and to lead into it, Ford has revealed the new Bronco RTR.
Note: If you’re reading this around 7PM ET on Tuesday, Bronco Nation staff member Cameron Hunter and I are at the reveal event currently taking place, so watch our Instagram and Facebook pages for additional images, and I’ll add information and photos to the comments below. If you have questions, leave them, and we’ll connect with Haley Skiko, Bronco brand manager!
Bronco RTR
It’s not a Badlands, but it’s got rock rails. It’s not a Bronco Raptor, but it’s got the Raptor’s 1,000-watt cooling fan. It’s not the discontinued Wildtrak, but add the Sasquatch package, and it gets HOSS 3.0, the highest level of suspension performance outside of Raptor, first introduced on the Wildtrak trim.
No, this is the new 2027 Bronco RTR, designed to carry out the fun Ford Racing driver Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Vehicles brings to the enthusiast world.
“Whether it’s dirt, rock or mud, we give Bronco customers the choices they need to enjoy the wild,” said Ed Krenz, Bronco chief program engineer. “Bronco RTR fills a new space in the lineup, offering two levels of capability so it’s ready from the factory for thrill-seeking customers.”
Features and Capabilities
The press release given in advance was filled with just enough details to whet appetites, but Bronco fans are missing answers to frequently asked questions. We’ll update you as we know more!
To Sasquatch, or not to Sasquatch? As Krenz mentioned, Bronco RTR will be available with or without the Sasquatch package. If ordered without the Sasquatch package, your Bronco RTR will come standard with 33” tires and a new high-clearance suspension. Ford doesn’t list the shocks, but notes the setup delivers improved standard capability and a wider track.
While Ford doesn’t list measurements for the Bronco RTR, the 2025 Bronco track widths (front/rear) in inches are:
- Base/Big Bend/Badlands –– 65.0/65.0
- Heritage Edition/Stroppe Edition –– 66.9/66.9
- Raptor — 73.2/73.6
With the Sasquatch package, Bronco RTR receives 35” Goodyear tires and the HOSS 3.0 system with Fox internal bypass shocks.
Unfamiliar with the HOSS rankings? Read “Bronco’s Boss HOSS System: 4 Levels of Performance.”
Both levels of Bronco RTR have 17-inch beadlock-capable RTR Evo 6 wheels done up in RTR’s iconic Hyper Lime color, housed under the squared-off fender flares the community is used to seeing since the Everglades trim appeared.
Two-door Bronco, or 4-door only? As you can see from the preproduction pics, a four-door Bronco RTR exists. The verdict is still out whether the shorter wheelbase will be available.
“Bronco RTR is a new sweet spot for performance value and style in the lineup,” said Skiko. “We’re delivering Raptor-inspired high-speed capability with a lower starting price than Badlands Sasquatch.”
The longer wheelbase makes a noticeable difference in control and stability in higher-speed off-roading, and the Raptor comes only as a 4-door for this reason. Reading between the lines, a two-door Bronco RTR may not materialize, but we’d be happy to be guessing wrong!
Cost of the Bronco RTR? As Skiko mentioned, the starting price is less than a Badlands Sasquatch. A 2026 2- or 4-door Badlands Sasquatch starts at $58,320 with destination fees. Bronco RTR will be available to order beginning in October 2026, so expect pricing closer to the end of this year.
Engine and transmission options? For now, engine and transmission options remain to be seen. At prices lower than a Badlands Sasquatch, you can likely expect the 2.3L as standard, with potential for the 2.7L to be optioned. Those hoping for the RTR V8 … well, keep saving your pennies for the swap.
New! Standard Anti-Lag Turbo Technology
“Bronco RTR is built to dominate the dirt, whether you’re in Johnson Valley or on a backwoods trail,” said Vaughn Gittin Jr., founder of RTR Vehicles. “We gave it the suspension tech to handle the hits, but we also sweat the details that matter to drivers. We reinforced the steering, added anti-lag turbo tech, and share high-power cooling fan hardware from the Bronco Raptor to help keep Bronco RTR cool during extended trail time and playing in sand.”
This software-operated, race-derived anti-lag turbo technology maintains turbo boost while the driver is off throttle. It’s optimized for off-road, keeping the turbocharger spooled so drivers have a sharp throttle response to manage ever-changing terrain, like deep sand.
“Available to All, Not for Everyone”
The RTR team explains its motto this way: “We live by the phrase ‘Available to All, Not for Everyone’ and we mean it. The team at RTR designs and builds very special cars for very special people. We know that not everyone is meant to be an RTR owner — and that's exactly the point.
“We are passionate, and we enjoy the raw emotion that can be experienced by driving a great vehicle. And since you're reading this, you're probably cut from the same cloth. If you’ve been chasing that feeling of passion and emotional connection with the vehicles you drive, you are definitely one of us.”
For the Bronco, visual elements that show you’re all in on RTR are the topographical bodyside and hood graphics, an RTR staple you’ve been seeing on the company’s Built Wild SUVs since 2021.
Throwback: “Serious Good Looks: RTR Serves Up Function On Their Concept Bronco”
In addition to the wheels and graphics, the Hyper Lime accent shows up on the trail sight markers and Bronco lettering spanning the RTR grille. And of course, the unique RTR fender badging seals the deal on who you run with.
See It in Person
Those attending the Detroit Auto Show can see it while the event runs, from January 14-25. If you’re attending Bronco Basecamp at King of the Hammers and you’d like to get eyes on this vehicle, the Bronco RTR will appear in February at KOH and at other events throughout the year.
Leave your initial thoughts and questions below!
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