Ford Bronco DR is a V8-powered desert racer

Ford has finally built the Coyote V8-swapped Bronco fans have been screaming out for – but the catch is that it’s a race-only machine and will cost north of AU$269,000 (US$200,000) when it lands next year.

The Ford Bronco DR (Desert Racer) is a purpose-built Baja racing machine, with Ford intending to enter a prototype of the race-bred Bronco into the Baja 1000 next year.

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“Bronco DR exists to give hardcore off-road enthusiasts a Built Wild, turnkey 4x4 to compete in desert racing events, including the unforgiving Baja 1000,” said Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance Motorsports' global director.

Full specifications are still yet to be announced, but we do know the DR started out life as a four-door Bronco chassis before Ford went to town on it, saying: “We modified and optimised every aspect and built the vehicle hardcore off-road enthusiasts want.”

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The Coyote V8 is one of the biggest changes for the DR, which Ford says it aims “to generate more than 400hp (298kW)” from for the DR – paired with a 10-speed auto.

The rest of the driveline uses a ‘shift-on-the-fly’ transfer case from the F-150, with both electronic lockers and 4.70:1 final drive ratios front and rear.

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The 5.0-litre Coyote V8 pinched from the Mustang GT was chosen to give the DR its offroad speed

The suspension has been overhauled, with one of the key upgrades being the inclusion of Positional Selective DSSV Dampers from Multimatic – which had a large hand in building the Bronco DR with Ford Performance.

The dampers allow for the major adjustability racers desire to suit different terrain, and are connected to new billet aluminium lower control arms. Strengthened inner tie rods are also used for the DR.

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The shocks have 80mm bodies and have finned fluid cooling channels

Ford also says it has 55.1 per cent more suspension travel at the front and 58.6 per cent at the rear over the standard Bronco, giving the DR further stability in high-speed desert competition.

Wheels and tyres are 17-inch beadlocks wrapped in 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 rubber.

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The exterior panels are made from fibreglass rather than steel on the road-going Bronco, with all the glass removed for safety and weight saving. A tubular metal front bumper is used, but the DR still uses normal Bronco headlights, tail-lights and trail sights.

The DR also comes factory-fitted with a roll cage built by Multimatic, along with Sparco racing seats, a Motec C187 display and a switch panel for various accessories.

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The Dakar-bred racer also has a 246-litre fuel-cell in the rear and a rear-mounted radiator to keep the Coyote V8 cool.

The DR marks the first time Ford has offered a factory-built dirt racer from the factory, but only 50 examples will initially be available for purchase by the public in late 2022.

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It’s unclear if more will be built after that, but with the Bronco DR illegal to drive on the street and the above mentioned minimum buy-in of US$200,000, it won't be a sales-chart topper.

Those in the US wanting a race-like Bronco for the street can expect the Bronco Raptor to fill those shoes when it launches next year, likely with a twin-turbocharged V6.

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Ford Australia still has no intentions to make the Bronco range available here locally.