The off-road world has always had a bit of a barrier to entry. Sure, anyone can buy a capable 4x4, but to get the kind of hardware that can really fly through the desert at speed—the stuff that makes your heart race and your passenger grip the oh-shit handle—you've typically needed to write a pretty substantial check. Ford's new 2027 Bronco RTR is trying to change that equation.
Image credit: Ford
Developed in partnership with RTR Vehicles and its founder Vaughn Gittin Jr., along with two-time King of the Hammers champion Loren Healy, this new variant sits in an interesting spot. It's not trying to be a Bronco Raptor, which will set you back around $82,000 for a 418-horsepower convertible SUV riding on 37-inch tires. Instead, the RTR takes a different approach: bringing legitimate high-speed desert performance to a price point that won't require a second mortgage.
The name itself tells you what Ford and RTR are going for. "Ready to Rock" isn't subtle, and neither is the truck. According to the development team, their main focus was building cool shit, and they've delivered something that should appeal to anyone who appreciates aggressive styling and genuine capability without the stratospheric price tag.
Desert-Proven Performance
Johnson Valley has a reputation for exposing weaknesses in off-road vehicles. It's unforgiving terrain where suspension travel, damping, and power delivery all need to work in harmony. That's exactly where the Bronco RTR was developed and tested. Healy put prototype versions through their paces in that harsh environment, and the lessons learned shaped the final product.
Image credit: Ford
The result is a four-door Bronco that comes standard with 33-inch tires, a wider track than the standard Bronco, and a lifted suspension that provides additional ground clearance. Ford upgraded the steering gear to Raptor specifications, which means it's built to handle the additional stress of high-speed off-road driving. The company also borrowed the Raptor's 1,000-watt cooling fan to help manage engine temperatures when you're keeping your foot in it through the dunes.
Under the hood sits Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder. The engine choice wasn't arbitrary. In desert running, weight matters, and the lighter four-cylinder makes the front end more responsive. As Healy explains, it makes the Bronco "more flickable" in the sand, dancing over the surface rather than digging in. The engine produces 275 horsepower and includes a race-derived anti-lag system that keeps the turbo spooled even when you're off the throttle. That might sound like a minor detail, but when you're powering out of a soft sand wash, instant thrust can be the difference between maintaining momentum and getting stuck.
Image credit: Ford
The turbo four also opens up upgrade potential down the line. It's a platform that tuners understand well, and for enthusiasts who eventually want more power, the architecture is there to support it.
The Sasquatch Package Gets Serious
The optional Sasquatch package has been available on various Bronco models, but for the RTR, Ford has loaded it with hardware that was previously exclusive to higher trim levels. When you check the Sasquatch box on an RTR, you get 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, an electronic locking front differential, and a different front bumper design.
Image credit: Ford
More significantly, the package includes Fox internal-bypass dampers as part of Ford's HOSS 3.0 suspension system. This is the same damping setup that was previously available only on the Badlands trim with specific option packages. Ford decided to streamline access to this technology for RTR buyers, eliminating the need to wade through option sheets to get the best dampers in the Bronco lineup.
The Fox dampers make a real difference when you're hitting whoops at speed or landing jumps. Internal-bypass technology allows the dampers to respond differently depending on where they are in their travel, providing plush compliance over small bumps while still having the control needed to prevent bottoming out on big hits.
Image credit: Ford
Healy notes the visual impact of the Sasquatch-equipped RTR: "It's a very stout-looking vehicle — bigger tires and more suspension and bigger shocks. You can automatically see the attitude of the vehicle is very capable. You know it's going to be an absolute blast to drive before you even get behind the wheel."
Standing Out from the Crowd
The Bronco RTR doesn't try to blend in. Ford and RTR designed a unique grille that incorporates new lighting elements intersecting with the Bronco's existing daytime running light signature. The squared-off fenders come from the Heritage Edition, giving the RTR a more aggressive stance. It rolls on 17-inch beadlock-capable Evo 6 wheels from RTR.
Image credit: Ford
Then there are the Hyper Lime accents. They show up on body decals, the grille badge, fender-mounted trail sights, and wheel rings. It's a color choice that will polarize opinion—you'll either love the in-your-face attitude or hate it. Ford acknowledges this, offering the RTR without the lime highlights or graphics for those who prefer a more subdued look.
The vehicle pictured in promotional materials wears a new paint color called Avalanche Gray, which provides a neutral backdrop for the lime accents. But beyond the styling choices, there's substance behind the flash.
"It's bright and loud. It stands out," Healy said, "but there's a pedigree to this vehicle. It's from Johnson Valley — we developed it there, taking what Ford and RTR have learned taking King of the Hammers championships and putting it to work."
Racing Heritage Meets Street Reality
The King of the Hammers is widely considered one of the most brutal off-road races in the world, combining rock crawling with high-speed desert racing. RTR has championship wins in that competition, and both Ford and RTR wanted to translate that experience into a production vehicle. The Bronco RTR represents a direct line from competition-derived engineering to something you can order from a dealer.
Image credit: Ford
Healy emphasizes this connection: "It's the same approach Ford took developing the Bronco Raptor, but with that added RTR approach to performance and style. It's a well-built vehicle. We really did our homework to give people a vehicle they know will survive whatever they put it through. Because it survived everything we put it through in Johnson Valley."
This isn't just marketing speak. Development in harsh environments reveals problems that might not show up in more controlled testing. Johnson Valley's combination of rock, sand, and high-speed sections provided a proving ground that stressed every component. The fact that the production RTR uses hardware pulled directly from racing applications—like the anti-lag system and the cooling fan—shows a commitment to performance that goes beyond cosmetic upgrades.
Making Performance Accessible
Ford has been careful about positioning the RTR in the Bronco lineup. It sits between the standard models and the Raptor, occupying what Healy calls "a really unique place." The company expects the RTR to start under $52,000, which would make it less expensive than a 2026 Badlands with the Sasquatch package at $52,530.
Image credit: Ford
That pricing strategy is deliberate. As Healy explains, "We know that some performance enthusiasts can't necessarily afford a Bronco Raptor. That was our brief developing Bronco RTR: Find a sweet spot for high-speed off-road performance and make it a great value for thrill-seeking Bronco owners."
The RTR serves as what Ford internally describes as a "gateway drug" to more extreme off-road vehicles. Before dropping over $80,000 on a Raptor, the RTR offers a chance to experience serious off-road capability at a more approachable price point. For many enthusiasts, it might be enough truck on its own. For others, it could be a stepping stone to eventually moving up to a Raptor once the budget allows.
