Wow! Ford Bronco Sport Raptor Spotted Testing For First Time (Updated)

The Ford Bronco Sport was just treated to its very first refresh for the 2025 model year after debuting in 2021, which brought about a host of changes including revised exterior styling, a larger infotainment screen, and the new, more off-road-capable Sasquatch Package, to boot. The refreshed and rugged crossover has only been on sale for a few months now, but now, it seems as if something far bigger could be set to join the lineup at some point in the near future in addition to minor tweaks for 2026 – a Ford Bronco Sport Raptor.

Ford Authority just spotted what appears to be a Ford Bronco Sport Raptor, a notion supported by a variety of unique features – most notably, actual Raptor badges on the front doors – which look like they’ve been lifted straight from the Bronco Raptor – as well as the rear tailgate, though that piece looks more like the one present on the Ranger Raptor. Otherwise, this prototype sports large fender flares and a taller ride height, which is necessary in this case.

That’s because this Ford Bronco Sport Raptor prototype is rolling on a set of BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires wrapped around black wheels, a bit of a departure from the rest of the Raptor lineup, which utilizes All-Terrain KO2s from the same manufacturer. It’s a more focused tire with aggressive tread designed for activities like rock crawling and traversing deep mud, perhaps hinting that the Bronco Sport Raptor may be designed more for those purposes than high-speed Baja desert-style runs. It’s unclear just how big those tires are, however, as the sizing isn’t present on the tires themselves.

Out back, this Ford Bronco Sport Raptor prototype is also equipped with a new exhaust system – utilizing a different routing with two mufflers and larger exhaust tips compared to the single-muffler setup present on the Sasquatch model. This signals a potential power upgrade over other Bronco Sports, though it’s unclear what that might consist of, or if Ford simply opted to give the beefier crossover a more free-flowing exhaust system.

Though it isn’t covered in camo, it’s unclear if this Ford Bronco Sport Raptor is presented here in its final form, or if it will receive additional tweaks such as the Raptor family’s signature “FORD” script front grille. It is wearing many of the same upgrades present in the Sasquatch Package, however, such as its front brush bar.

There is one particularly interesting feature on the rear glass, however – a Mothman sticker, which depicts a mythical creature reportedly spotted back in the 1960s that later became part of pop culture. It seems as if Ford placed that sticker there on purpose, knowing that spy photographers would be all over this prototype, so perhaps it’s a nod to something else as well.

Updated 7/25: After publication of this story, Ford reached out to explain that this vehicle is “not real.” See our subsequent article here.