Around this same time last year, Hennessey Performance Engineering unveiled its ultra-high-performance take on Ford’s revived Bronco model with the 750-hp HPE Bronco VelociRaptor V8. However, with a nearly quarter-million-dollar price tag and production limited to only 24 units, this Baja-grade Bronco was unsurprisingly out of most drivers’ reach. Well aware of this reality, the famed American tuning outfit has now unveiled a thoroughly capable but more affordable VelociRaptor 500 upgrade package for the Blue Oval’s new Bronco Raptor.
This Hennessey-tuned Bronco Raptor upgrade package includes a slew of performance parts as well as a collection of off-road bits. This includes an engine management software upgrade, high-flow filters paired with an up-specced exhaust system, and an upgraded heat exchange. These changes collectively allow for a 20% bump in power, with the Bronco VelociRaptor 500 now cranking out 550ft-lbs of torque and 500hp — with the latter figure presumably giving the VelociRaptor model its name. Under the hood, the upgraded Bronco Raptor also sports a serial-numbered engine bay plaque.
Bolstering the already-capable Bronco Raptor’s go-anywhere abilities are a slew of off-road upgrades including a set of 18” Hennessey alloy wheels shod in 37” off-road tires, a front and rear leveling kit, a VelociRaptor rear bumper upgrade, and a VelociRaptor front bumper with pod fog-lights. The exterior of the 4×4 also gets special Hennessey and VelociRaptor badging, and a Heritage Edition livery while the interior of the Bronco gets Hennessey-embroidered headrests. In addition to boasting chassis Dyno tuning, the price of the kit also includes professional installation, 500 miles of road testing, and a three-year (or 36,000-mile) comprehensive Hennessey warranty. In total, HPE will only be producing 200 units (for the 2023 model year).
The Hennessey Performance Engineering Bronco VelociRaptor 500 upgrade kit is available now, with pricing set at $32,950 — which obviously does not include the $68,500 Bronco Raptor donor.
