News about the Ford Bronco Raptor has been heading in the right chronology until now. We first heard hushed talks about sparked the news, then some leaks here and there with a few spec details, then an “error” by a Ford engineer on Linkedin, and finally some confirmation on what to expect from the Bronco Raptor. But, it looks like there’s a twist in the story.

Ford recently filed a trademark application for the ‘Warthog’ moniker, and netizens believe it is going to replace the Bronco ‘Raptor’ badge. The application doesn’t anything of that sort; so, are we reading too much between the lines?

”Warthog” Sounds Good, But Not “Raptor” Good

Ford filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) dated September 9. The name ‘Warthog’ is filed under “land motor vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles”. It’s tough to narrow it down to the Bronco, but to think of it, Warthog would be in line with the wild and adventurous theme names that Bronco has used for its trims.

However, a lot of names were trademarked by Ford before the Bronco was unveiled. Some of them include Adrenaline, Scout, Maverick, and so on. Maverick is expected to be the name of Ford's new compact pickup truck, but you get the gist. Since Bronco is now a sub-brand of Ford, the automaker might want to let “Raptor” be a Ford product moniker, or by extension, a name that will be used exclusively for off-road versions of its trucks. We have the F-150 Raptor, Ranger Raptor, and when the new compact pickup truck comes, Maverick Raptor, perhaps.

What Do We Know About The Bronco Raptor So Far

None of these are confirmed by Ford officially, so take it with a pinch of salt. Here’s what we know about it:

-* Revised bumpers at the front and back

-* New exclusive headlights and taillights

-* Wider wheel arches

-* Bigger wheels and tires

-* Higher ground clearance

-* Single exit, dual-tip exhaust on the driver’s side

-* Only the four-door model will be produced

-* 3.0-liter, V-6 engine under the hood

-* 400 horses and 415 pound-feet of torque

-* No manual gearbox on offer

-* Independent suspension setup

-* FOX racing shocks and long-travel range

-* Could debut as a 2023 model in 2022

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to speculate here, so we’ll wait for more light to be thrown on this. For all we know, Ford will just trademark and shelve it, which isn’t an uncommon practice in the auto industry. If you were given a choice to pick between the two names, which one would it be - Bronco Raptor or Bronco Warthog? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.