Solar eclipse: Ford launches Bronco Raptor ‘Black Appearance Package’

The Ford Bronco Raptor is something we absolutely wish we got in the UK. Heck, we’d take the standard Bronco with its 2.3-litre four-pot or 2.7-litre V6 engine, but the Raptor is the big-ticket item with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, 37in BFGoodrich tyres and fancy Fox suspension.

Plus, if we did get the Raptor in the UK, we can absolutely guarantee that this new Black Appearance Package would sell like hot cakes. Come on Ford, you know you want to build this thing in right-hand drive.

The UK is now completely obsessed with black packs, and this one includes a Shadow Black painted roof with matching mirror caps. There’s a painted roll bar and wheelarches too, plus a matt black steel bumper, skid plate and towing eyes.

Apparently, the painted skid plate comes as a response to current US-based owners who have been customising the underbody protection themselves, and the Black Appearance Package was unveiled in front of a bunch of those Bronco owners who were out at the brilliantly named Bronco Off-Roadeo in Texas to watch the complete solar eclipse that darkened the skies over North America.

We’re told Ford ordered the eclipse specially for the reveal, but the almighty wasn’t available to confirm or deny.

The Black Appearance Package joins the Code Orange package as options for the Bronco Raptor (or Braptor for short), with Ford describing the former as “a sinister new look”. In the US this look will cost you an extra $4,995 and can be ordered from today onwards. Time to celebrate the eclipse in style?