Ford targets Land Rover Defender with Raptor-powered Bronco Filson

Ford appears to be testing the waters ahead of a reported launch for a Lincoln-badged Bronco, revealing a stop-gap in the Bronco Filson this week.

Partnering up with outdoor clothing and luggage brand Filson in the same way it linked up with Eddie Bauer in the 1990s, the Bronco Filson is a more upmarket, premium offering than the standard SUV, but under the bonnet beats the heart of the Raptor.

Headlining the cosmetic changes, the more luxury-focused Bronco gets body-coloured wheel-arch flares and a roof to match, as well as some new hues not otherwise available on the SUV.

Arguably the biggest improvements have been made in the cabin, which features a standard Bang & Olufsen sound system, acoustic glass and revised door/roof seals, saddle bags in the doors and sports bars, and even quilted leather seats.

Ford says the Filson-inspired bags are made from water- and dirt-resistant materials, allowing them to continue to look good even after use.

Other creature comforts include powered running boards and a digital rear-view camera, both of which are designed to make the Bronco Filson an easier vehicle to live with day to day.

Mechanically it is mostly based on the Bronco Sasquatch, which means the 4x4 gets 35-inch tyres, front and rear locking differentials, and Fox dampers with greater on-road comfort, coming in a package that still has a tough stance but is not as wide as the Bronco Raptor.

However, Ford has fitted the Raptor’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine to the Filson, and says that the new variant gets a specific tune, likely to be less aggressive but still share the same peak outputs.

It continues to get a full-time 4x4 system as well as a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Bronco Filson joins a growing lineup of Broncos, after Ford last year revealed plans to make a Bronco RTR, offering Raptor capability but at a more affordable price thanks to a four-cylinder engine.