Limited edition vehicles give automakers the perfect excuse to honor a legendary model, celebrate an anniversary, or recognize an important historical figure. The last approach is particularly popular with companies naming their cars after former racing champs (McLaren Senna, GMA T.50s Niki Lauda), a pioneering patriarch (Ferrari Enzo), family members (Lotus Elise, Ferrari Dino), and, in the case of a one-of-one Ford Bronco auctioned off for charity in 2022, even the head of the Catholic Church (Pope Francis Center First Edition). However, the pseudo-Popemobile isn’t the only eponymous Bronco to hit the streets since the badge was revived four years ago.
The 2025 model year sees the Bronco Stroppe Edition arrive at your local Ford dealer as a new range-topping trim that replaces the outgoing Wildtrak as the most off-road-capable version of the Bronco that isn’t named “Raptor.” Named after desert racing legend and two-time Baja 1000-winning designer Bill Stroppe, the Stroppe Edition represents an exciting addition if you’re interested in a Ford Bronco for sale. The SUV cuts a unique figure with its red, white, and blue color scheme, but it’s the high-end off-road gear lurking just under the paint job that really sets the Stroppe Edition apart. Let’s take a closer look at the new Ford Bronco Stroppe Edition, see if it can live up to the high bar set by the Bronco’s dearly departed Wildtrak, and explore Bill Stroppe’s impact on the world of desert racing.
Wildtrak
The Bronco Raptor is an undeniable apex predator, boasting heavy-duty off-road equipment that wouldn’t be out of place on the sort of SUVs that routinely rip through the desert as part of the same legendary races where Stroppe made his name. That’s no idle comparison: the Bronco Raptor has had a strong showing on the racing scene, with the midsize model notching a class win at the 56th SCORE Baja 1000 in 2023. Drivers can enjoy this same sort of trophy-winning performance as they go about their daily commute or explore nearby off-road trials, although that type of desert racing pedigree does come at a cost. The Bronco Raptor retails for upwards of $90,000, which can be a little pricey for the average off-road enthusiast, but that’s where the Bronco Wildtrak comes in.
The Wildtrak has been a mainstay of the Bronco lineup since the classic SUV was first reintroduced in 2021. Designed with high-speed off-road action in mind, the Wildtrak offers Raptor-like performance at a steep discount, with the trim routinely ringing in around $30,000 less than its prehistoric partner. The Wildtrak boasts a generous array of off-road equipment, including an advanced 4×4 system with automatic on-demand engagement, locking differentials, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels paired with 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and Ford’s High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS 3.0) with FOX internal bypass dampers. The Raptor might be wider, more powerful, and equipped with an even more robust suspension, but unless you’re the kind of driver who’s familiar with the inside of a roll cage, the Bronco Wildtrak is sure to fulfill about 98 percent of your off-roading needs.
Available in both two-door and four-door configurations, the Wildtrak owes most of its off-road cred to the included Sasquatch Package. This comprehensive arsenal of off-road features elevates Sasquatch-equipped Broncos above the rest of the pack thanks to larger wheels and tires, high-clearance suspension and fender flares, and an upgraded drivetrain. The Wildtrak also includes all the armor you need to blaze through technical terrain with confidence, from a Ford Performance heavy-duty modular steel bumper and steel bash plates that are powder-coated for better rust resistance to a severe-duty steering rack and tie rod ends. If you want to run a winch or air compressor to take advantage of the beadlock-capable wheels by airing down the tires, the Wildtrak’s auxiliary switches are sure to come in handy.
The Wildtrak might trade on its off-road ability, but the SUV is also flush with comfort and convenience features thanks to the standard Mid Package that includes everything from a 110-volt AC power outlet and auto-dimming rearview mirror to dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, remote start, ambient interior lighting and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance technologies. Those seeking an even more opulent off-road experience can upgrade to the Lux Package, which replaces the seven-speaker stereo system with a premium 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen setup and adds adaptive cruise control, a wireless charging pad, a heated steering wheel, and plenty of other tech-forward features. Other enticing Wildtrak options range from a Trailer Tow Prep Package that allows drivers to take full advantage of the Bronco’s 3,500 lb towing capacity and an exclusive Wildtrak bodyside graphic that immediately distinguishes the trim from the average Bronco.
Stroppe Edition
Stroppe might not be a household name, but it’s sure to ring a bell for any driver familiar with the world of high-speed off-road racing. The legend of Bill Stroppe looms large in the off-road world. Known as “Ford’s off-road guy,” Stroppe supervised a Ford test lab in Southern California, where he was instrumental in prototyping the brand’s trucks and putting them through their paces in some of the most punishing conditions one can imagine. In 1965, Stroppe gave the fledgling Bronco its off-road debut, tuning a stable of Ford’s new SUV to compete in off-road gauntlets such as the Baja 1000 and Mint 400.
Stroppe would notch his most notable wins in 1971 and 1972 as he rode shotgun with Parnelli Jones to nab the trophy at the Baja NORRA Mexican 1000. This impressive performance would inspire Ford to formalize the relationship with the release of the Baja Bronco package in the early 1970s. The auto savant upgraded 650 Broncos with the Baja package, which included quick-ratio power steering, an automatic transmission, a roll bar, a padded steering wheel, reinforced bumpers, cut and rolled fenders with fiberglass flares, larger tires, and a “Cactus Smasher” push bar that was perfect for dealing with desert flora. The Baja Bronco also boasted a distinctive red, white, and blue color scheme that, along with a generous coating of dust, singled the SUV out as a true off-road desert racing machine.
Is the Stroppe Edition a direct replacement for the Bronco’s discontinued Wildtrak trim? Yes and no. The new, off-road-ready Bronco promises “uncompromising power with a vintage style,” and while it does feature the same high-performance suspension and an identical 2.7L EcoBoost V6 that’s capable of producing 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, the Stroppe Edition does differ in a few important ways. The first and most obvious would have to be the styling. Unlike the Wildtrak, the Stroppe Edition is only available as a two-door model and is limited to a single, bold color option with an Oxford White, Atlas Blue, and Code Orange paint job that’s sure to turn some heads.
Styled after the original Baja Bronco’s Wimbledon White, Astra Blue, and Calypso Coral color palette, the new livery makes the Stroppe Edition look like a 4WD version of a Rocket Pop. Luckily, Ford hasn’t let nostalgia outshine practicality, breaking up the patriotic theme to outfit the Stroppe Edition with a matte black hood designed to reduce glare. The off-road SUV also gains the Stroppe Edition Graphic Package and the same Ford Performance heavy-duty modular bumper and bash plates as the Wildtrak but adds a set of running boards inspired by the Bronco Raptor to improve access while lending the SUV an even more sporty, stylish look.
The Stroppe Edition features the same Sasquatch Package as the Wildtrak, right down to its HOSS 3.0 system. This makes the Stroppe Edition the only Bronco trim to receive HOSS 3.0 for the 2025 model year, though a few of the lower trims are graced with the HOSS 2.0 version. The hardy off-road suspension allows the Stroppe Edition to really distinguish itself from the rest of the lineup, giving drivers all the gear they need to aggressively approach off-road obstacles and improve comfort on those long days on the trail. The HOSS 3.0 design offers five-zone damping thanks to FOX Racing’s rate-sensitive 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks, which can seamlessly shift between on-road and off-road applications to give drivers a smooth ride that still offers plenty of articulation when needed. The nitrogen-charged shocks feature piggyback reservoirs in the front and rear, allowing the Stroppe Edition to approach the Bronco Raptor in terms of off-road ability.
If there’s one area where the Stroppe Edition really outpaces the Wildtrak, it would have to be in the luxury department. While the Wildtrak could be optioned with the Lux Package, the Stroppe Edition’s own Lux Package comes free of charge. This upgrade, along with the trim’s unique styling and limited-edition appeal, account for most of the upcharge, but it’s well worth the price if you’re looking for an off-road SUV that still knows how to behave itself when it returns to civilization. The Lux Package lends the Stroppe Edition a full suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control, front parking assist, and evasive steering assist, as well as a 360-degree camera that’s just as helpful when dodging off-road debris as it is when trying to parallel park downtown. The Lux Package also includes a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, LED approach lamps, a universal garage door opener, and Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system with a clever Information on Demand Panel that can provide a customized display of relevant info at a quick glance.
An Alluring Off-Road Addition
The Stroppe Edition represents an alluring addition to the 2025 Bronco lineup, but its higher price does raise an important question. If you’re already going to drop $75,000 on the rugged off-road SUV, why not double down and go for the full-fledged Bronco Raptor? The Raptor is bigger and badder than the new Stroppe Edition, featuring a 418 hp twin-turbo V6, 37-inch all-terrain tires, and Ford’s latest and greatest off-road suspension in the form of the HOSS 4.0 system. It’s no small chunk of change with an MSRP that’s slightly over $90,000, but the prospect could be worth some consideration for those who will settle for nothing but the best.
That’s not to say the Stroppe Edition doesn’t have its own appeal. The new trim marks a notable upgrade over the outgoing Wildtrak and could be worth the investment when you factor in the potential resale value. Special-edition vehicles tend to become collector’s items, and the Stroppe Edition’s distinctive design and famous name give the new Bronco plenty of appeal for those well-versed in the history of the off-road racing scene. It’s hard to go wrong when picking any Bronco, but even if you’re not the type of driver who likes to spend their weekends skirting through the sand and testing the limits of automotive sanity, the 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Edition is worth a closer look.
