Quick Facts:
- Product: Frostwarden Bronco, a one-off Ford build for SEMA 2026.
- Engine: Megazilla 2.0, a supercharged 7.3-liter V8 crate engine.
- Output: Over 1,200 horsepower and over 1,000 lb-ft of torque on race fuel, per Ford.
- Tires and wheels: 42-inch BFGoodrich tires on custom 18-inch Weld bead-lock wheels.
- Lift and driveline: 74Weld portal gear lifts, upgraded Dana hardware and custom Bilstein dampers.
- Revealed: Nov. 3, 2026, at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
- For sale: No. Ford calls the truck a specialty modified concept.
- Price: Ford has not announced a Megazilla 2.0 price.
- Use: Ford called Megazilla 2.0 competition-use only in January 2025.
- Best for: Readers sizing up a high-power engine swap.
 7 min read
In This Article
- Overview
- Frostwarden Bronco Key Facts at a Glance
- What Sets Megazilla 2.0 Apart From the Original
- Frostwarden Bronco Hardware: Tires, Portals, Driveline and Dampers
- Build Timeline: How the Frostwarden Bronco Came Together
- Megazilla 2.0 Unknowns: Price, Availability and Legality
- What This Means for You
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
The Frostwarden Bronco shows what Ford built around a 1,200-horsepower crate engine. Its parts list also leaves out the items a swap budget depends on most. Ford revealed the one-off build on Nov. 3 at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It is the first vehicle to show Megazilla 2.0, a supercharged 7.3-liter V8 from Ford Racing Parts.
Ford says the engine delivers over 1,200 horsepower and over 1,000 lb-ft of torque when properly equipped. The company rates those figures on race fuel under the SAE J607 standard. For comparison, Car and Driver lists the Bronco Raptor at 418 horsepower. As a result, the Frostwarden’s rating is nearly triple the Raptor’s output.
However, Ford announced the engine in January 2025 as a competition-use-only crate engine. At the time, it targeted more than 1,000 horsepower, so the new part of the story is the 1,200-horsepower rating.
You will not find this truck on a dealer lot. Ford calls it a specialty modified concept and will not sell it. The engine is a different matter, because it is a Ford Racing Parts product. Ford’s 2025 announcement promised orders in the fourth quarter of 2025 through Ford dealers or Ford Performance Parts. However, Ford did not list a price in the 2026 release.
The build also carries recovery gear. Car and Driver describes a bright yellow front tow winch, and Autoblog reports traction board holders from RTR. Weight matters in soft sand and snow, and Ford has not published this truck’s weight. Check a board maker’s vehicle-weight guidance before you size boards such as the MAXTRAX MKII to a heavy rig.
Frostwarden Bronco Key Facts at a Glance
Ford’s press article, Car and Driver, Autoblog and FordMuscle supply the details in this table.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | One-off Ford Bronco halo build inspired by Arctic search-and-rescue rigs |
| Engine | Megazilla 2.0, a supercharged 7.3-liter V8 crate engine |
| Supercharger | 3.0-liter Gen 6 Whipple |
| Output | Over 1,200 HP and over 1,000 lb-ft, rated on race fuel under SAE J607 |
| Tires | 42-inch BFGoodrich |
| Wheels | Custom 18-inch Weld bead-locks |
| Lift | 74Weld portal gear lifts |
| Driveline and dampers | Upgraded Dana hardware and custom Bilstein dampers |
| Build partners | Ford Racing Parts, Ford Customization and Kincer Chassis in Tennessee |
| Recovery gear | Front winch (Car and Driver); RTR traction board holders (Autoblog) |
| Status | Not for sale; Ford has not announced a Megazilla 2.0 price |
What Sets Megazilla 2.0 Apart From the Original
Ford says Megazilla 2.0 is a new development program, separate from the original Megazilla. Specifically, the company lists a stronger block, a supercharger-specific camshaft, upgraded pistons, larger fuel injectors and a 3.0-liter Gen 6 Whipple supercharger.
For your own crate engine swap, this means you buy a finished engine with those parts already inside. Ford’s 2025 announcement describes a control pack meant to simplify installation. However, neither release says what the chassis, cooling, fuel system and transmission must match to carry 1,200 horsepower.
Frostwarden Bronco Hardware: Tires, Portals, Driveline and Dampers
Ford fitted the Frostwarden with 42-inch BFGoodrich tires on custom 18-inch Weld bead-lock wheels. TFLcar says the 74Weld portal gear lifts accommodate this tire package. FordMuscle explains how portal gearing raises the vehicle at the wheel ends. Ford credits the tires and portal lifts with the presence of a serious winter recovery machine. Therefore, treat them as theme and stance choices.
Ford lists upgraded Dana driveline hardware and custom Bilstein dampers, which look like the parts most closely tied to the power. However, its release does not name the transmission, axle models, gear ratios, brakes, cooling setup or curb weight. A swap budget depends on every one of them. Autoblog also lists a front winch, and Car and Driver notes a roof-mounted spare tire.
A 42-inch tire is 20 percent taller than a 35-inch tire. Even the 35-inch step brings cost, warranty and regearing questions. Our comparison of factory 35s vs. aftermarket 35s walks through those trade-offs.
Build Timeline: How the Frostwarden Bronco Came Together
Ford says the team began work in February and started the physical build in June. Then, in October, the finished engine came off the dyno and traveled overnight to Kincer’s shop in Tennessee. Teams then prepared for first fire, calibration and continued development.
However, the release does not say whether the engine had run in the truck before the reveal. For now, read 1,200 horsepower as an engine rating. Plan your own swap with tuning time in the schedule.
Megazilla 2.0 Unknowns: Price, Availability and Legality
Price tops the list. Ford did not share one for Megazilla 2.0 in either release. For reference, Car and Driver estimated about $33,000 at the 2025 announcement. TFLcar lists the existing Megazilla 1.0 at about $25,295 and says the 2.0 will likely cost well north of the older figure.
Availability is murkier. The Frostwarden release does not say whether the 1,200-horsepower version matches the engine Ford promised for orders in 2025.
Legality is open too. Ford warns the Frostwarden includes third-party parts and modifications, which might affect compliance with federal safety standards and other federal, state or local laws. Ford’s 2025 announcement called Megazilla 2.0 competition-use only, and the 2026 release does not say whether this changes. Therefore, treat the engine as competition hardware until Ford says otherwise. Californians weighing any engine change should also read our SB 1069 explainer on CARB-legal aftermarket parts.
What This Means for You
If you own a Bronco, the Frostwarden Bronco is a planning tool. Ford has not priced Megazilla 2.0, and it called the engine competition-use only in 2025.
Sort a crate engine swap into three groups. First, list the parts tied to the power: Dana driveline hardware and Bilstein dampers. Next, list the parts Ford credits to the rescue-rig look: 42-inch tires and portal lifts. Finally, list the parts Ford leaves unnamed: transmission, axles, gearing, brakes and cooling. Get quotes for the third group before you price an engine.
For factory-backed upgrades, read about the Bronco ORV package from Ford Custom Garage for 2025 and 2026 four-door Broncos. A package built around the factory engine puts less load on your driveline than 1,200 horsepower does.
Ford says SEMA lets it see what enthusiasts build and where demand is moving. Before you plan around this engine, ask Ford or a dealer three questions. First, is the 1,200-horsepower engine the same part Ford announced in 2025? Next, does it stay competition-use only? Finally, what transmission and cooling does it need? Our SEMA press conference guide lists the events 4×4 owners should watch.
Size recovery gear to your own rig. Makers rate recovery gear by breaking strength, not by a safe working load. For example, the Bubba Rope 7/8-inch by 30-foot kinetic kit lists a 28,600-pound breaking strength. The FIERYRED soft shackle set lists 44,000 pounds of breaking strength. Read each maker’s weight and usage guidance, and leave room to spare.
Recovery gear for a heavy off-road build
Bubba Rope BUBBA ROPE 30-FOOT Model 176680RDG Off-Road Power Stretc…
Final Thoughts
The Frostwarden Bronco is a showpiece first and a build guide second. Ford wants you to look at 1,200 horsepower and start planning your own project.
Enjoy the spectacle, but read the hardware list closely. Therefore, your budget should separate what the power requires from what the theme adds.
Wait for Ford to price Megazilla 2.0 and confirm its use restrictions before you commit. Until then, a stock Bronco Raptor at 418 horsepower or a factory-backed package gives you a proven starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Frostwarden Bronco?
The Frostwarden Bronco is a one-off Ford build revealed at the SEMA Show on Nov. 3, 2026. Ford designed it as the launch vehicle for the Megazilla 2.0 crate engine, with an Arctic search-and-rescue theme.
Is the Frostwarden Bronco for sale?
No. Ford calls it a specialty modified concept vehicle and says it will not offer the truck for sale. The Megazilla 2.0 engine is a separate Ford Racing Parts product.
How much horsepower does Megazilla 2.0 make?
Ford says the supercharged 7.3-liter V8 delivers over 1,200 horsepower and over 1,000 lb-ft of torque when properly equipped. Those figures use race fuel under the SAE J607 standard.
How much does the Megazilla 2.0 crate engine cost?
Ford has not announced a price. Car and Driver estimated about $33,000 in 2025, and TFLcar lists the existing Megazilla 1.0 at about $25,295.
What tires and lift does the Frostwarden Bronco use?
It runs 42-inch BFGoodrich tires on custom 18-inch Weld bead-lock wheels. Lift comes from 74Weld portal gear lifts, with upgraded Dana driveline hardware and custom Bilstein dampers.
Is a Megazilla 2.0 swap legal on the street?
Ford called Megazilla 2.0 competition-use only in January 2025 and has not said whether the 1,200-horsepower version changes this. The company also warns the Frostwarden includes third-party parts, which might affect compliance with federal safety standards and other laws. Check your state rules before any engine change.