AUTO: Experience an Unforgettable Ride in the Ford Bronco Raptor

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

She approached the apparatus slowly, visualizing her goal. Her muscles were pumped. Rising on her toes, she took a deep breath to thrust herself forward for the perfect mount. Up, twist, and she makes the perfect landing in the driver’s seat of the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor 4-Door Advanced. Big, huge, large, massive, enormous, colossal, mammoth, momentous—the Ford Bronco Raptor is all those adjectives and more. But isn't that what it's supposed to be? Standing at 5'7", it took a gymnastic-style maneuver for me to slide on in behind the wheel, and the experience was worth it. The Raptor is fun and exciting to drive and ride. Allow me to take you on a tour.

One look at this SUV, and you know it is made for adventure. Already a very large vehicle, Ford engineers have gone and made it wider by almost 10 inches and taller by 5 inches. Overall, the Bronco keeps its general look. Across the front is a gray and black grille with classic Ford badging and Rigid® fog lamps embedded inside. Along the front are a set of tow hooks, integrated parking sensors, thunder flares, and a front camera. A vehicle this size doesn’t need to let other vehicles know it’s coming, but in difficult weather conditions, it still helps. Amber LED lighting can be found in the front, on the side mirrors, and in the back, so all will know the Raptor has taken over the road. Moving from the front to the sides of the Raptor, my eyes were drawn to the awesome gill-like fender vents that help with the vehicle's performance and enhance the look of the vehicle.

Sitting on standard 37-inch tires, the sports utility vehicle has a sturdy structure. Along the outer parts of the vehicle, there are a few elements that are helpful when using the Raptor in normal routines, like side steps and rock rails. However, when you want to get a little wild off-roading, they are removeable for a better drive. A huge spare tire hugs the back door, which can open in two parts. The upper glass swings up, and the lower door swings outward. I think both ways are very helpful when loading anything into the vehicle.

Enough of the outside, let’s explore the inside. Opening the door of the Raptor, I instantly felt like Alice in Wonderland after eating the cake or the potion—you know when she shrinks. Everything on the inside matches the outside by being big. However, I love all the bigness of it. The driver has a clear 12-inch instrument cluster to show a wealth of information, from the basics like audio controls, the phone, and fuel economy to the more complex aspects of four-wheel drive, off-road settings, and oil life. All the controls are on the steering wheel, along with several other things. Think of the steering wheel like your computer's keyboard. There is some visible technology in the Raptor, and much that is not visible but is working. Another huge but helpful screen is the 12-inch display for the center con- sole, which controls audio, Bluetooth, apps, navigation, and more. The screens have extremely clear and crisp views, which is helpful when driving using the camera views. I found them to be so useful since I was a little apprehensive about driving the Raptor in certain conditions since it was so huge.

However, the angles from the camera, especially the 360-degree view, gave me the confidence I needed. Comfort level is a plus in the Raptor. The seats were plush and roomy. They are heated, along with the steering wheel. There is space, so tall folks have no worries there. Open spaces to store items are plentiful. What I really loved was the color combination of the metallic blue on the exterior and the bright orange accents on the interior. Just looking at it made me excited and ready to go.

Speaking of going behind the wheel of the Raptor, it felt like a different experience every time. Engineers made a few upgrades to make the journey even better with enhanced Fox shocks and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The boosted power output from the massive hood is 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. The fuel economy is 15 mpg city and 16 mpg highway. The

Raptor is unquestionably the G.O.A.T. of the road. G.O.A.T., which stands for go over all terrain, works with the 10-speed automatic transmission and an improved four-wheel drive system. I did not get to test out the Raptor on a wide variety of terrain, but I can tell you that on the Houston streets and surrounding suburbs, it handled great.

I didn’t feel any of the road imperfections since the tires were so large. However, I can imagine that if I were on rough terrain, it would have been like the best roller coaster ride, which is an experience you would expect. I was able to get a good grip on the steering wheel to take command of the road. The Raptor was very responsive to my driving style.

My experience in the Ford Bronco Raptor was one that I didn’t want to end. Even though my experience did have to end, your experience with the SUV doesn’t have to conclude like mine. The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor's base price is $68,500. My test vehicle had extras that brought the price to $81,085.00. Check it out at your local Ford dealership. Find out more at Ford. com

Building upon a historic, decade-long collaboration with the renowned al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, which has brought hundreds of objects of Islamic art on extended loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Museum will mark the 10thanniversary of that initiative by opening new, permanent galleries for Art of the Islamic Worlds on March 5, 2023. Collector Hossein Afshar has endowed these fresh galleries. They will present the full extent of MFAH holdings in Islamic art for the first time in the context of an extensive selection of Iranian masterworks on long-term loans from the Afshar Collection. Carefully assembled over the past 50 years, the distinguished Afshar Collection conveys the rich artistic traditions of Iranian civilization from the 7th to 19th century in several hundred exquisite paintings, significant ceramics, precious inlaid metal ware, and finely woven silk fabrics and carpets. The MFAH has devoted permanent gallery space to Islamic art for over a decade. The new Afshar galleries nearly double the previous display space for Islamic art

Hundreds of objects—exquisite paintings, manuscripts, ceramics, carpets, and metalwork spanning more than 1,000 years—will reflect the breadth of historic Islamic lands, including

Mfah Will Open New Galleries For Art Of The Islamic Worlds On March 5

Endowed by Collector Hossein Afshar, Galleries will Feature Iranian Art in Extended. A loan from the Afshar Collection and Selections from the Museum’s Holdings to Reflect the Breadth and Depth of Historic Islamic Lands

Kathleen Coleman, Arts Editor

long-term loan so that we may enhance our effort to reflect the city whose many communities we serve.” the new galleries are a culmination of the strong partnership between the Museum, our dynamic Houston communities, and an extraordinary historical collection,” said AiméeFroom, curator Art of the Islamic Worlds at the MFAH. “Encompassing diverse cultures, ethnicities, languages, and regional traditions, this new presentation, with the Museum’s growing collection paired for the first time with the Hossein Afshar Collection, will convey the extraordinarily vibrant contributions and legacies of present-day Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

The opening of the galleries culminates in a significant, longtime initiative at the MFAH to develop special exhibitions, new scholarships, signature acquisitions, and dynamic public programs for Islamic art. The extended loans from the Afshar Collection are the second such partnership initiated by the Museum; the first was the 2012 landmark agreement with Theal-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, which has placed several hundred objects from that exceptional art collection from Islamic lands on extended loan to the MFAH. Gary Tinterow, Director, the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair of the MFAH, said, “These new, permanent galleries enable us to significantly expand a cultural home in Houston for art from historic Islamic lands. We remain enormously grateful to Sheikha Hussa Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah and the late Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who placed their distinguished holdings with the Museum on long-term loan in 2012. And we are immensely grateful to Hossein Afshar, creator of perhaps the most extensive collection of Iranian art in private hands, for placing his collection on

Islamic civilizations.”

The New Hossein Afshar Galleries for Art of the Islamic Worlds With 6,000 square feet of space, which includes the eventual use of an adjoining garden, the new presentation will highlight a trove of principles. In many cases, rare objects have never been displayed in such depth. As a result, the Museum will be able to show, for the first time, the full strengths of its collections and the extraordinary range of Iranian art from the Hossein Afshar Collection. Read more at MFAH.org

HMelanie Miles Campaign Kickoff

HMelanie Miles officially kicked off her campaign for City Council At-Large #1. Hosted by her friends, the event at The Spot Eado was a success and well attended. Some in attendance were Lance Brazil (her husband), Pastor Marcus D. Cosby (her pastor), Dr. Janice Beal, Mary Barnett, Nicole West, Carl Davis, Caleen Allen, Argentina M. James, Billy Ray Grant Jr., and Gerald Womack, Carlotta Outley Brown. Miles has early endorsements from 3 City Counilmembers, Black Women of Greater Houston PAC, Harris County Afro-American Sheriff's Deputies League, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), and law enforcement unions.

H Janice Weaver and OBN Honored

HA star-studded event was held for One Body Networking Founder & President, Janice Weaver, who was honored for her commitment of saving lives for ten years. Her foundation, One Body Networking, raises awareness to the community of how donating blood saves lives. The non-profit won the 2022 Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Small Heroes Award. They were also highlighted in the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s 2023 calendar. Janice is a dedicated community leader, Christian and humanitarian who is committed to helping others; she diligently serves as the Director of Community Relations for the City of Houston as part of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Executive Staff. She is truly an active public servant throughout the greater Houston area and volunteers with numerous organizations throughout the community. On Saturday January 28th, Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed “Janice Weaver Day” in the City of Houston.