What happens when a manufacturer tasks its racing division to let enthusiasts on the team to go all in? You get epic vehicles with a lot of unbelievable specs … and zero hope that they’ll be available to purchase at dealerships. That being said, manufacturers can use these vehicles to influence their future. At SEMA 2026, we are able to witness what happens when Ford lets its enthusiasts run wild — the result is a 1,200-plus-horsepower 2026 Bronco nicknamed “Frostwarden.”
“For us, that is the bigger purpose behind Frostwarden, Megazilla 2.0, and the work happening across Ford Customer Service Division, which includes Ford Customization and Ford Racing Parts,” says Michael Goodwin, a parts analyst at Ford Racing. “Ford does not just make vehicles that people customize. We are building the engines, parts, engineering knowledge and support that help enthusiasts take an idea further. Frostwarden is the loudest version of that promise at SEMA this year: Ford powers what builders imagine.”
Image courtesy of Ford
When the team at Ford Racing concocted this build, it began with an idea of a Ford Bronco Arctic search-and-rescue vehicle. The idea was to build it in such a way that the vehicle would be unstoppable in various environments so it can reach those who needed rescuing. This idea was perfect because it gave the team carte blanche to run wild on ways to upgrade the drivetrain, undercarriage, and exterior.
Image courtesy of Ford
The heart of the build is the supercharged 7.3-liter V-8 called Megazilla 2.0, advertised by Ford to deliver 1,200-plus horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. The new crate engine blows away its predecessor by almost twice the horsepower. Additionally, Megazilla 1.0 used the same 7.3-liter V-8 with just a bolted-on supercharger, while the 2.0 features reinforcements like a stronger block, supercharger-specific camshaft, upgraded pistons, larger fuel injectors, new belt drive and damper, and 3.0-liter Gen 6 Whipple supercharger.
Image courtesy of Ford
That powerful powertrain is combined with an off-road-dominant undercarriage that features custom Bilstein dampers, upgraded Dana driveline hardware, 74Weld portal gear lifts, and 18-inch Weld bead-lock wheels wrapped in 42-inch BFGoodrich radial tires.
Image courtesy of Ford
Image courtesy of Ford
The search-and-rescue motif is clear on the outside thanks to its yellow and black paint plus “Snow Rescue Recovery” plastered across all four doors. It is equipped with Rigid LED lighting, a bulged hood, off-road bumpers, and plenty of exterior-mounted storage that holds a multitude of recovery accessories.
Image courtesy of Ford
Unfortunately, the Frostwarden is not available for purchase. Its purpose was for Ford to showcase what Ford Racing is capable of when it lets its enthusiast employees have at it. However, if history is a guide, perhaps Ford will add the Megazilla 2.0 for purchase considering the Megazilla 1.0 is currently for sale for $25,295.00.
