On the same day the 2015 Ford F-150->ke423 was announced as the 2015 North American Truck of the Year, Ford->ke31 showed that has no intentions of letting off the throttle. Well ahead of its debut in the fall of 2016, Ford has officially taken the wraps off the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor (note the lacking SVT affiliation) giving off-road enthusiasts something to fantasize about for the next year and a half.

Like the 2010 to 2014 Raptor, the 2017 Raptor will be easy to spot with its distinctive stance, which is a result of the wider track that stretches the body by six inches compared to a 2015 F-150. The Raptor’s signature “FORD” grille is front and center on this truck as are elements such as unique LED lights and exclusive 17-inch wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 rubber.

Replacing the powerful but thirsty 6.2-liter V-8, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor will be powered exclusively by a retuned version of the F-150’s 3.5-liter, EcoBoost V-6. In its current stock form, this engine is rated at 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, but Ford promises this engine has been retuned to deliver more power than the 6.2-liter V-8 used in the first-gen Raptor, which produced 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque. Ford is keeping the official output under wraps for now, but some of that added power could have come through the new dual exhaust system.

Keeping with the credos of the 2015 F-150, the next-gen Raptor will also be lighter and more efficient than the truck it replaces. Curb weight is down a whopping 500 pounds compared to the current Raptor, and while Ford has not specified fuel economy, it will likely get a decent boost thanks the use of Ford’s upcoming 10-speed automatic transmission.

Making its off-road performance truck even better, Ford has equipped the 2017 Raptor with larger Fox Racing Shox that increases suspension travel even more than the current truck’s amazing 12 inches of wheel travel. Want more? There’s an available Torsen front differential as well as Ford’s Terrain Management System, which includes your typical sand, mud, rock and snow modes but also gets a unique Raptor tune to include Street and Baja modes. On top of all of this, the next Raptor will get an advanced camera system that Ford says will improve visibility day or night.

We still have some time before the new Raptor is upon us, but it will definitely be even more fun to drive.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2017 Ford Raptor.

Why it matters

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has made a name for itself as the preeminent off-road performance truck, and this trend will continue with the introduction of the second-gen Raptor. Ford has improved just about every aspect of the 2017 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor from the chassis strength, suspension travel, engine performance and even off-road goodies. When it debuts in the fall of 2016, the 2017 F-150 Raptor will most likely be as close to a street-legal trophy truck as you can buy.

2017 Ford Raptor