The early rumors are confirmed – the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor’s 3.5-liter high-output EcoBoost V-6 makes 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This comes as Ford makes the official announcement at the 2016 Texas State Fair. The new EcoBoost is the crown jewel of the all-new, second-generation Raptor, headlining other awesome mechanical, software, and design achievements.

What’s more, Ford announced the EPA estimated fuel economy for the Raptor. It stands at 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined. That’s a 23-percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the first-generation’s 6.2-liter V-8.

On top of the 39 additional horsepower and 76 pound-feet of additional torque, the 2017 Raptor is also 500 pounds lighter than the first-generation truck. That’s thanks to its aluminum body and lighter weight, yet high-strength, fully boxed steel frame. This huge increase of power to weight should make the 2017 Raptor one of the hottest performing trucks in history.

The boost in power comes from a new direct and port fuel injection system, lighter crank assembly components, a redesigned twin-turbocharger system with an electronic wastegate and an increased boost calibration, stainless steel manifolds, a full dual exhaust system, oil-cooled pistons, a reworked valvetrain system, and a more aggressive ECU tune.

Of course, Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission likely helps the Raptor get better EPA fuel economy ratings. It also gives the EcoBoost more gears to choose from, optimizing the gearing for more circumstances – from low gearing at slow speeds to tall gearing at high speeds. The transmission even features a one-way clutch that allows for non-sequential shifting, meaning you’re not shifting through all 10 speeds every time. Integrated into the engine and transmission electronic controls is Ford’s new Terrain Management System. Its drive modes include Normal, Sport, Weather, Mud/Snow, Rock/Crawl, and Baja settings.

The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor will hit showrooms this fall and carry a starting price just under $50,000.

Continue reading for more information.

Why It Matters

The Raptor is the industry’s leading high-speed off-road pickup and it has largely gone unchallenged. However, Ford isn’t letting the Raptor get stale as it enters its second generation. The significant power increase is nicely matched with a 500-pound reduction in weight, along with the new 10-speed automatic and accompanying software.

The 2017 Raptor is, to the best of my knowledge, the second most powerful production pickup ever produced. First place goes to the short-lived Dodge Ram 1500 SRT10, which made 500 horsepower from its Viper-derived V-10 engine.

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor here.