At the Detroit Auto Show, the second-generation 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor made its debut along with two other Ford Performance branded vehicles, the Ford GT supercar and the new Shelby GT350R Mustang.

All three vehicles shared the same Magnetic blue color scheme and Ford Performance livery. The term “SVT” was nowhere heard nor seen in press materials. This is the new order of things, and if it’s gonna be this good, nobody is likely gonna miss those three little letters.

Key points about the new F-150 Raptor are these. It’s 500 lb lighter. Its second-generation 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 beats the 411 horsepower of the outgoing 6.2 liter V8 though Ford doesn’t specify the new horsepower rating yet.

The new Raptor has more suspension travel with larger Fox Shox which get an increase in diameter from 2.5” to 3”. A new purpose-built frame for the Raptor is stiffer and more robust with lots of that fancy high-strength steel.

Like the old Raptor, the new one is wider than the standard F-150 now by 6”. Aluminum and high strength plastic bodywork gives us much of the same look of the last-generation Raptor seemingly grafted to the all-new body.

It gets dual exhaust to go with its second-generation 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 which is now paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission which should go a long way to increasing both acceleration and fuel-economy.

An all-new four-wheel-drive system is of the torque-on-demand variety. This means the transfer case has a clutch system in it which keeps you in two-wheel drive most of the time until you need more.

You can of course dial in your own orders and lock it up or use the new terrain management system which has multiple modes, settings and driver assistance programs.

Drive modes include Normal for everyday driving, Street for high-performance on pavement, Weather for slippery stuff, Mud and sand mode, Baja for high-speed desert running, and a Rock mode for the obvious.

You can option a Torsen front differential but no word yet on whether they will again offer the bead-lock wheels. Our press information at this time also doesn’t specify whether it will again be offered in both cab sizes, but that is most likely.

The interior gets some some slick two-tone sport seats and trims as expected as well as paddle shifters for that 10-speed transmission. And like before there is a built-in bank of auxiliary switches to control all your off-road toys.

As of the Raptor’s reveal gasoline is at an all-time low in price, at least since the Raptor first came on the market. Provided the heavens don’t fall once more before the Raptor comes to market in late 2016, it should continue to be popular as ever.