2017 Ford F-150 Raptor revealed

The ultimate poster ute for Ford fans has been revealed in Detroit.

It's the second-generation version of the Raptor, an off-road performance model that has gained a cult following since it was first introduced in 2010.

Only a handful of first-generation Raptors made it to Australia because the vehicle was only made in left-hand drive and interested customers had to have them converted.

The new Raptor has an even bolder and chunkier look than the first.

Sadly, the story is the same this time around, with no plans to build the new Raptor with the steering wheel on the correct side of the dashboard.

Interestingly, many Australian Ford Ranger ute owners have shown their love of the Raptor by fitting Raptor-style grilles with FORD printed in big letters.

The new Raptor has an even bolder and chunkier look than the first.

It is all-new and brings some interesting new technology to the sport truck class.

The most striking is the high-output turbocharged V6, which replaces the previous generation V8.

A 6.2-litre eight propelled the old Raptor, generating a handy 307kW and 588Nm of torque.

Ford did not reveal the power and torque figures of the new vehicle's 3.5-litre turbo V6 when it rolled out the car at the Detroit motor show earlier this month, but did say it would generate more power and torque than the V8 it replaces.

The company also said the Raptor engine would be linked to a new 10-speed automatic transmission.

Another radical change is the new body shell that is made from aluminium instead of steel. Ford says this change alone saves 227kg.

The aluminium-bodied Raptor comes just months after Ford introduced the new-generation F-Series, which also features an aluminium shell.

The Raptor features new Fox Racing shock absorbers developed for fast off-road driving, and has improved travel over the last generation truck.