For weeks spy photos of what appeared to be a seriously modified Ford Ranger have been circulating on the internet. Now it is official. The truck is going to be a 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor coming to Asia Pacific markets in 2018.

Details are still sketchy, but it looks like the 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor is going to be just as badass as the full-size Raptor found in the U.S.

“We are very excited to bring Asia Pacific’s toughest and smartest pickup truck to a whole new level,” said Trevor Worthington, vice president of product development for Ford Asia Pacific.

“Ford Ranger Raptor will offer Ranger fans a fantastic opportunity to own an authentic off-road performance version of their favorite truck for the first time.”

Australian and New Zealand automotive news sites along with spy photos show the new 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor equipped with a multi-link coil-sprung rear suspension setup with a Watt’s linkage, rear disc brakes and BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 All-Terrain AT Tires. This will raise the ground clearance of the Global Ford Ranger as well as set it up to handle wide-open desert driving situations.

The powertrain is still uncertain with some sites claiming it will be a gasoline version similar to the one in the 2017 Ford Raptor – a high-output 3.5L V6 Ecoboost.

Other reports suggest it will have a diesel engine similar to what’s used overseas albeit with a new tune for additional power output.

Mated to this engine it is expected Ford will use the 10-speed it is currently using in a variety of vehicles. The 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor would likely use the same Baja mode found in the full-size U.S. Raptor to limit those gears for extreme off-road driving, while utilizing them in normal driving to improve fuel economy.

While the exterior is still camouflaged, Ford did say in a press release, “[the] Ford Ranger Raptor sports a head-turning exterior look that exudes toughness as well as a level of capability and off-road performance never before seen in the mid-size pickup truck segment.”

No word if the 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor will make it to the U.S., however with the launch of the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro both selling well, it isn’t unlikely Ford would bring it over to do battle. If so, the mid-size truck market just got a lot more amazeballs!