Spy shots of been cropping up here and there of the next-generation Ford Raptor. They pretty much look like regular Raptors with weird rags draped over the grille, but a photographer has finally reported something interesting about it: apparently it sounds like a turbo V6.

grabbed some images from photography, and made the observation that the mule-in-Raptor-clothing was missing the current model's trademark blue shocks in addition to having an unusual sound.

This is admittedly flimsy evidence of a powerplant change for the truck, but it's enough to keep me titillated that a boosted Raptor might be in the pipeline. Ford has already confirmed that the 2015 Super Duty will hang on to the 6.2 V8 it shares with the Raptor, so perhaps Ford's factory desert racer will be refreshed with a turbo engine in 2016. Maybe even... a turbo V8? [Homer Simpson drool].

Image: Ford (Modified by Andrew P. Collins)