The Ford Ranger is making a comeback into the U.S. market, and it could be doing so with a bigger splash than we initially thought.

A fresh set of spy photos shows a camouflaged Ranger prowling Ford's Michigan test track, but it appears to include a set of off-road ready upgrades which means we could be looking at Ford's Chevy Colorado ZR2 competitor.

And it could be called the Ranger Raptor. Has a nice ring, doesn't it?

Fender flares at the corners are present just like the Raptor, which means the track on this truck has probably been widened. Up front, the bumper appears revised compared to the other Ranger prototypes we have seen, and it looks similar to the F-150 Raptor's bumper which allows a clear look at the front shocks and improves the approach angle.

READ MORE: 2019 Ford Ranger Prototype Spied Testing

Departure angle also seems improved by a new rear bumper design, while the tires appear to be BF Goodrich KO2s, the same tires worm by the F-150 Raptor. 

Although what's underneath can't be seen, it's a safe assumption that the truck would use Fox shocks, like its big brother.

What comes under the hood is also a mystery, although we can make an educated guess. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 would make this little off-roader an absolute rocket ship, though it would probably be a little too much power, and it makes sense that Ford would want to differentiate its baby off-roader from its big one.

That leaves the new 2.7-liter EcoBoost as the prime candidate for power. In the F-150, this turbocharged engine makes 325 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque. Whatever the engine, a 10-speed automatic is likely to be linked to it, the same unit that transfer power in the Raptor.

Ford is planning to roll out the standard version of the North American Ranger sometime in 2019 as a 2020 model, so if the baby Raptor comes to fruition, it would likely arrive sometime around 2020 or 2021. With the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO already in driveways across the country, it makes sense that Ford would want to get back into the North American midsize truck market with a lineup that is ready to compete at all levels.