How the 2022 Ford Ranger was "torture tested" in Australia: Incoming Toyota HiLux rival gets hammered ahead of launch

We knew that the incoming 2022 Ford Ranger was to engineered and designed in Australia, but a new video has revealed just how much torture the Toyota HiLux rival was subjected to Down Under, and in New Zealand.

The brand calls it "off-road prototype torture testing", with the new ute put through its paces on every surface we have, from drifting through mud and powering across sand and snow, to climbing rocky hills and creeping over steep pinnacles.

It's also our best-look yet at the new Ford Ranger, which will be revealed before the end of the year ahead of its 2022 launch date.

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Like the Raptor program before it, this Ranger has had plenty of Aussie input into its engineering, with Australia the lead development team for the important new ute, which Ford is calling "the toughest, most capable and most connected Ranger yet developed by Ford".

"Captured testing in its natural habitat, the Next-Generation Ranger has been designed and engineered in Australia for local conditions and will be the toughest, most capable and most connected Ranger yet developed by Ford," the brand promises in a statement.

"With superior off-road credentials paired with Ford’s dynamic driving DNA, the Next-Generation Ranger will be the perfect vehicle for work, family, and play. This is not just a Built Ford Tough truck; it is the smartest and most versatile Ranger yet."

The new Ranger is also expected to take its design cues from the new F-150, while inside, the tech offering will include a bigger touchscreens and Ford's newest user interface software.

The brand's 157kW/500Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine (from the current Ranger Raptor) will likely be the only carry-over engine, and will appear in much more of the new range. It is expected to be joined by a new 130kW/420Nm single-turbo version for entry-level variants.

They're expected to be joined by a pair of flagship V6 engines – a 3.0-litre single-turbo diesel producing about 185kW/600Nm, and a 2.7-litre twin-turbo petrol developing around 230kW/540Nm – the former of which will likely appear in the new Raptor.

And even a PHEV model appears likely, with a plug-in hybrid variant recently spied testing in Europe -- though it's not expected to be available at launch.

And if this video is anything to go by, it will be ready for the tough stuff when it gets here.