When it comes to pre-production car testing, most of the time we think off-shore. Places like the Nürburgring Nordschliefe for performance cars, or Dubai for off-roaders — these are the locations that often come up when camouflaged early-run machines are sneak peeked by eager motoring photographers.
Little old New Zealand, a world away from most of the planet's car manufacturers, is comparatively distant.
And yet, some manufacturers do test their machinery here. Models still in the midst of development are often shipped to the Snow Farm in Queenstown for testing of all-wheel drive systems and the like at low, snowy temperatures.
It's no surprise either that off-roaders often make appearances here, too. Our roads — particularly the ones formed in gravel — are considered to be some of the best in the world. Cambered, challenging, and in some provinces never-ending; they provide the perfect backdrop for performance testing.
And perhaps that's why Ford brought the Ranger Raptor here to test. A new commercial issued by the manufacturer has shown a Raptor getting hooned through somewhere in New Zealand's South Island, and you can check it out at the top of this story.
Back in April, Ford New Zealand confirmed an $84,990 RRP for the Ranger Raptor. It might be a tall price, but buyers do get a lot of off-roading tech. The Raptor's suspension set-up is one of the most complex of any vehicle; key to off-road hi-jinx. And the engine — though it's only a two-litre — does offer more power than any other in the range.
And going by the promotion, the Raptor is a gun when it comes to tackling rough terrain. It looks comfortable over jumps, and appears to change direction on adverse surfaces with ease. Ford chose to play portions of the advert in fast forward, which will give cynics something to talk about. But nonetheless, this 57-second clip gets us hot and bothered while also showcasing New Zealand's luscious landscape to the rest of the world.