It was chucked into a concrete water bath capable of being filled to more than a metre deep allowed systematic testing in repeatable conditions. 

“We started shallow – 50 millimetres – because each depth tells a different engineering story,” programme engineer Drew O’Shannassy explained.

Because? Shallow crossings helped assess the durability of components under the vehicle, while deeper runs focused on sealing for the intake and other systems. 

Engineers also measured the significant forces acting on the vehicle during deep wading, ensuring every seal prevented water intrusion.

Months later, the team took prototypes to an off-roading trial recognised as one of Australia’s most spectacular.

The Crooked River Track between the towns of Dargo and Talbotville in Victoria traverses 230 kilometres in its entirety - Ford doesn’t say if they did the whole route - and appears to be no easy go, according to web research.

A rugged clamber through semi-alpine bush, mud and rocky terrain goes to an elevation of 1716 metres and includes 27 consecutive river crossings. 

As Ford notes, unlike the controlled test bath, river conditions varied by depth, flow rate and bottom surface, providing the ultimate real-world validation.

“The first crossing always gets your heart pumping,” vehicle integration engineer Tim Postgate said in a release share from the brand.

“You’ve done the maths and the lab work, but watching the truck’s nose dip into rushing water makes it real.”