Ford Territory
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The Ford Territory is a crossover SUV built by Ford Australia and based on the EA169 platform of the Ford Falcon. It was released in April 2004. Its code name inside Ford was E265. It won the prestigious 2004 Wheels Car of the Year award, the reviewers praising car-like handling and practicality as reasons for its win. Since then they bill it as a vehicle as good as an BMW X5 for half the price. Ford had reportedly spent A$500 million on developing the range over four years. It is built on the same production line as the Australian-made Falcon. While many suspected that it would replace the Falcon wagon, the two actually co-exist together due to the fact that the Territory is bought mainly by private buyers, the Falcon wagon by fleets.
A basic rear wheel drive model is offered with an all wheel drive variant, either in the basic TX trim or the more luxurious TS and Ghia models that feature extra appointments. A DVD player is available as an option on all models. The Ford Territory offers as standard (on the TS and Ghia, and optional on the base TX model), side curtain airbags, which are a first for an Australian made car.
Options of five seats (in two rows) or seven seats (in three rows) are available. The rows of seats are arranged in a "theatre style", with the back row highest. They fold down smoothly into the floor.
The original model was the SX and was produced between 2004-2005. The engine was the 4.0 L DOHC I6 Barra engine from the Falcon, developing 182 kW (245 hp).
All wheel drive models have an optional Hill Descent Control system, using the ABS braking to control the car's motion downhill, inherited from Land Rover.
Australian and New Zealand models are slightly different visually: all models sold in New Zealand have body-colour bumpers and alloy wheels, including the base model. Front light detail resembles that of jewellery in a black box. In New Zealand, the only rear wheel drive model is the base version and all other models have all wheel drive; while in Australia, all models are available with either rear wheel drive or all wheel drive.
Appearance-wise, the Territory resembles the smaller Ford Freestyle sold in North America. Both cars have similar styling — it was this that sold the Territory to Ford executives at the head office in Dearborn, Michigan. Simon Butterworth, who was behind the Ford Falcon facelift of 2003, styled the Territory but had worked with his American counterpart, J Mays, in working in the global Ford "DNA". Marcus Hotblack worked on the Territory's interior, with a Swiss army knife as a metaphor. Consequently, the car has touches such as flexible cupholders and a handbag holder to the side of the seat for female drivers, recognizing that many SUV buyers are women.
South African sales for the Territory began in 2005.
An updated SY model arrived in October 2005, bringing with it a ZF six-speed automatic transmission on all AWD models and an increase in power to 190 kW (255 hp). The model also comes with a Rear Parking Camera (optional on the TS and standard on the Ghia), another first for an Australian made vehicle.
Ford Australia has announced the introduction of the Territory Turbo and Territory Ghia Turbo, to be available in mid 2006. The addition of the turbo will boost the engine performance to 245 kW and 480 NM of torque.
Locally in Australia, the Ford Territory competes with crossovers such as the Toyota Kluger, Holden Adventra, Hyundai Santa Fe and the soon to be released Holden Captiva.
[edit] Awards
- Winner, Australia's Best Cars (Territory GHIA AWD - Best Recreational 4WD) in 2005
- Winner, Wheels Automotive Design Award (WADA) - Best Interior, 2005
- Winner, Australia's Best Recreational Four Wheel Drive (Territory TX AWD) in 2004
- Winner, Wheels Car of the Year, 2004
- Winner, Australian Design Award™, 2004
- Winner, Australia's Best Cars (Territory TX AWD - Best Recreational 4WD) in 2004
- Winner, News Limited 'Star Car' Award.
- Winner, Courier Mail (Queensland) COTY – Outstanding Family Car (Territory RWD)
- Winner, Courier Mail (Queensland) COTY – Outstanding Recreational Vehicle (Territory AWD)
[edit] External links
- Ford press release published at Autoweb
- Ford Australia website with information about the Territory
- Australia's Best Cars website
