Ford Territory 2019 revealed: Aussie nameplate revived for Chinese SUV

Ford has unveiled a brand new Ford Territory SUV, but don't get too excited.

It's been almost two years to the day since the last Aussie-built Territory SUV rolled down the brand's now-shuttered Victorian production line, so news of a new version being unveiled got CarsGuide's hearts a-fluttering. Until we read the fine print.

The new Territory SUV is not a return for a cherished Aussie nameplate. In fact, the new model won't make it to our shores at all. Instead, it's being launched as a China-only model designed to appeal to the country's SUV-loving city-folk.

But there will at least be a little bit of Australia in every model, with the new Territory part-developed in Ford's Melbourne R&D facility before being built at a plant in Xiao Lan, China.

“The Territory is a breakthrough for Ford in China in terms of our ability to successfully compete with Chinese automakers for millions of customers that we do not currently serve,” says Ford's Asia Pacific president, Peter Fleet.

“Territory is a key proof point for how we will grow in China. We brought Territory to market with speed, high quality and cost efficiency. It will be affordable for young families and new buyers across China, not just the coastal mega-cities. And the technology will delight customers.”

The Territory will be offered there with a choice of regular petrol engine, a 48-volt hybrid system or with a full plug-in hybrid powertrain. An embedded modem is standard kit, too, as are LED headlights and DRLs, with Ford promising "a very competitive (car) in the entry-level, mid-size SUV segment at an affordable price" when it hits dealerships in 2019.

Should the Ford Territory make a return to Australia? Tell us in the comments below.