Ford Territory News

Imported cars are hardest hit by the new LCT threshold but some of our homegrown brands also suffer.

The chance to save $450 a year on fuel bills and help save the planet could be enough to lure Sydney drivers to test a new fuel-saving system.Technology company Mtech Australia is looking for owners of a wide range of cars to take part in a three-month test of the company's ceramic fuel-saving technology.Using nano-technology, Mtech claims to be able to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 15 per cent and greenhouse-gas emission by as much as 23 per cent — as well as boosting power.“We already have qualified independent test results proving Mtech Fuel Saver's credentials, and today we want Australians to step up to the plate and commit to reducing their carbon emissions and fuel consumption in their vehicles,” Mtech chief executive David Bignold says.According to Mtech literature, the system works by encouraging the fuel molecules to break down from clusters to single molecules.The result is a change in the properties of the fuel, allowing better atomisation of the fuel before delivery to the combustion chamber.This, in turn, improves volumetric efficiency and improves fuel efficiency.Mtech claims the system will work on petrol, diesel and LPG-fuelled vehicles, with a range of results depending on the age of the car and the condition of the car's engine.“We know that different vehicles and models have varying results in carbon emissions and fuel consumption, and now we want to prove that Mtech Fuel Saver gets results regardless of the vehicle type,” Bignold says.For the public test, the company is seeking models as diverse as the Toyota Prius, Mercedes-Benz A200, Ford Territory, Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and many others.“With the average family sedan consuming more than 1400 litres of fuel each year and emitting four tonnes of carbon, participants can save up to $450 per year,” Bignold says.The greater the fuel usage, the greater the saving, Bignold says.He claims a family spending $130 a week on fuel could cut their annual bill by around $1000, while a company with a $3000-a-week fuel bill would be in line for savings of more than $23,000.Ten years of study on the system has been ratified by Associate Professor Dr Peter Dingle, from Murdoch University, in a paper published last November.“The statistics and research are compelling,” Professor Dingle says.“There are more than 14 million registered vehicles travelling over two billion kilometres a year in Australia.“This rate is growing and, as it does, so do the pollutants that result.“This (the claimed 23 per cent emission reduction) could equate to a possible saving of around 25 million tonnes of CO2 a year if applied to the Australian fleet.”Anyone interested in registering for the public test can click here for details.  Applications close on April 25.Carsguide would like to know what you think about Mtech's latest nano-technology? is 23 percent enough to help you pay your bills? 

Only 550 of the Brooklands model Bentleys are available worldwide."They are tailor-made to the exact specifications of each customer,” said Sue Young, the spokeswoman for Queensland Bentley.Ms Young said the Brisbane buyer wanted to remain anonymous, as did two other Queenslanders who have expressed an interest in getting one of the luxury coupes.She said all three currently own a Bentley Arnage T, worth about $545,000.Maserati's latest GranTurismo will be seen in Australia for the first time at the show, which opens at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at noon on 1, February 2008.The sports car's appeal seems to have outweighed its $293,000 price tag, because 150 Australian orders have already been taken for the new model, including 20 from Queensland, according the company's Australian general manager, Edward Butler.No other Maserati has sold as quickly and the waiting list for the 2008 GranTurismo is greater than the firm's Australian and New Zealand sales last year, Mr Butler said.Luxury-car sellers say their models have become increasingly popular with younger professionals."The 20 to 35-year age group is taking a much bigger slice of the market share,” said Audi Centre Brisbane dealer principal Greg Willims. “There is no doubt the prosperity in Queensland is growing.”Adam O'Brien, of Brisbane Prestige Cars in Fortitude Valley, said manufacturers were working harder to attract young customers in a bid to keep them for life.Danny Singh, 31, of Brendale in Brisbane's northwest, recently bought a luxury H3 Hummer from Brisbane Prestige Cars for $70,000 then spent a further $15,000 on modifications.Also making their Australian debuts at the show will be new-look versions of cult street machines the Subaru WRX STi, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — known as the Evo X to fans because it is the 10th in the series.Both are expected to be in the $60,000 bracket.Australia will be represented in the go-fast stakes by a Ford Performance Vehicles version of the Territory SUV, the yet-to-be-released F6 X all-wheel-drive wagon.Brisbane International Motor Show, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank, runs from Friday to February 10; Monday to Saturday, 10am-10pm; Sunday, 10am-6pm. Adults $17.50, children $10.

The NRMA Insurance reversing visibility index shows 12 vehicles, including the Toyota Corolla and Holden Commodore, fail to receive any stars in testing.The test, established because of the deaths of 17 children killed by reversing cars in driveways, measures how well a driver can see out of the back of the vehicle.Of the 12 vehicles with a zero rating, five fit into the small-to-medium segment.The result has prompted the NRMA to call on manufacturers to consider installing reversing camera technology in all cars, not just bigger vehicles.“Without a camera, blind space can range from 3m to 15m,” NRMA Insurance road safety manager Pam Leicester said.“That's a large range for children to be hidden from a driver's view.” With an average of one child run over in their own driveway every week, Ms Leicester said it was time to start focusing on improving visibility in all models.“There has been a focus on four-wheel-drives and reversing but as our results show, that's an issue for all types of vehicles right down to small cars,” Ms Leicester said.“This is a real concern because many of these vehicles have hazardous reversing blind areas, usually caused by high rear window lines and boots.”Vehicles that received a zero rating included the Holden Commodore (Epica and Viva), the Hyundai i30, Mitsubishi's Lancer and 380, Toyota's Corolla, Prado and RAV4, the Honda Civic and the Odyssey, as well as the Hummer H3.Overall, however, the results have improved from last year with more manufacturers adopting reversing cameras.This is especially the case in the four-wheel-drive and luxury segments. Only five vehicles offered reversing cameras either standard or as an option last year.The technology was available on 15 vehicles this year. They gained either a 4 1/2 or 5-star rating.Ms Leicester said they were particularly impressed with the new Toyota Kluger, which has a reversing camera as standard on all models.The top performers given a five-star rating were the BMW X5, Ford Territory, Honda Legend, Lexus GS430, IS250 and LS460, and the Toyota Kluger; all offering a camera as standard or as an option.“We encourage all manufacturers to start thinking about putting reverse cameras in their vehicles,” Ms Leicester said.“At the time of manufacture, it's a very small cost.”Ms Leicester said after-market reversing cameras also could improve visibility and were available for between $200 and $300. How they rated NRMA insurance reversing visibility indexBest: BMW x5, Ford Territory, Honda, Legend, Lexus GS430, Lexus IS250, Lexus LS460, Toyota KlugerWorst: Holden Commodore, Honda Civic, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai i30, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Prado, Toyota Corolla 

This year has seen the market share of Commodore, Falcon and the Mitsubishi 380 fall to 19 per cent of new passenger vehicles, with only Toyota's Camry more or less immune.And while it was the biggest sales October ever, the share enjoyed by big Australian cars was reduced to 17.2 per cent. The lighter fare from Thailand achieved a best-ever 15.4 per cent. The Vfacts monthly bulletin, released this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, recorded that 89,289 motor vehicles were sold in October; an increase of 9359 on the same month last year.It beats the previous record for October, set in 2004, by more than 8000 sales. Year-to-date the market is up by 70,000 vehicles as it continues its charge towards breaking the one million mark for the first time.Yet against this bumper backdrop, 15,382 Australian-made units were shifted last month, mostly to fleets.Japanese-made cars continued their dominance but Thailand is where Honda's CR-V, Civic and Accord sedans are made. These and others, including Ford's Courier, which accounted for 13,825 sales in October.In sharp contrast to ever-diminishing local sales, that Thai-built percentage has increased by almost 50 per cent so far in 2007.Petrol prices are blamed for the decline of the great Australian six-cylinder. But the fact four medium-sized SUVs sold more than 1000 units each last month gives the lie to that.Yes, light cars, spearheaded by 1193 sales of the new Mazda2, experienced a sales surge, but the truth for the big Aussies is grimmer than the rising cost of the stuff that makes them go. The fact is that given wealth of choice, fewer and fewer Australians want the types of cars made in Australia.FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar says the locals have never had it tougher.“The intensely competitive situation in the motor-vehicle market is being driven to a significant degree by the ongoing strength of the Australian dollar,” he says. McKellar says 4400 Commodores (excluding utes) were moved last month, so with about 300 more sales than the Corolla, it is the nation's number-one seller.Toyota's eggs are in more than one basket with the ever-competitive Yaris, Camry, RAV4 and Prado prominent among its 20,212 October sales. Holden managed 11,415 and Ford 8206. It was the first time that Toyota had outsold the combined total of Holden and Ford in any single month.Year-to-date Toyota leads Holden by 71,360 with the launch of the new LandCruiser this month.If Toyota's lead is unassailable, surely the success story is Mazda.At number four, the leading full-imported marque sells not a single car to fleets or rental companies. They all go to private buyers.October's best-ever 7271 sales represented Mazda's 10th record month in a row. Mazda's year-to-date total of 64,929 already surpasses its 2006 full-year sales result of 63,664.  Snapshot   Country of originJapan 31,838Australia 15,382Thailand 13,825Korea 9830Germany 3901South Africa 2434Belgium 1525US 1448Spain 1422France 1206 The biggest sellers1 Holden Commodore (Australia) 44402 Toyota Corolla (Japan) 41233 Mazda3 (Japan) 31254 Ford Falcon (Australia) 24395 Toyota Camry (Australia) 19946 Hyundai Getz (Korea) 18967 Toyota Aurion (Australia) 18318 Mitsubishi Lancer (Japan) 14469 Honda Civic (Thailand) 140910 Honda CR-V (Thailand) 129111 Toyota RAV4 (Japan) 129312 Toyota Prado (Japan) 127313 Suzuki Swift (Japan) 119714 Mazda2 (Japan) 119315 Ford Territory (Australia) 119016 Toyota Kluger and Subaru Forester (both Japan) 117317 Holden Astra (Belgium) 111818 Mitsubishi 380 (Australia) 110019 Holden Captiva (Korea) 109320 Nissan Tiida (Thailand) 1087 

There has been a rash of locally developed high-performance off-roaders such as the Ford Territory FPV F6 and Toyota's HiLux TRD. Now Holden Special Vehicles is looking to get in on the act.

No one at Toyota Australia likes to be beaten. When the Ford Territory began its domination of the all-terrain wagon class, it stung the company that has dominated in the outback for a generation and become Australia's No.1 carmaker.Toyota then argued the Territory wasn't a real four-wheel-drive because it was also sold with only rear-wheel-drive to tantalise families and boost value.Its answer to the blue oval's Falcon-based wagon was the mid-sized Kluger, which was great off-road but felt floaty on the tarmac, lacked torque and looked as plain as a paper bag.The Territory outsold the original Kluger three to one, but Toyota never gives up.This time around, the new 2007 Kluger is bigger, more powerful, has more safety gear and actually has some style.Toyota also realised more than half the Territories sold in Australia are rear-drive, so it now has the Kluger with front-drive or the regular all-wheel-drive.It will be interesting to see how many people go down the all-paw path, which adds $4500 to the price across the range.The Kluger is all-new, with a stiff new body that is 95mm longer and 85mm wider and has 22mm more ground clearance. It is also 95kg to 160kg heavier. The Grande model tips the scales at a hefty 2035kg.Ground clearance for all Klugers has been jacked up from 184mm to 206mm.The braked towing capacity has been increased by 500kg to an impressive 2000kg.The official fuel economy figures go from 11 litres for 100km in ADR81/01 testing to 11.6 litres, which is about 1 litre/100km less than equivalent Territory models.All have the smooth-revving 3.5-litre dual-overhead camshaft V6 that also serves in the Aurion. This time it is tuned to pump out 201kW and 337Nm.It is linked to a five-speed automatic gearbox in both drivetrains, with the AWD model using a system that feeds 50 per cent of drive to the front.Toyota has followed its main rivals and introduced Electronic Stability Control as standard across the Kluger range. It has gone a step further with seven airbags in all models.Also standard is a small dashboard-mounted reversing camera.There are three models, the base KX-R at $39,990, the KX-S at $49,990 and the Grande at $59,990.The KX-S and the Grande come standard with seven seats, which can also be ordered for the entry-level KX-R for an extra $2500.Apart from the impressive safety gear, standard gear for the KX-R includes 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, 3.5-inch multi-function display, cruise control and single CD sound with MP3 input jack.The KX-S adds 19-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior details, fog lights and leather trim. The electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats are also heated. The dual-zone climate control has separate controls for rear passengers. It also has six-CD sound and Bluetooth phone preparation.Stepping up to the Grande brings a sunroof, more chrome, wood-grain inserts, keyless start, automatic closing hatch, DVD rear seat entertainment, satellite navigation, larger rear-view camera display (6-inch). On the roadAlmost everyone will rate it ahead of the Holden Captiva, apart from its price. The Kluger is now roomier, has better performance, looks better and has an impressive array of standard safety features.A week in a two-wheel-drive Kluger KX-S revealed there is a lot to like about the big family hauler, but also revealed suspension flaws that could see the Kluger lose out in a comparison with the Territory.But the first thing you notice is the styling. The Kluger now has a bit of attitude.Painted black, with its tinted windows and chunky 19-inch wheels, the Kluger test car is imposing. The interior looks good, too, with a high level of surface quality you expect from a Toyota.The rear-view camera, which sits between two air vents and doubles as an info screen, is tiny, but it is better than nothing.The KX-S gets leather seats, which feel nice, and the heater function is great, but the seats aren't the most supportive around.The Kluger really has only six useable seats. The middle seat of the second row is only 20cm wide, does not sit flush with the other seats and is only good for a very small or skinny child.The Kluger's engine is quite nice, though it can be a bit peaky. A lot of the grunt comes up high in the rev range and the engine could do with some more torque down the bottom end.Even so, the fuel consumption of 12.4 litres/100km is a big plus.The engine is smooth, though it is not the quietest engine around, especially under hard acceleration.If you push, you also notice the steering wheel tugging, especially if you are turning.This (torque steer) happens because there is too much power going through just the front wheels. You can live with those sort of niggles, but it is the suspension of the two-wheel-drive Kluger that is a big let-down.Despite being incapable of off-road work, the front-drive Kluger still has a hefty 206mm of ground clearance. On bumpy roads it pitches and rolls like a serious mud-plugger. A back-to-back test with the lower-riding Territory backs up the view the Kluger is too soft.The Kluger feels like an off-roader. The Territory feels like a car.But it's not the same in the all-paw Kluger, which feels firmer and much more planted. And it will definitely go as deeply into the bush as most families want to travel. So the all-wheel-drive is the driver's choice, but people on a budget will head for the new front-driver.The bottom lineThe Kluger ticks most of the family wagon boxes. An unnecessarily high ride height and soft suspension spoil the fun. 78/100Fast factKluger KX-S and Grande have three-zone climate control for all occupants. Each of the three rows of seats has a temperature display and control dials. Inside viewToyota Kluger KX-S 2WDPrice: $49,990 as testedEngine: 3.5-litre V6Power: 201kW at 6200 revsTorque: 337Nm at 4700 revsTransmission: five-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBody: Five-door wagonSeats: SevenDimensions: Length 4785mm, width 1910mm, height 1760mm, wheelbase 2790mm, tracks 1630/1645mm front/rearSteering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: Fully independent Macpherson strut front and multi-link rearFuel tank: 72 litresFuel type: Regular unleadedFuel consumption: Average on test 12.4 litres/100kmWeight: 1930kgSpare tyre: Full size steelBrakes: Anti-skid discsWheels: 19x7.5 alloyTyres: 245/55 R19Safety gear: Anti-skid brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, front and side driver and passenger airbags, three-row curtain airbags.Warranty: Three years/ 100,000km FeaturesAirconditioning 4Cruise control 4Alloy wheels 4Climate control 4Leather seats 4Heated seats 4Parking sensors 8Automatic wipers 84 standard equipment8 nonstandard equipment How it comparesFord Territory Ghia: 80/100 ($52,090)Holden Captiva Maxx: 70/100 ($42,990)Mazda CX-7 Luxury: 73/100 ($45,560)Nissan Murano ST: 68/100 ($49,990) 

The hi-tech 5.0-litre V8 will be introduced in 2010 - a year that is shaping as a boomer for Ford Australia with the first facelift of the Orion Falcon, the switch to V6 engines in Ford's family fighter, and the likely introduction of the next-generation Territory.There is a good chance 2010 will also bring the first diesel engine to the Falcon and Territory, a 2.7-litre powerplant already in use in Europe. The good news on the V8 front comes as Ford Australia confirms plans to axe its existing 5.4-litre V8, which was standard in the G8, Fairlane and LTD and optional in a range of other Fords, including the Falcon ute.The Jaguar V8 is a new all-alloy design that was developed for the upcoming XF hero car, which is a make-or-break model for the legendary British luxury brand.The new Jaguar V8 will be available both in naturally-aspirated form and with a supercharger and the basic bottom line is 375kW. It will be the hero engine for the XR8 Falcon and will also be used in the fliers from Ford Performance Vehicles.The move to the Jaguar V8 is part of a shift prompted by the end of production of the existing 5.4-litre engine.Ford Australia imports the engine from the Essex plant in Ontario, Canada, which has been steadily phasing out the engine.Locally, the engine was known as the Barra 220 or Barra 230, depending on the application, with the number reflecting its kilowatt output.Still, Ford will continue with the part-locally assembled, four-valve twin-overhead camshaft version of the same engine in its Falcon XR8 and FPV models. The three-valve V8 was optional on the base-model BA Falcon from 2002, replacing the ancient 5.0-litre Windsor pushrod V8.But Ford's Broadmeadows factory has had little use for the engine, according to Ford Australia's president Tom Gorman.“Quite honestly, we were down to about 10a month and it's not a major impact on our business,” Gorman says.“They've actually ceased production in the US and, as you know, we're ceasing production on our long-wheelbase cars.”Gorman says Ford has enough remainingV8s stockpiled to meet demand in the long-wheelbase cars until production of the Fairlane family in a few months. 

Ford Australia has committed to continue building large cars alongside the new small car Focus. “I can guarantee you that neither Falcon nor Territory is under any threat,” Ford Australia spokeswoman Sinead McAlary says.“We believe there is an ongoing business case for both models.”Speculation grew when Ford Australia president Tom Gorman announced during a press conference, the decision to build Focus in Australia from 2011 giving the company the opportunity to “walk away from” less profitable segments.“What Tom was talking about was the opportunity for segment managing with production ... the ability to be more flexible in the model mix,” McAlary says.“What will be possible is to manage the mix of cars being built in a far more active way. It could be changed month to month depending on what the demands are for any other models."“The terminology may have led to some confusion but there is absolutely no threat to Falcon or Territory at this stage.”With the announcement that Ford will close its in-line six engine production facility in Geelong by 2010, questions were raised over whether the Falcon and the Territory would be re-engineered to take imported engines.While conceding Territory sales are sliding, McAlary says the large, locally developed SUV remains a key plank of Ford Australia planning.“Territory numbers are down but we believe it is still the right car for the segment ... we believe it is the best SUV available,” McAlary says. “We are currently well under way working on the next-generation Territory.”McAlary would not confirm a 2010 launch for the new-generation Territory, but there would be little point in unveiling a second-generation car before the switch to imported V6s.However, betting has firmed on an earlier arrival of a diesel powerplant for the Territory with McAlary confirming work has begun.“I can't give a time frame or confirmation of anything else specific about it (diesel) but it is something we are planning for and working on,” McAlary says.There has been speculation that an inline five-cylinder turbo diesel sourced from Volvo would suit, or the bi-turbo V6 from the Jaguar family, although that would be expensive.“There are several areas where we can source the engine but I can't be more specific than that at the moment,” McAlary says.There are no plans for a compact SUV model to sit beside the Territory nor are there plans to add any more imported SUV models to the line-up.While Falcon's numbers continue to fall, Ford believes the promise of a new model early next year will revive its fortunes.“Large car numbers are never going to go back to where they were a couple of years ago,” she says. “But there have been some good indicators in the market and with something in the order of 130,000 large family cars being sold this year we can still make a strong business case for a share of that with Falcon, particularly with the new model.” 

Ford Australia boss Tom Gorman has declined to guarantee a long-term future for the company's flagship Falcon and Territory models. In announcing the decision to build the small Ford Focus in Australia from 2011, Gorman also pointed to “opportunities to walk away” from less profitable business.“Over time, what you really want to do is pursue the most profitable business so if it gives us some opportunities to really revenue-manage and go after profitable segments and maybe walk away from some less profitable business ... you have that opportunity when you are at full capacity,” Gorman says of the plans to build 40,000 Focus cars at the company's Broadmeadows site.But Gorman wouldn't directly identify what those less profitable models might be.“It is probably inappropriate that I do that today (identify the less profitable business),” he says.“You can imagine that in certain segments we have better margins than in others ... that is a hypothetical question until we are at full capacity.”Gorman's comments come after CARSguide revealed last Saturday that the Territory might be under threat in future production plans. With only three models to be built in Australia; Focus, Falcon and Territory — the obvious targets for rationalising are the two large cars which compete in shrinking segments.While Falcon will still be relatively new in 2010 once the switch has been made from the inline six to a new V6 engine and with a high fleet demand, Territory will not have those defences.Gorman says initial Focus production projections of 40,000 could expand with additional export opportunities and continued local market growth. “Of the 40,000, we are anticipating 25,000 domestic and 15,000 will be export,” he says.“Now if we do 2000 Focus we are walking around like it's a real success but that has to become a bare minimum for us. Some of the other players like Corolla and Mazda3 routinely do 3000 a month. If we can lift our numbers to 2500 a month religiously that is 30,000 right there.”Gorman says Australian Focus production will initially be in right-hand drive only, with exports to South Africa and New Zealand but additional export markets are being identified.“This is a watershed event for us in Australia, really going after what is the largest segment of the market and having the opportunity to control that product locally should be a huge advantage for us,” Gorman says.“If you go back 10 years, small cars used to be less than 100,000 units in the marketplace and this year there is likely to be 220,000-225,000 in Australia. We are not happy as a distant number three player and localisation should help us.”The good news flow-on for Ford, less than a week after announcing the 2010 closure of the Geelong engine plant and subsequent loss of 600 jobs, is that Focus production will have benefits for Ford and its suppliers.Plus there are 300 extra jobs at Broadmeadows and unspecified further job opportunities at Geelong.