Ford Territory News

The updated and much improved Territory has been delayed by a computer glitch involving the dashboard display unit but Ford says the problem has now been solved. It has been stockpiling cars around the country while working on the problem and, with a remedy now in place, intends to pump the new Territory through dealerships immediately. The result will be around 700 deliveries in quick time, followed by a concerted campaign with Australia's only locally-made SUV. Ford Australia is downplaying the delay, even though Carsguide has been peppered with complaints from potential buyers following the press preview drives of the car in early April. "We had always said we would have it into showrooms in May and it's slipped slightly into the first week of June," says Sinead McAlary of Ford. "It was always important to us, because of the amount of interest and the build-up to the car, that we delivered the right result for customers. We want to maintain the positive momentum with Territory. " "We believe it was absolutely the right thing to do to get the car right before we sent it out." Success for the Territory could help to offset the dismal showroom effort by the Falcon through the first five months of 2011, which has some people recalling the dark days - including massive stockpiles - from the time of the AU Falcon. Ford only got back on track with its Falcon with the BA model in 2002. On the Territory front, Ford has more than 700 customer orders and, with more than 200 dealers, is keen to get the SUV up to speed at its Broadmeadows factory, which, ironically, is hardly stretched by Falcon. "There are 209 dealers and we've promised each one they will have at least one car by the end of this week," says McAlary. Ford has also begun an intensive showroom push with the Falcon, reacting to very sluggish demand for its bread-and-butter model. "We have a new advertising program we've just launched with some incentives to small business. Dealers are starting to report increased traffic for Falcon, which is good," says McAlary. She is confident there will be a rub-off from the updated Territory. "Positive momentum for Territory is positive moment for the brand, and that can only be good for Falcon." Ford is still assessing the impact of its ne w diesel model in the Territory range, and the potential growth of all-wheel drive sales with buyers who want a diesel SUV for towing. "The early launch mix is heavily skewed to diesel, 70: 30. There is pent-up demand for the diesel but we believe it will settle at about 60:40. We're Also expecting more demand for the all-wheel drive system, although we don't have a clear picture of that yet," says McAlary.

A new cylinder head and intake manifold help the petrol mill to a claimed fuel figure of 10.6 litres/100km for both the five and seven-seaters.  The petrol engine is good for 195kW (up from 190kW) and 391Nm (up from 383Nm) while the diesel puts out 140kW/440Nm. The rear-drive diesel has a claimed fuel use of 8.2 litres/100km; the all-wheel drive model uses 8.8 litres/100km.  All models now come with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard. NVH Making the car quieter for front-to-rear seat conversations was a key priority for the noise, vibration and handling team.  New seals around the rear tailgate, more attention to aerodynamics - hence the new side mirrors - and better insulation in the bulkhead and beneath the floor all contribute to trimming decibels from the SZ range. The team even looked at a double bulkhead to cut interior noise but instead opted for a plastic layer sandwiched in the regular sound-deadening material that achieves 95 per cent of the insulation for none of the weight or manufacturing cost. NVH head Michael Stellamanns says interior quietness is a key trigger for customer satisfaction. That's why the diesel was tested in the most demanding conditions - a drive-through restaurant with the window down, car idling and sound bouncing off the bitumen and wall - to ensure the diesel "cackle" wasn't intrusive. DYNAMICS Anyone who drives an SZ Territory will pick the difference in steering, says Ford's vehicle dynamics manager Alex de Vluyt.  Put that down to a new electronic power-assisted steering system and revised front suspension geometry intended to make the new Territory less responsive to wheel inputs at high speeds. Conversely, better responsiveness in parking situations was another target and one de Vlugt says will make the SZ model stand out.  Keeping the big SUV flat while cornering, accelerating or braking was another focus and to achieve the "roll agility of a Mondeo" the front anti-roll bar has been stiffened by 30 per cent, the front springs are 35 per cent stiffer and the rear springs have been beefed up by 10 per cent.

... as the company pushes its fuel economy credentials. With it will come a boost in sales that should help the Blue Oval regain ground on the likes of the Holden Captiva and Toyota Kluger.  And the 2.7-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel is a smart unit putting out 140kW/440Nm. It is being positioned as the top-spec Territory and is the only engine in the SZ models to be matched to Ford's all-wheel drive system.  It also comes with it a 2700kg towing capacity, 400kg up on the 4-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol variants. Yesterday's technical briefing comes ahead of the vehicle's launch next month. Ford still won't discuss prices but says work on the drivetrains, steering and supension and noise suppression will impress new and returning Territory buyers. Diesel buyers will find the 210kg engine weighs the same as the petrol version, but sits on a new subrame with engine mounts specifically made to minimise vibration and an engine shield that cuts diesel clatter and improves the SUV's aerodynamics. The active transfer case has a clutch that disengages torque at idle and the latest Bosch v9 control system now has rollover mitigation software and engine brake control maps calibrated for the diesel. The result means the rear-wheel drive diesel Territory has a claimed fuel use of 8.2 litres/100km and the AWD diesel does 8.8 litres. The petrol six has also been improved and is now down to 10;6 litres/100km..

The painfully delayed diesel engine variant of the Ford Territory is partially funded by a $42 million green subsidy. It runs far leaner and cleaner than the petrol model and it's crucial to the survival of the only Australian-made SUV.This was therefore the perfect moment for Tony Abbott to propose cutting $500 million over four years from a program of automotive research and development.  Any advance on that? Julia? Tony? The car industry was disgusted that Labor reneged on an agreement to which it had obliged Holden, Ford and Toyota to commit in writing and did so without so much as an preemptive email to the effect of: “Queensland's up that certain creek, boys, so all bets are off.''After all, the three local producers have done alright under the green fund.In addition to the diesel Territory, Ford will this year roll out a four-cylinder turbo engine and an advanced LPG system for its sales-crippled Falcon, a $230 million investment. Holden is about to produce the Cruze medium car in Adelaide and Toyota has the means to make hybrids in Melbourne.But Abbott's notion of gutting the Automotive Transformation Scheme is “absolutely catastrophic'', as the peak industry body possibly understated it.  This is precisely not the moment to be playing fast and loose with our biggest manufacturing industry. Yes, previously the Australian car industry has been about as worthy of public subsidy as a travelling workshop on interpretative dance. Once it was complacent and smug behind tariff ramparts more than 57 per cent tall. Joke from the recent past: “What do you call a lot full of Holdens and Fords? Answer: A Jurassic car park.''The malaise lingered long into the last decade. Ford's poor decision making is entirely to blame for its diesel delay. Instead they went for turbo petrol which it’s since dropped.Yet while the local car making operations remain mere colonial outposts of vast auto empires, there are not a few governments of emerging industrial nations that would give a great deal more than ours to assist an industry that in a good year is worth $5 billion in export earnings, supports 60,000 jobs and is responsible for some $700 million dollars in research and development.Many first world nations do so. An example - Volkswagen is intent upon knocking Toyota off its perch of world's leading auto maker by decade's end. VW is the grateful recipient of state and federal funding, one of Germany's biggest employers and producer of the world's most sophisticated and greenest affordable car technology.As Abbott strives to outbid Gillard in being seen as the most compassionate in response to the staggering blows sustained by Queensland, the car industry makes a tempting target.Implying, as some are, that its funding is welfare for fat cats is emotive and dishonest. Acting as though this funding is dispensable at the time the industry has earned the right to government assistance is flagrantly counter productive.Be an arch rationalist and insist that we shouldn't support the car making - but acknowledge that if we lose this manufacturing capability, we won't get it back.  Some of us prefer to think of this country as capable of being something more than a quarry for China.

The much delayed diesel engine variant of the Ford Territory is partially funded by a $42 million green grant from the fund. The V6 turbo diesel originally developed for Land Rover runs much leaner and cleaner than the current petrol model and is seen as crucial to the survival of the only Australian-made SUV. Developed in 2004 for Land Rover, the diesel is expected to comprise anything up to 50 per cent of the  Territory's sales, the extensively redesigned version of which was previewed today in Sydney. It is the first stage in Ford's three-part $232 million investment in the Falcon/Territory platform. The diesel will run in all models, from the base TX, through the mid-spec TS and in the top level Titanium, which replaces the old Ghia designation. "The new diesel engine is just one part of the bigger story," Ford Australia's new chief executive Bob Graziano says.  "Our new Territory has a new interior, a new exterior, new smart technologies and an all-new powertrain." The thirsty turbo petrol variant, which was introduced in 2006 instead of the diesel, is no more.  In typical strip tease fashion, Ford today revealed only the new Territory's design. Technical specifics come next month, the first drive in April. The Territory goes on sale in May. While the re-skin is thorough and convincing when seen in the metal, the much-need diesel, negotiated seven years ago by former Ford boss Geoff Polites but cancelled to his anger by a successor, is the talking point. Ford marketing manager Beth Donovan says diesel accounted for some 47 per cent of SUV sales last year and ``we now have an opportunity to compete in the entire segment''. Graziano  an American veteran of Ford and Mazda with a background in sales, marketing and strategy  took up the post last month coinciding with Ford Australia's worst ever result. While at pains to emphasise the importance of Falcon and the Territory, he signalled a broader product strategy. Coming models include the new Focus, driven by Carsguide last month, and the Ranger. "What we will be able to do this year as we freshen 85 per cent of our showroom is continue to leverage the global resources and global assets that we have under the One Ford strategy. If we deconstruct January, year on year, we saw very encouraging signs. It was a best ever month on Fiesta, a good month on Focus, Territory same, and the private buyer was very strong on Falcon." Graziano expresses frustration that Labor breached a promise made in 2008 to sustain the green car fund until 2020, having secured letters of commitment form the manufacturers. "We are obviously disappointed it was withdrawn but we are looking forward to having continuing dialogue with the Government,'' he says. "It has been important in terms of accelerating that technology into Australia. It's not unusual in terms of the industry to have that kind of a fund. I think that partnership - car makers, the government and the consumer - is necessary not just in Australia, but around the world." Asked if there had been any dialogue with the Government, which axed the fund without consulting carmakers, Mr Graziano says: "At this point no." Most obvious is the new front end with trapezoid-shaped main grille, slim-line headlights, the Titanium variant getting LED position lamps. At the other end, there are wrap around lights and a new lift-gate. It rides on 17 or 18 inches wheels. Within it's all soft touch materials and covered storage bins, plus a new Instrument Panel (IP) with an eight-inch touch screen. The Interior Command Centre (ICC) provides front-seat occupants with controls for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.  

Following Ford Australia's worst ever month and the humiliating plunge of the Falcon (on which the Territory is based) to 13th place on the sales ladder - a stunning 50 per cent reversal on the January 2010 - the Territory bears the hopes of the Blue Oval's local manufacturing, at least in the short term. Falcon is suffering because the wagon has been discontinued and it is without an LPG powered model (crucial to the taxi fleets which are the Falcon's mainstay) until later this year. The Falcon's future rests at least in part on its unprecedented and unlikely teaming with a four cylinder engine, a 2.0 turbo-charged Eco Boost, later this year. In this and the Territory's diesel, Ford benefitted from the Federal Government controversially scrapped Green Car Innovation Fund.  The so-called Eco Boost is at least relatively new. The overdue 2.7-litre V6 bi-turbo diesel Ford has finally secured is as old as the model itself, first seeing service in the then-Ford owned Land Rover and Jaguar in 2004. Still, coupled with the old faithful 4.0-litre straight six petrol engine, the diesel-engined model is expected to at the very least hold the fort in terms of sales, as its donor car struggles to do better than the Thai-made Fiesta and South African imported Focus (due for replacement by a sophisticated in what will be a crowded third quarter of 2011 for Ford). Although the fund was to be in place until 2020, Ford secured these powertrains which take Falcon and Territory to 2015 - the end of their model lives beyond which there is anything but certainty they will continue or be replaced by American-derived models. Mild encouragement could come from South Africa, with Ford's local chief Jeff Nemeth indicating to Carsguide that market is looking to take about 100 of the re-designed SUV in petrol and diesel per month having discontinued imports in 2008.Ford Territory Sales 2004 - 135832005 - 23454 first full year2006 - 183642007 - 172902008 - 128822009 - 108842010 - 11558 TIMELINE 2004: SX Model introducedWins Wheels' Car of the YearFord Australia boss Geoff Polites announces diesel engine plan, cancelled by successor.2005: SY introduced in October with six-speed ZF automatic on AWD models.2006: Territory Turbo officially unveiled in February at Melbourne motorshow, in showrooms mid-year2008: FPV release F6X2009: SY MkII introduced in April. Changes include new headlamps and modified tail lamps; new fogs and bumper, revised alloys, body coloured mirrors with chrome housings on Ghia and Ghia Turbo; and chrome belt moulding across the range. F6X dropped.2011: SZ model to be officially unveiled February 8. Scheduled official on-sale date: May 2011. First ever diesel model.

All the signs are positive after a strong run through 2010 on everything from new models and new technology to the price of cars and petrol and even motorsport.Last year produced a million-plus result in showrooms, only the third on record and a huge turnover in a country with a population of just over 22 million people. And the sales total for 2011 is likely to be even bigger.The fuel for the sales growth will come, as usual, from the importance of cars in Australia and the incredible number of new models that his showrooms each year. No-one can underestimate the sense of freedom that Australians tap with their cars, or the genuine needs of people who rely on cars for everything from day-to-day commuting to long-distance nomadic work.Car companies are currently doing all they can to clear their backlog of 2010 stock in readiness for the first arrivals of 2011, which means great buying for at least another month. Cars are like horses, because they all get a year older on the same day, and anything in a showroom now with a 2010 build date is out-of-date.But there is nothing out-of-date about the lineup for the first major motoring event of the year, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It opens next week with the unveiling of everything from a Hyundai Veloster and the next Honda Civic to a new Porsche supercar.There will be lots of news from Detroit, perhaps including Holden's plans to revive Commodore exports to the USA and the potential future of the Ford Falcon. Chrysler will show its new 300C, which will take more than a year to reach Australia, and Chinese brands are promising another new wave of technology and small cars.Chinese cars will be one of the big stories in Australia in 2011, with Chery, Geely and Great Wall all planning to start passenger car sales down under. Great Wall is already doing well with its value-priced utes and SUVs but it's Chery that is looking for the big breakthrough with baby cars that undercut the Korean price leaders.On the motorsport front, the Dakar Rally is already blazing through South America - with Bruce Garland doing his best for Australia in an Isuzu D-Max - the V8 Supercar championship will be another boomer, and Mark Webber will be looking to improve on his 2011 season in another year with Red Bull Racing.Melbourne will be motoring central again this year, not just because it is home to the three local carmakers - Holden, which has the local Cruze this year; Ford, which is about to go with the updated Territory; and Toyota, which has an all-new Camry for 2011 - but also thanks to everything from the Australian Grand Prix to the latest running of the Australian International Motor Show.The organisers of the show have confirmed this year's dates as July 1-10, with the promise of a truly world-class event. Moving the date is planning to bring more people indoors to look at the shiny new metal and, more importantly, open up a new position on the global motoring calendar to allow the Australian show to become a major Asian motoring event each year.

The 2.7-litre, twin-turbo V6 Ford/PSA engine - previously deployed in models as diverse as the Jaguar XF and Citroen's C5 - brings to this hitherto thirsty, petrol-only range the low-end torque and economy that makes diesel the power source of choice for buyers of bigger SUVs. Emissions will be cut by as much as 25 per cent compared with the Territory's venerable naturally aspirated in-line petrol six, while output should be in the vicinity of 150kW and 440Nm: just what the two-tonne Strayan SUV needs. New SUVs are thick on the ground in 2011, but the fairest of them all is the Range Rover Evoque, which brings designer desirability and - at little more than $50K - relative affordability to the segment.  Range Rover's first foray into the domain of the Q5s and X3s of this world will bring Land Rover's luxury badge within reach of people who don't necessarily use them to form convoys outside private schools. It's the smallest, lightest Rangie ever, and the leanest version emits about 130g of CO2 per kilometre.  Most of all, Gerry McGovern's sublime, compact design - especially in coupe format - will change the way you look at SUVs. Roll on September. On a softer note, compact SUVs - prestige ones, in particular - have been the growth segment of the past few years.  This year brings an especially intriguing contrast: two Volkswagen Group models, both with Tiguan underpinnings and most likely highly similar drivetrains, one built in Spain, the other in the Czech Republic. The former is Audi's Q3, the latter Skoda's Yeti. The Audi will carry a premium price tag; the Skoda won't. Compare and contrast.  In tougher terrain, the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee lobs later this month with its newly acquired monocoque chassis, reportedly tarted-up interior and a trio of V engines; a new 209kW 3.6-litre petrol V6; a 5.7-litre Hemi petrol V8; and a three-litre CRDi turbo-diesel six. The Cherokee's Patriot and Wrangler stablemates have also been updated. Just as ballsy (more so, even) is Nissan's Pathfinder Ti 550, the most powerful version to date, with its stump-pullin' three-litre turbo-diesel V6. If the sun is temporarily eclipsed in June, it's probably due to the vastness of the latest Volkswagen Touareg with its new range of six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a platform shared with the exxier likes of Audi's Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. There can be few left in this global village who haven't been exposed to pre-launch publicity for the Toyota FJ Cruiser.  This four-year-old, retro-designed device finally gets here in March, lugged along by the four-litre V6 petrol engine from the 150 Series Prado. Claimed outputs are 200kW and 380Nm.  If you must have one, that blue seems the least ostentatious colour.

A NEW level of luxury is on the way for the Ford Territory in 2011. Our spy shots, captured by an eagle-eyed Carsguide reader in Victoria this week, show what is obviously the next high-spec level of the eagerly-awaited new SUV. "Yes, a lot of bling has been thrown at the Territory in the high-series version,'' Ford spokesman Neil McDonald admits. "We're massaging it a bit so it's certainly been given more of an upmarket look.'' This test vehicle certainly looks well-massaged - and production ready, with no black stickers or padded bras. It's wearing stylish metallic accents around the grille and fascias, while the sporty wheels look to be 18-inchers. Those rear tail lights have become noticeably more angular, somewhat reminiscent of Subaru's Forester. The front has a much larger mouth and there is more prominent use of larger Ford badges. In all, it looks gratifyingly similar to the dramatic concept drawings Ford released before Christmas, with more striking, distinctive lines, bonnet and lights. "There's now strong SUV styling in the front of the car — and you'll probably see that across other models in the future,'' McDonald says. "It's a global DNA so we're slotting into the 'One Ford' design ethos.'' He says that while the upmarket look might get the attention of some fans of European brands, it's mainly aimed at fending off market attacks from Asia. "It could attract some people away from possibly the entry level Europeans, but it's quite clear the car is Australian competition for the imported Japanese and Korean SUVs,'' McDonald says. "The Territory is the only Australian designed and built SUV — so we consider that a pretty strong position for the car. "You have to remember there are close to 100,000 on the road since it was launched in 2004 so that's a hefty carpark.'' Of course, it's not only the high-spec version that's getting all the attention at Ford Australia. There are hints that extra goodies may have also been doled to the mid-range model, which is likely to come with more standard kit, including foglights and larger wheels. And there's already been confirmation of the long overdue oilburner engine — a 2.7 V6 twin turbodiesel Ford/PSA unit previously deployed in models as diverse as the Jaguar XF and Citroen's C5. The new engine brings to the hitherto thirsty, petrol-only range the low end torque and economy that increasingly makes diesel the power-source of choice for buyers of bigger SUVs. Emissions will be cut by as much as 25 percent compared to the venerable naturally-aspirated inline petrol six, output should be in the vicinity of 150kW and 440Nm. As sales of diesel SUVs go ever north, it just what the two-tonne Australian SUV needs. Diesel SUV sales increased by more than 50 power cent among private buyers and almost 40 per cent for fleets in 2010, action that Ford Australia needs to get a piece of. As the Falcon, which underpins the Tezza, falls further from grace, the SUV's sales of 10,699 units to the beginning of December comprise an ever more important part of the Ford's total of 88,000 year-to-date. The Blue Oval's second best seller was slightly down in November for the same month in 2009, something the diesel edition is seen as crucial to rectifying. Ford says the SUV's new look will include a major interior update and boast a number of technology highlights. Approximately 85 per cent of the entire Ford Australia new-model catalogue will be replaced or updated in the coming year. This includes the updated MC Mondeo and newly Thai-sourced WT Fiesta hatch and sedan — both recently launched — and in 2011 the Territory, Focus, Falcon (with four-cylinder engine and optional liquid-inject LPG) and Ranger ute.

The Territory, Ford Ranger and next Ford Focus are used to demonstrate how the carmaker uses Lycra®, vinyl, foam, vacuum-molded plastic and other materials to disguise their cars when they’re in the testing phase. These are the tools that "help keep the prying paparazzi away from Ford Australia's top-secret vehicles being developed by the company's prototype team,” Ford says – although there’s a school of thought that suspects they welcome the extra attention and interest a well-shot spy photo can generate. The three cars shown are part of the planned 2011 model roll-out, starting with the new turbodiesel  version of the popular Territory SUV. It will be followed by the new T6 Ranger ute that had its global debut at the Australian International Motor Show in October, and then the next-generation Focus and liquid phase injection (LPi) dedicated LPG versions of the Falcon. Ford admits that the camouflage itself draws the eye.  "These days most people have a camera phone so we have to be extra careful when we use public roads with a prototype," Ford Australia's program co-ordinator, Damian Lavric, says. "It is a difficult job because we want to keep driving vehicles in real-world conditions but we don't want to inhibit key vehicle functions at the same time, like engine cooling. "It's ironic because we want to disguise the vehicles and hide all the details, but all the stickers and camouflage draw the attention we are trying to avoid." Car companies also go to great lengths to disguise the interiors – and this can produce some tricky problems because while they need to camouflage the dash and controls, they also need to make them accessible for the test engineers to use. The camouflage must also be tough enough to be shipped around the world on cars that are tested in other countries, such as the T6 Ranger that will be sold in 180 markets and needed detailed full-body camouflage that would survive harsh Aussie conditions as well as European winter and the blazing heat of the Middle East.