Ford confirms Endura SUV

One of the worst-kept secrets in the automotive space has been confirmed today, with Ford Australia giving the official nod to ‘Endura’ as the nameplate for its belated replacement for the homegrown Territory SUV.

In a statement, Ford confirmed the Endura name – not Equator or Territory, which it also considered -- will adorn the rump of the large SUV known in other markets as the Edge when local sales commence late next year.

The confirmation of ‘Endura’ – short for ‘endurance’ -- follows an admission to motoring.com.au from industry sources last month, along with a protracted legal battle between Ford Australia and Toyota Australia, which holds the naming rights to Edge, Ford’s preferred choice.

“Market research conducted resulted in ‘Endura’ resonating most, relative to the features and capability of the vehicle, as well as being unique and contemporary,” Ford Australia said in a statement.

However, the Blue Oval today also confirmed its all-new SUV -- which will join the small EcoSport, mid-size Escape and large Everest off-roader in Ford’s SUV range -- will be available here only in five-seat, diesel form.

The omission of a seven-seat option could cost Ford precious sales in Australia to the US-built Toyota Kluger, which was upgraded in February, as well as the Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Santa Fe (which will also be renewed next year) and Kia Sorento, an upgrade for which is coming in November.

Nor will it match the seven-seat capacity of Skoda’s new Kodiaq, Volkswagen’s upcoming Tiguan Allspace or Holden’s all-new Acadia due by mid-2018.

Ford Australia has been without a large, car-based seven-seat crossover wagon since it ended Territory production – and quit local manufacturing – in October 2016, two months after confirming the Edge for Australia in 2018.

Differentiating the five-seat Endura from the 3.2-litre diesel-powered Everest off-roader, Ford’s only large SUV offering, will be a lower 2000kg towing capacity, lack of a dual-range transmission, lower fuel consumption of about 6.0L/100km and a stronger on-road skillset.

Ford Australia is expected to import the Endura from Canada, where the five-seat Edge is produced for North America and Europe.

A longer, seven-seat, left-hand drive version of the Edge is produced in China. At 4850mm, the three-row Edge is about 70mm longer than the 4780mm Edge five-seater.

Australia’s Endura is likely to be similar in specification to the model sold in the UK, where the right-hand drive Edge is available exclusively in five-seat diesel guise.

That model is currently powered by a 154kW/450Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, while America’s Edge is available with naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre and turbocharged 2.7-litre petrol V6s.

Ford is yet to confirm price and specification of our Endura, in part because it is awaiting an updated model set to be shown at the Detroit motor show in January.

The facelift is expected to bring new front and rear styling and new technologies including a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Expect Endura pricing to open under the Ranger-based Everest’s starting price -- currently $47,990 for the RWD Ambiente.

Top-end versions should come with most of Ford’s latest safety and luxury equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, 360-degree camera, panoramic glass sunroof, leather trim, rear entertainment system, wheel sizes up to 21-inch and SYNC3 infotainment with 10.1-inch colour LCD.