Ford Endura ST-Line touches down in Oz

The Ford Endura ST-Line has touched down in Australia, shortly before its on-sale date in December.

The Blue Oval this week released a 45 second teaser clip of the new five-seat model, which effectively replaces the locally-built Territory pulled from production in 2016.

“Up close and personal for the first time,” Ford Australia says of the Endura ST-Line, known as the Edge in other markets.

Ford Australia hasn’t disclosed pricing or specification details for the Endura line-up yet. However, it has already confirmed to motoring.com.au that the newcomer will not be available with seven-seat capacity.

“We’re not currently looking at it and it’s not in our plans,” Ford Australia boss Kay Hart said last week.

“We currently have the seven-seat Everest, and that’s where our focus has been.”

The Endura ST-Line will offer some semblance of sportiness in Australia thanks to the fitment of a new 175kW 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that offers more power than the new Ranger Raptor.

The ST-Line version will also push upmarket with a leather interior, digital displays and contrasting red stitching through the cabin of the pre-production model teased this week.

Australia’s standard Endura will be powered by a 140kW/400Nm version of the same EcoBlue engine.

Ford has already revealed a more powerful twin-turbo 2.7-litre petrol V6-engined Edge ST for North America, where a teaser image released in March also indicated it will also introduce an ST version of its next-generation Explorer seven-seat SUV (pictured), which is also likely for Australiaas a belated replacement for the homegrown Territory.

Ford recently opened an expression of interest page for the Endura on its Australian website.

“We’re really looking forward to have the Endura in Australia, there has already been a good amount of interest from consumers,” said a Ford Australia spokesman.