Ford's next Territory revealed

UPDATE 7:00PM 25/06/2014: Ford confirmed at the Edge's European press reveal that it will be produced in right-hand drive for the first time, as well as in 2.0-litre turbo-diesel form, but that the vehicle most likely to replace Ford Australia's Territory will remain strictly a five-seater.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ford has revealed the all-new SUV that's expected to replace the Australian-made Territory when production ceases in about two years.

Revealed for the first time in the US overnight, the production-ready Edge closely resembles the concept version and has been confirmed for more than 100 markets globally.

However, no official confirmation of the vehicle's local release has been forthcoming from Ford Australia, which will release a facelifted Territory in late November and plans to continue production until Ford closes its Broadmeadows factory doors in October 2016 at the latest.

At the moment we haven't announced what the opportunity is for the Edge in Australia," said Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald. "Officially we haven't confirmed anything yet."

Full details and images of the 2015 Edge have been revealed for the first time and Ford says it is bigger and roomier inside than the US-only model it replaces, but perhaps the biggest surprise is it appears to accommodate only five seats.

That could mean the Australian-engineered, Ranger-based Everest, which is due on sale globally next year, will be the only seven-seat Ford SUV, leaving Ford Australia without a direct replacement for three-row versions of the Falcon-based Territory.

As with the Territory, the second-generation Edge rides on a car-style monocoque platform rather than a truck-style separate chassis like the Everest. It measures 4775mm long overall, making it about 80mm shorter than the existing Territory, while the Everest is expected to be longer still.

Based on the same global mid-size CD platform as the latest Fusion, which was launched in North America in 2012 and will finally be sold here as the next Mondeo in early 2015, the MkII Edge may be badged as the Territory when it eventually hits Australian showrooms.

Ford says the 2015 Edge will go on sale in North America in the first quarter of 2015, with sales following in Europe, South America and Asia Pacific markets.

Ford says the new Edge has more technology, higher levels of craftsmanship and greatly improved vehicle dynamics compared with the original Edge, which it claims helped defined North America's crossover SUV segment in 2006.

New driver-assist technologies including adaptive steering, enhanced active park assist, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, a 180-degree front camera with washer, glovebox-mounted airbag system, inflatable rear seatbelts and a hands-free tailgate.

Fuel-saving measures include an idle-stop system for the 2.0-litre model, plus active grille shutters on selected models.

Ford claims handling is improved by an entirely new body structure and redesigned suspension that better isolates road imperfections and absorbs noise without compromising handling. It says the new body has 26 per cent greater bending stiffness and 16 per cent more twisting rigidity.

The front-wheel drive Edge retains MacPherson-type front suspension, but features new integral-link independent rear with coil springs and a 23mm anti-roll bar.

The Edge is first Ford to incorporate the company's new adaptive steering technology, as standard in Sport variants and as an option for new Titanium models.

In the US, four model grades will be offered, along with wheel sizes up to 20-inch.

The new Edge will be built in Ontario, Canada with three engines, all matched with a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission and both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.

The entry model will be powered by a Spanish-built 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharging, similar to the engine in the Focus ST and Falcon EcoBoost.

Next up are two Ohio-built all-alloy 60-degree petrol V6s, a new 2.7-litre EcoBoost engine also with direct-injection and a single turbo, and Ford's 3.5-litre Ti-VCT V6.

“For three years in a row, Ford has been the best-selling utility vehicle brand in North America and has been experiencing exponential growth in global markets,” said Jim Farley, Ford's Group Vice-President for Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln.

“The all-new Edge is the next chapter in this story. And it’s a story driven by the emotional appeal of the vehicle – not its feature content.”