Ford's softly, softly Sydney show

Ford officially unveiled its BF Falcon and SY Territory, together with the enticing five-cylinder, six-speed hot hatch XR5 Turbo and Fiesta... But, surprisingly, no diesel-engined nor turbo Territory.

Ford Australia vice-president marketing and sales, Mark Winslow did the honours, stressing "economy, performance, refininement and safety" of the new Falcon and Territory. But in a lot of minds - especially in terms of rising fuel prices - the "economy" part of that argument was a little underdone.

Winslow talked up improved fuel economy of between 5-11 per cent -- helped significantly by the new, highly-regarded six-speed automatic transmission (reviewed at length on CarPoint). But the big question was: where is the much-lauded 2.7-litre turbo-diesel that's also in the Ford stable and has been getting rave reviews in Europe?

For that matter, what about a hotshoe Territory with XR6T running gear?

When pressed, Winslow would say only that he couldn't comment on future product. You'll find full models and prices of the current line up detailed below.

In terms of small cars, the real Focus on the Ford stand, as it were, was the XR5 Turbo.

Unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show as the Focus ST, the "hero car" XR5's turbocharged in-line five-cylinder develops a chunky 166kW and 320Nm. All delivered to the bitumen via a six-speed manual gearbox.

And the car has the street-cred looks to match. Especially in the Electric Orange colour on the Sydney show car.

The already-impressive Focus chassis has been modified, stiffened and lowered by 25mm. Front and rear spring rates have been increased, and the anti-roll bar beefed-up. Brakes are upped to 320mm x 28mm front ventilated discs with bigger callipers and pads.

Inside, there's an additional instruments pod, with turbo boost pressure indication, oil temperature and oil pressure gauges.

The deeper front bumper, lower grille, and brushed-alloy foglight surrounds also add big ticks to the street-cred equation. As do the big-bore twin exhausts

No price was announced; that'll come closer to the early-2006 local launch.

At least we can tell you official Falcon and Territory recommended retails, options included, so here goes:

BF FALCON*:
Falcon XT sedan with five-speed manual $34,880
Options:
Four-speed automatic $1,000
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 230 V8 (includes six-speed auto) $6,000
Prestige paint $355
Power windows (rear) $470
Limited slip differential $360
Prestige audio system $685
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
1600kg towpack $450
Reverse sensing system $500
Power adjustable pedals $350
Side airbags $555
Sunroof $2,250
4 x 16-inch alloy wheels $1,290
4 x 17-inch luxury wheels $1,390

Falcon XT wagon with four-speed auto $37,610
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Prestige paint $355
Power windows (rear) $470
Limited slip differential $360
Prestige audio system $685
1600kg towpack $450
Power adjustable pedals $350
Side airbags $555
4 x 16-inch alloy wheels $1,290

Futura sedan with four-speed auto $39,175
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Prestige paint $355
Limited slip differential $360
Prestige audio system $685
1600 kg towpack $450
Power adjustable pedals $350
Sunroof $2,250
4 x 16-inch alloy wheels $985
4 x 17-inch luxury wheels $1,390

Futura wagon with four-speed auto $41,260
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Prestige paint $355
Limited slip differential $360
Prestige audio system $685
1600kg towpack $450
Power adjustable pedals $350
4 x 16-inch alloy wheels $985

XR sedan:

XR6 with six-speed manual $39,710
XR6 with four-speed auto $39,710
XR6 Turbo with six-speed manual $46,405
XR8 with six-speed manual $51,330

Options:
Six-speed automatic $1,250
Prestige paint $355
Chromaflair paint® $1,590
Premium audio system $985
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
XR luxury interior package $4,595
1600kg towpack $450
Reverse sensing system $500
Power adjustable pedals $350
Side airbags $555
Sports steering wheel $695
XR sports leather seats $2,495
Sunroof $2,250
4 x 18-inch alloy wheels (standard on XR8) $1,500

Fairmont sedan $43,195
Options:
Barra 230 V8 (includes six-speed auto) $6,000
Sports Control Blade IRS $465
Premium audio system $985
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
1600kg towpack $450
Sunroof $2,250
4 x 17-inch alloy luxury wheels $1,390

Fairmont Ghia sedan $52,860
Options:
Barra 230 V8 $5,000
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
1600kg towpack $450
Sunroof $2,250
4 x 17-inch alloy luxury wheels $500

Fairlane Ghia  $58,625
Options:
Barra 230 V8 $6,136
DVD satellite navigation system $4,418
1600kg towpack $552
Sunroof $2,761

Fairlane G8 $65,405
Options:
DVD satellite navigation system $4,418
1600kg towpack $552
Sunroof $2,761

LTD $75,525
Options:
1600kg towpack $552

SY TERRITORY:*

Territory TX RWD $39,490
Options:
Prestige paint $385
Body colour pack $650
Dynamic Stability Control $800
Cruise control $660
Fog lamps $250
Prestige audio system $685
3rd row bench seat $1,600
1600 kg towpack $450
Side curtain airbag $800
REX DVD system $2,885
Running boards $995
Intelligent bar system $1,650

Territory TX AWD $43,990
Options:
Prestige paint $385
Body colour pack $650
Cruise control $660
Hill Descent Control+ $865
Fog lamps $250
Prestige audio system $685
3rd row bench seat $1,600
1600 kg towpack $450
Side curtain airbag $800
REX DVD system $2,885
Running boards $995
Intelligent bar system $1,650

Territory TS RWD $46,330
Options:
Prestige paint $385
Body colour pack $650
Dynamic Stability Control $800
Fog lamps $250
Reverse camera $1,000
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
3rd row bench seat $1,600
1600 kg towpack $450
REX DVD system $2,885
Running boards $995
Intelligent bar system $1,650

Territory TS AWD $51,330
Options:
Prestige paint $385
Body colour pack $650
Hill Descent Control $865
Fog lamps $250
Reverse camera $1,000
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
3rd row bench seat $1,600
1600 kg towpack $450
REX DVD system $2,885
Running boards $995
Intelligent bar system $1,650

Territory Ghia RWD $51,820
Options:
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
3rd row bench seat $1,800
1600 kg towpack $450
REX DVD system $2,885
Intelligent bar system $1,650
Running boards $995

Territory Ghia AWD $56,320
Options:
Hill Descent Control $865
DVD satellite navigation system $3,600
3rd row bench seat $1,800
1600 kg towpack $450
REX DVD system $2,885
Intelligent bar system $1,650
Running boards $995

BF FALCON UTE*:

XL Chassis Cab five-speed manual $26,950
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 220 V8 (inc ABS & 16" wheels) $5,000
Four-speed column auto $1,000
Four-speed auto $1,000
Prestige paint $355
Aluminium tray $1,390
Cruise control $660
Passenger airbag $495
Air conditioning $2,250
Limited slip differential $470
ABS $930
Prestige sound system $685
1600 kg towpack $450

XL Style Side Box five-speed manual $27,375
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 220 V8 (inc ABS & 16" wheels) $5,000
Four-speed column auto $1,000
Four-speed auto $1,000
Prestige paint $355
Cruise control $660
Passenger airbag $495
Air conditioning $2,250
Limited slip differential $470
ABS $930
Prestige sound system $685
1600 kg towpack $450
Tonneau cover $255
Hard tonneau cover $2,100

XLS Chassis Cab five-speed manual $29,145
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 220 V8 (inc ABS & 16" wheels) $5,000
Four-speed auto $1,000
Prestige paint $355
Aluminium tray $1,390
Passenger airbag $495
Air conditioning $2,250
Limited slip differential $470
ABS $930
Prestige sound system $685
1600 kg towpack $450

XLS Style Side Box five-speed manual $29,795
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 220 V8 (inc ABS & 16" wheels) $5,000
Four-speed auto $1,000
Prestige paint $355
Hard tonneau cover $2,100
Passenger airbag $495
Air conditioning $2,250
Limited slip differential $470
ABS $930
Prestige sound system $685
1600 kg towpack $450

RTV Chassis Cab five-speed manual $31,450
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 220 V8 (inc ABS & 16" wheels) $5,000
Four-speed column auto $1,000
Four-speed auto $1,000
Prestige paint $355
Aluminium tray $1,490
Passenger airbag $495
Air conditioning $2,250
Prestige sound system $685
1600 kg towpack $450

RTV Style Side Box five-speed manual $32,400
Options:
E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG^ $1,400
Barra 220 V8 (inc ABS & 16" wheels) $5,000
Four-speed column auto $1,000
Four-speed auto $1,000
Prestige paint $355
Tonneau cover $255
Hard tonneau cover $2,100
Passenger airbag $495
Air conditioning $2,250
Prestige sound system $685
1600 kg towpack $450

XR Ute

XR6 Ute five-speed manual $34,620
XR6 Turbo Ute six-speed manual $40,445
XR8 Ute six-speed manual $41,595

Options:
Four-speed auto (XR6 only) $1,000
Six-speed auto (XR6 Turbo, XR8 only) $1,250
Prestige paint $355
Chromaflair® paint $1,590
XR sports leather seats $1,495
Alloy sports bar $895
Hard tonneau $2,100
Hard tonneau with spoiler $2,710
Hard tonneau with sports bar $3,150
Hard tonneau with spoiler and sports bar $3,750
Passenger airbag $495
Sports leather steering wheel $695
Prestige sound system $685
Luxury pack $2,995
1600 kg towpack $450

* Does not include dealer delivery and statutory charges
^ Automatic transmission a mandatory option with E-Gas
+ Cruise control a mandatory option with Hill Descent Control