Territory Diesel before 2010

Ford has confirmed a turbodiesel Territory will go on sale before local production switches from the indigenous inline six to V6 petrol engines.

Ford Australia spokesperson Sinead McAlary confirmed the timetable for the long-awaited diesel SUV today, saying Ford Australia would not wait until its 2010 switch to imported Duratec engines (more here) to launch a Territory diesel.

With a number of potential diesels powerplants currently available to Ford Australia, McAlary suggested that the high-riding five-door 'oiler' would be released "well before" the Duratec’s arrival, then retain the same powertrain beyond the new petrol V6’s introduction in 2010.

Exactly which diesel engine will find a home under the Territory (and eventually Falcon) bonnet is still a subject of intense speculation, however.

The current favourite is the expensive 2.7-litre V6 unit used in both single and twin-turbo versions across the Peugeot 407, Jaguar S-Type/XJ6 D and Land Rover Discovery.

In the Peugeot it delivers 150kW/440Nm, for the Jaguar it has 153kW/435Nm while in the Discovery it generates 140kW/445Nm.

Of the three specifications, the Discovery's high torque version would be the preferred choice, given the Territory's high towing capacity and popular seven-seat option.

Another possibility is the new Duratorq 3.0-litre, as launched this year in the new Ford Ranger. A big four-cylinder common rail diesel that packs 115kW and 380Nm with decent fuel economy, the Duratorq is an unlikely choice.

Not only would it have to work much harder in the full-sized Territory, minimizing fuel economy and performance benefits, but it is unlikely to boast the refinement the Territory (and later the Falcon) requires.

If Ford is to maintain its new sub-$40,000 pricing for the Territory, the choice is not clear when a diesel version would need to start at $40,000 or just over.

The unknown quantity is whether a rear-wheel drive diesel version of the new Duratec V6 petrol engines destined for the Falcon and Territory models in 2010 is on its way. Because such a diesel engine option would not replace the local petrol engine, Ford Australia has the option of launching it ahead of the new petrol engines.

Either way, expect to wait until at least the end of 2008, early 2009 for a diesel option to arrive -- probably around the time of the Territory’s first major update.

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