Territory hopes rest with nip tuck

Ford has banked on modest cosmetic changes and added equipment to revitalise sales of its groundbreaking Territory medium SUV. Unveiled at the Melbourne International Motor Show in February and launched this week in northern NSW, the award-winning Ford all-roader arrives in dealers this month with a new 'face' but without the petrol powertrain improvements wrought by its FG Falcon stablemate...

Oh, and not a diesel engine in sight.

Faced by a bevy of medium SUV segment entrants since the three-row Ford's introduction in 2004, the new SY MkII Territory will carry Blue Oval's hopes in the important marketplace for "a significant amount of time". Though the all-new Territory was due to arrive in late 2009, it now seems likely the vehicle will not surface until perhaps the end of 2010.

Despite statements from Ford Australia boss Marin Burela last month, that the company would discuss the future of Territory in a four-to-six week timeframe, no information on the new car or its powertrains was forthcoming this week.

Development boss Russell Christophers said succinctly: "Clearly we're doing things with Territory. We have a cycle plan and in that cycle plan there's a point we're going to do something major, but we're not ready to talk about that... And we won't be for quite some time."

Meantime, the Territory Ford is happy to talk about, the SY MkII, has "no significant mechanical changes" according to Christophers. It carries over the same inline six-cylinder powertrain as used in the BA/BF Falcon and rear-wheel drive Territory buyers (over 60 per cent of current volume) are still denied the fuel-saving attributes and refinement of the ZF six-speeder auto fitted to all-wheel drive Territorys.

Indeed, even the new five-speed auto that's standard in the latest Falcon base model is off-limits. All rear-wheel drive Territorys still feature four-speed auto boxes and Ford has also shied away from offering a factory-fitted LPG option for the big softroader.

Fuel efficiency improvements are, however, claimed for the updated Territory -- the biggest gain is 0.6L/100km in the case of entry-level five-seat rear-wheel drive variants. Other rear-wheel drive versions are 0.2L/100km more frugal. The changes are characterised as the result of engine mapping and calibration improvements. Fuel economy figures for the all-wheel drive models remains the same.

Despite the six-speed XT Falcon now boasting four-cylinder rivalling 9.9L/100km consumption figures, Ford says fitting the six-speed drivetrain would have handicapped the Territory in terms of entry-level pricing.

Christophers told the Carsales Network though the six-speed gearbox was attractive from a fuel efficiency standpoint, there is a significant cost impost.

"It would [give a great fuel economy result] but the customer would have to pay more for the car. It's a choice between offering the customer value and offering the customer fuel economy...

Christophers denied the lack of a six-speed option (and the updated FG engine, etc) was a function of the budget allocated for the facelift program. Ford would not, however, give details of the program cost for the MkII update.

We detailed the changes Ford has made to the Territory back in February (more here).

Now, the company has confirmed pricing and equipment upgrades. While three grades of naturally-aspirated Territorys remain (TX, TS and Ghia) and are all available in both rear and all-wheel drive variants, the sole turbocharged model is now the all-wheel-drive-only Ghia Turbo.

Exterior design changes include new bumper and grilles (upper and lower), new headlamps and taillights, a reprofiled bonnet (excluding the Turbo) and standard colour coding of bumpers, door handles, mirrors and the like across the range.

Further tweaks include a new foglamp design and new interior and exterior colours.

Thanks to clever use of detailing on the above changes, Ford has delivered better model differentiation across the range. For example the four models from TX to Ghia Turbo all have unique front valance treatments.

All grades except the TX and top-of-the-range Ghia Turbo now offer the choice of a two-tone interior. The new base colour for the Territory cabin is Charcoal with platinum highlights on the centre stack. Gone is the Eucalyptus colour scheme of the original Territory.

Four new external colours are offered, though only three will be available from launch. The fourth colour, a metallic gold/green called Serenity will be added in October 2009.

Though the base model TX has increased $1000 and all other variants are up $500, Ford claims that depending on the model grade and drivetrain configuration, the new SY MkII Territorys include between $3600-6600 worth of added equipment.

The base TX adds side curtain airbags, cruise control, 17-inch alloys and body-coloured detailing to the spec of the outgoing model, while the TS variants now get a reversing camera, foglamps, leather wheel and gearshift accents and third-row seating as standard.

Ghia and Ghia Turbo models also get the third row plus a rear DVD entertainment system and new 18-inch alloys (the Turbo gets its own Y-spoke design wheels). Also standard now is rear privacy glass and side steps. 

Pricing for the new Ford Territory SY MkII range kicks off at $39,490 for the rear-wheel drive TX, with the top Territory Ghia Turbo retailing at $66,420. A full price list is below.

Look out for our launch review of the facelifted Territory range soon

Ford Territory SY MkII pricelist
Rear-wheel Drive (four-speed auto)
TX -- $39,490
TS -- $44,490
Ghia -- $52,490

All-wheel Drive (six-speed auto)
TX -- $44,490
TS -- $49,490
Ghia -- $57,490
Ghia Turbo -- $66,420
 ends