New Ford Territory

[baby_troupe]

From News Website

Making waves
By STUART INNES
25jul03

FORD is going full steam ahead on its development of the Territory, an all-wheel-drive wagon aimed at having car-like driving characteristics.

Off-tool prototypes of the Australian designed and built vehicle have been undergoing extensive testing as part of final development before next year's launch.
Ford is even leaking photographs of the car, briefly spotted on the beaches of Fraser Island last week.

It is a ploy used last year in the months leading to the release of the BA Falcon: whetting people's appetites and deterring them from possibly buying another brand's vehicle before this one is released.

The Territory is the result of Ford talking to Australian motorists who want the better aspects of a car, four-wheel-drive wagon and people mover without the respective drawbacks.

The Territory will be built on the same assembly line in Victoria as the Falcon and it will share engines (that is, starting with the 182kW four-litre, six-cylinder) and transmissions with Falcon.

But it has a different underbody structure, unique front suspension and an all-wheel-drive system. It will have an adaptation of Falcon's well-regarded "control blade" independent rear suspension.

It is unlikely (though not yet confirmed) to have a low-range transfer case transmission, as it is not designed as an all-out off-roader. However, it can be expected to have some clever technology in apportioning torque between front and rear axles, depending on wheel grip. The prototype seen on Fraser Island is the culmination of thorough research clinics to learn what motorists want in appearance, function, package and ergonomics.

What Ford calls "real world validation tests" have been done at its You Yangs proving ground in Victoria as well as Sweden's frozen lakes, Western Australia's Pilbara, urban city roads and the Fraser Island beaches. Two million kilometres will be done before production begins. The prototype testing follows that of computer aided engineering (CAE) where 20 million virtual kilometres have been logged thanks to Ford's supercomputer at its world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, US.

It is a computer with 1.5 million megabytes of memory, equal to 6000 latest Pentium IV home computers. It has allowed the CAE team to run 1900 virtual crash simulations. Someone's even worked out that if a mathematician working with pen and paper had the task, it would take 16 million years.

Predicted price of Territory is unknown but Ford will need to keep the base model under $40,000 to compete against six-cylinder 4WDs

[tempestv8]

Looks very nice. I suspect it would appeal to folks that have Forresters but are now wanting something bigger and want to tow as well.

But a photo isn't always telling of how it will look in the flesh. So will wait and see it when officially released. 8)

Lawrance

[wooders]

Don't like it & wouldn't buy it - but I'll guess that there will be ample that do & will :-X

Oh yeah and why is it that the advertising frigwits always show these sorta POS's driving through the water - do that think it makes it look more "capable" not the driver more stupid :

[cuttin loose]

that picture was probably taken a few seconds before he got bogged on a rising tide.. ;D

looks ok though... don't mind the shape..but will wait and see the real thing..

[wooders]

Nah - look at it - A dead ringer for a Camry station wagon 9now if THAT ain't an insult :-*)

[baby_troupe]

For which one ;D

[carma1]

Saw it at the Motorshow back in March, and was quite impressed, quite a smart looking vehicle, according to the guy at the stand it may come with the same 4WD activation as the Explorer. But don't quote me on it tho...

[Strider01]

Hmmm,

I wonder what "lucky" person gets the salt covered car now then??? ;D ;D

But on a more serious note - give me my Pathfinder any day.

From a non biased person of course. 8)