Ford's Territory brings up the rear

FORD has confirmed that, from its launch next June, the 2004 Territory will be available in both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive configuration.

It’s a similar approach to that of Holden – which will release a rear-drive Crewman twin-cab utility in September, followed by an all-wheel drive version dubbed Cross8 later this year.

But Ford says both Territories will go on sale simultaneously and, while details of both the Adventra and Territory interiors remain secret, it has been confirmed Ford’s cross-over wagon will also feature third row seating, with five seats as standard and seven as an option.

“Territory will be available as a rear-wheel drive vehicle,” said Ford president Geoff Polites.

“Why? It’s simple: because one customer group wants a command driving position and flexible packaging, and another group says I want to go somewhere a two-wheel drive won’t take me.

“As of Territory, you can chose not to pay for all-wheel drive. Previously there was no choice.”

Mr Polites said that given half of all Explorers and Escapes sold globally were rear-wheel drive, a rear-drive Territory would represent “a major part of our volume projections".

While he was reluctant to divulge percentages or pricing, Mr Polites believes the rear-wheel drive Territory will comprise the majority of sales, expected to number at least 20,000 units per annum, with all-wheel drive attracting a premium of between $3000 and $5000.

It is believed up to three specifications of each Territory will be offered and Ford is expected to leverage its decision to produce a rear-drive Territory by starting pricing in the high $30,000s, with pricing for all-wheel drive versions beginning in the $40,000s.

Territory will be released in both two and four-wheel drive in June, each with the option of seven seats.

The decision to build a two-wheel drive Territory will not mean the end for the Falcon wagon, Mr Polites said.

The company will continue to build the car, primarily to cater for those fleet-orientated customers who need a large flat-floored passenger wagon.

Ford keen to build a turbo version

FORD is dead keen to build a stonking turbocharged Territory good enough to wear the Ford Performance Vehicles badge.

A wild new turbo six, based on Falcon’s “Barra 182” inline six-cylinder engine and set to gazump the XR6 Turbo’s 240kW engine, is currently under development at FPV’s Campbellfield skunkworks.

It is believed this engine, which could produce as much as 280kW, will eventually find its way into Territory, following its launch as the new entry level product in the FPV range next year.

“I think you can have an FPV variant (of Territory) at some point,” confirmed Ford boss Geoff Polites.

“If Porsche can do it, so can we. The turbo fits, but there are other issues.”

While Territory will be launched with a 4.0-litre six-cylinder only in 2004, a 240kW version using the XR6T engine is likely to be added to the Ford-badged Territory range.

A V8-powered Territory is yet to be engineered but, if approved, the Ford crossover could feature either the base 220kW, XR8’s 260kW or GT’s 290kW version of Ford’s new modular 5.4-litre Ford V8.

FPV is also working on a supercharged version of the GT engine, which could produce about 350kW in a GTHO performance flagship.