Ford teases XR8, leaked images show final Territory

FORD has released yet another teaser shot of the last Australian-made car to wear the Falcon name, this time featuring the badge that will appear on the final XR8.

The image shows a much more stylised badge for the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 version of the Falcon – which resurrects the XR8 badge after an almost four-year absence from the large-car range.

Of significance, though, is a Mustang-style honeycomb grille sitting behind the badge, potentially a move designed to soften the blow when the US-sourced muscle car replaces the performance-oriented Falcon range some time next year.

While it is not yet confirmed, the XR8 is believed to be in line for a 335kW version of the engine originally developed for Ford’s FPV go-fast division.

The use of the forced-induction engine rather than an atmospheric one suggests the final Australian-made XR8 is likely to carry a significant pricing premium when it potentially arrives as part of the final Falcon model line-up late this year.

Meanwhile, images of what is believed to be the final look of the Ford Territory have leaked online, showing a version of the SUV that is difficult to distinguish from the current one.

Left: 2014 Ford Territory.

The images show a more refined version of the current Territory, featuring a smaller, more shapely grille sitting below a chrome highlighted false grille, and soft-brush aluminium highlights around Ford Edge-style fog-lamps.

While Ford has used a significant amount of the $103 million it received in taxpayer support to rework both the front and the rear of the Falcon, Ford’s less budget-heavy tweaks to the Territory are believed to have been limited to the front end and LED tail-lights.

The last Australian-made Falcon and Territory are expected to go on sale in Australia in about December.