First look: Inside Ford's Territory

FORD revealed the interior of its vital new Territory cross-over at the Sydney motor show today, confirming the wagon will be available in two spec levels and with optional third row seating.

Due on sale on June 1, 2004, the Territory is expected to add important volume to Ford’s existing Falcon sales, with the aim of 32,000 sales annually by 2005.

The entry level Territory will include traction control, anti-lock brakes, front airbags, air-conditioning, CD player, power windows, power seats and power adjustment for pedals.

The upper-spec model will add standard leather, cruise control, a six-stack CD player, alloy wheels, dual front and side curtain airbags and a cargo shelf in the rear load area.

The all-wheel drive Territory will have the same equipment levels as the rear-wheel drive version, but adds stability control and the option of hill descent control.

The standard powerplant will be the Barra 182 six-cylinder from BA Falcon, with the turboversion a strong chance to join it in production.

There will be no V8 version of Territory, at least initially.

Pricing is expected to start in the mid-$30,000 range for the entry level rear-wheel drive.

Ford has yet to reveal the branding of the models in the Territory range but at this stage the plan is for them to have unique nomenclature, breaking away from XLS, XLT and Limited used with Escape and Explorer.

Ford Australia interior design manager Marcus Hotblack said the Swiss army knife was the inspiration for his team’s work.

"A Swiss Army knife has every gadget under the sun and can literally do anything. We wanted the interior of the Territory to be like that," he said.

Ford claims the Territory’s interior will seat up to seven adults, with the optional third row sliding away under the seat floor.

Other highlights are:

• All-new seat designs.
  
  
• Theatre-style seating where each row of seats is higher than the one in front of it.
  
  
• Optional sliding second row seat releases more room for third row passengers.
  
  
• Second and third row seats fold flat.
  
  
• Second row has a 60:40 split-fold.
  
  
• Lap-sash seatbelts and headrests all-round.
  
  
• Up to 33 storage compartments, including hand-bag and bottle holders and a removable rubbish bin.
  
  
• Split tailgate including flip glass.
  
  
• Front doors open 65 degrees and rear door 70 degrees – much wider than Falcon.
  
  
• Wet area under the rear floor of five-seaters.
  
  

The cockpit area of the Territory is basically the same as the Falcon, although some new elements – such as different graphics in the instrument cluster – are incorporated. Ford was also keen to emphasise the strong T-shape of the central spine of the car.

"That has helped in creating an interior that includes all the passengers, making them feel part of the interior and not alienated from it," Mr Hotblack said.

"At the same time it gives the driver a feeling of control with its driver-orientated cockpit, something our customers were emphatic about. It’s an active family vehicle and the T-shape definitely helps in reinforcing that theme."Interior colour and trim designs for Territory include a new colour family called Eucalyptus.

Outside there are eight colour choices, with a choice of single or duo-tone.

Ford will also market a range of accessories for Territory – everything from a DVD player to kids backpacks that hang off the back of the front seats.