Sun rises on new Territory

NEW Ford Territory, the possibilities are amazing: that’s the apt but otherwise straight-forward catchcry that’s about to hit Australian television screens as Ford launches the advertising campaign for what could be the most important vehicle it has ever manufactured here.

Accompanied by Aussie Alex Lloyd’s hit You Are Amazing and revealed to media at the Territory cross-over’s official launch on Monday in New Zealand, where full pricing and sales forecasts were also announced, the campaign kicks off in most states on May 2.

But Territorys will be available for overnight test drives even sooner, with demonstrators set to arrive in Ford showrooms around Australia from April 22 – more than a month before the vehicle goes on sale on June 1.

Joint promotions with Myer and two Channel Nine programs will continue the Territory exposure as the Ford factory ramps up to sell an expected 12,000 Territorys following its launch, expanding to 2000 a month in 2005 and beyond.

While that estimated sales forecast of 24,000 units per annum would easily make the $500 million Territory Ford Australia’s second biggest selling model here behind Falcon – with which it shares around half of its components - it’s a long way short of the original estimate of an eventual 32,000 annual sales by 2007.

But the company remains adamant Territory will attract a large proportion of customers from other large and medium-sized cross-overs, lured by its promise to combine car-like comfort, performance, ride and handling, with “the ability to go off-road without being a truck” and its seven-seat capacity “without being a boring bus or people-mover”.

Indeed, an afternoon’s drive around the urban roads of Christchurch – designed to showcase the vehicle in “the environment in which it will be used most” and followed by more serious driving the next day - revealed Territory to be as quiet, smooth riding and manoeuvrable as Falcon, with even greater comfort, visibility, exit/entry and interior flexibility.

Of course, purchase price will be another of Territory’s unique selling points, with the entry level TX rear-wheel drive variant opening the range at $38,990, as previously reported, and the flagship Ghia all-wheel drive variant topping the range at around $55,000 including optional third-row seating.

As previously announced, all Territorys come standard with Falcon’s 182kW/380Nm DOHC VCT straight six and sequential-shift four-speed automatic (this time with useful grade logic technology), ABS with EBD, traction control, twin front airbags, air-conditioning, CD sound system, trip computer, power windows/mirrors, power seats and power-adjustable pedals.

The complete pricing line-up, revealed in New Zealand for the first time, also comprises the mid-spec TS variant, which will be available from September at a price of $44,790.

For the $5800 price premium over the base TX, TS adds a premium Interior Command Centre, dual-zone climate control, premium sound system, cruise control, 17-inch alloys (instead of steel wheels) and, in an Australian-manufactured first, side curtain airbags.

The $49,290 Ghia tops the range and for a further $4500 adds leather trim, leather gearknob, leather steering wheel, parking sensors, foglights, unique alloy wheels and body-coloured bumpers.

All three rear-wheel drive Territory variants feature Ford’s new Acutrac “handling system”, which becomes Acutrac Plus and incorporates dynamic stability control when all-wheel drive is optioned at a cost of $4000. Acutrac Plus also comes with the option of Hill Descent Control ($865).

A third-row seating option is also available across the range, which costs $1500, brings the total number of seats to seven and includes a slide function for the second row of seats. It also reduces the number of storage compartments from 33 to 31.

A massive list of no fewer than 66 accessories is also available.

Ford expects the base TX variant to account for 70 per cent of Territory sales, with TS adding 20 per cent and the top-shelf Ghia commanding just 10 per cent. The majority – or 60 per cent - of buyers are forecast to take up the AWD option.

PRICING:
Ford Territory TX $38,990
Ford Territory TX all-wheel drive $42,990
Ford Territory TS $44,790
Ford Territory TS all-wheel drive $48,790
Ford Territory Ghia $49,290
Ford Territory Ghia all-wheel drive $53,290
Third row option: $1500 Visit www.goauto.com.au from this Friday for our first Territory drive impressions.