Ford Territory rings a bell to get five stars

THE Ford Territory will be accorded a maximum five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash test score across the range when production resumes on January 11 after the annual summer break at the Broadmeadows plant in Victoria.

The revised rating brings the Territory into line with Ford’s other Australian-made car, the FG Falcon.

The Territory, which currently scores a four-star ANCAP result, will gain the full five stars across the board with the addition of an audible front passenger seat belt warning to remind the front occupant to put on their seatbelt.

The Territory has had the basis for a five-star result in its body structure since its launch in 2004 but lacked the required audible seat belt warning and necessary equipment as standard across the range.

The AWD Territory with side curtain airbags was first crash-tested by ANCAP in January 2006.

Stability control was standard on AWD models since release of the SX model in 2004, and from the January 2008 SY model it became standard on the RWD versions.

Left: Ford Australia president and CEO Marin Burela.

All Territorys since the SYII update in July this year come standard with side curtain airbags, as well as the previously standard ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, dual front dual-stage airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, side thorax airbags, driver’s seatbelt audible warning and stability control.

When tested in January 2006, the dual front airbags and ABS/EBD brakes were standard on all variants. Side curtain airbags were standard equipment on the TS and Ghia variants and optional on the entry-level TX.

Electronic stability control was standard on all-wheel-drive variants and the Ghia RWD. It was an option for the other models.

Ford’s FG Falcon petrol sedan was accorded five-star status in August 2008 and LPG sedan models were included from April this year.