Ford is constant to introduce its Territory SUV to extra world markets, and this 12 months it’ll launch the automobile in its first right-hand drive market.
The Territory, additionally recognized in its house market of China because the Equator Sport, is arriving in South Africa, the place it’ll slot in between the Puma and Everest as a rival for autos just like the Toyota RAV4.
Ford Australia has an much more sparse SUV lineup, having lately confirmed it’s discontinuing the petrol-powered Puma after swinging the axe on the mid-sized Escape.
Nonetheless, it has but to announce any plans to comply with South Africa in introducing the Chinese language-built SUV. The Blue Oval has by no means provided Chinese language-built autos in Australia.
“Now we have no information to share about any plans to introduce the Ford Territory to Australia,” stated a spokesperson for Ford Australia.
In contrast to the Australian Territory, which ended manufacturing in 2016 providing a alternative of rear- or all-wheel drive and inline-six petrol or turbo-diesel V6 engines, the Chinese language Territory is front-wheel drive and makes use of a smaller engine.
Underneath the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 138kW of energy and 318Nm of torque – as a substitute of a turbo 1.5-litre utilized in China – mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.
The Territory is already provided in a varied left-hand drive markets, together with Mexico, Brazil and Philippines.
It’s a shorter, two-row model of the three-row Equator, one other product of Ford’s three way partnership with Chinese language carmaker JMC.
The Territory measures 4630mm lengthy, 1935mm large and 1706mm tall, on a 2726mm wheelbase. That makes it 16mm longer, 52mm wider and 49mm taller than the defunct Escape on a 16mm longer wheelbase.
For reference, the bigger Equator measures 4905mm lengthy, 1930mm large and 1755mm tall on a 2865mm wheelbase – very related, dimensionally, to the outdated Aussie Territory.
A full suite of energetic security and driver help know-how is out there, relying on the variant, which incorporates autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep help and rear cross-traffic alert.
Different out there gear features a panoramic sunroof, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an influence tailgate.
This isn’t the primary time the Territory nameplate has been reused by Ford.
It was first dusted off in 2018 on a rebadged Yusheng S330, slotting between the EcoSport and Escape in Ford’s Chinese language lineup. This mannequin continues to be provided in China because the Territory S, and has been provided in varied Asian markets.
Ford has two joint-venture companions in China: JMC and Changan.
Via the Changan Ford three way partnership, the Blue Oval has launched new generations of the acquainted Edge and Mondeo, however hasn’t reintroduced these nameplates within the markets the place they originated from.
Different forbidden fruit for Ford followers in markets like Europe, North America and Australia embrace the Evos, a higher-riding fastback sibling to the resurrected Mondeo, in addition to the extra upscale Lincoln Z sedan.
Ford Australia has no mid-sized SUV going ahead, following its axing final 12 months of the Escape, except you depend the considerably costlier, electric-only Mustang Mach-E.
It received’t import the facelifted Escape/Kuga, whereas the associated, boxier Bronco Sport is barely produced in left-hand drive.