Ford Territory

We reported earlier that Ford and Mahindra have called off their proposed automotive joint venture. In fact, the launch of the Ford C-SUV and the EcoSport Turbo with Mahindra’s mStallion engine has been put on hold. Ford Motor Company has frozen all projects it was working on with Mahindra & Mahindra.

The Ford C-SUV will be based on the new-gen Mahindra XUV500, which is scheduled to be launched in mid-2021. Instead of the C-SUV, Ford is now considering launching the Territory SUV in the Indian market. The Ford Territory is currently on sale in the Philippines, and Ford could bring this model under the 2500 units rule. The government of India has allowed importing 2,500 units without going through the local homologation process. Ford could also assemble this SUV in India, which should help the brand to price it competitively. In this article, we talk about the 5 key facts to know about the upcoming Ford Territory SUV –

1. Dimensions

In terms of proportions, the Ford Territory is 4,580mm in length, 1,936mm in width, 1,674mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,716mm. It comes with a ground clearance of 180mm. The SUV’s dimensions are in-line with the Tata Harrier, which measures 4,598mm in length, 1,894mm in width, 1,706mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,741mm. For reference, the Jeep Compass measures 4,395mm in length, 1,818mm in width and 1,640mm in height. The SUV has a wheelbase of 2,636mm.

2. Key Features

1. 10-inch touchscreen infotainment
2. Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
3. Wireless Charger
4. 10-inch digital instrument console
5. LED lighting system
6. 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
7. Heated & Cooled front seats
8. A panoramic sunroof
9. Ambient lighting
10. Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
11. Rain-sensing wipers
12. 18-inch alloy wheels
13. Automatic headlamps
14. Front & Rear fog lamps
15. Power windows with one-touch up/down functions
16. Auto-dimming IRVM
17. Automatic AC
18. 60:40 split function for second row-seat

3. Engine Specs

The SUV is available with petrol engine options. It is powered by a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine, which is capable of producing 143bhp of power at 4,500-5,200rpm and a peak torque of 225Nm between 1,500rpm and 4,000rpm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

The SUV gets Mcpherson strut & Multi-link independent suspension at the front and rear respectively. The SUV gets disc brakes as standard along with an electronic parking brake system.

4. ADAS

The new Ford Territory comes equipped with ADAS aka advanced driver assistance system. The SUV gets an autonomous emergency braking system, adaptive cruise control with forwarding collision warning, cruise control, lane departure warning, enhanced active park assist system, blind spot information system, etc.

5. Safety & Security

Along with ADAS, the new Ford Territory gets Electronic Stability Control (ABS with EBD & Traction Control), hill launch assist, six airbags, adjustable 3-point ELR with pre-tensioners, front & rear parking sensors, high-definition 360-degree camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system, high mount stop lamp and child seat ISOFIX anchorage points.

6. India Launch & Expected Price

IN The Philippines, the Territory is retailed at PhP 1,277,000, which is around INR 19.05 lakh. The Ford Territory in India is expected to be priced around Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, which will make it a rival to the Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen Tiguan 5-seater and the higher variants of the Tata Harrier and the MG Hector.

The exact launch timeline is yet to be announced, but reports claim that the SUV could be launched this year – before Diwali.