2011 Ford Territory’s Diesel Heart Revealed

2011 FORD TERRITORY

With the launch of Ford Australia's updated 2011 'SZ' Territory in April drawing nearer, today the carmaker has revealed details of the new model's mechanical arrangement.

Engines

Diesel

Headlining the range's two-engine powertrain line-up is Ford's 2.7-litre Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel V6 engine, producing 140kW and 440Nm of torque. Peak torque for the new engine is available from 1900rpm through to 2500rpm.

Built in the UK by Ford and Jaguar, the 2.7-litre diesel was designed by Ford and has featured in a number of Peugeot, Citroen, Jaguar and Land Rover models since its debut in the 2005 model year. It is a very well-respected and proven unit.

Although the engine has been significantly modified to suit the Territory's design, its arrival in the Australian-built SUV marks the first appearance of the engine in a Ford product anywhere in the world.

Combined fuel consumption for the turbodiesel engine is listed at 8.2 l/100km in rear-wheel-drive form, while the TX and TS all-wheel-drive variants consume 8.8 l/100km of diesel.

The range-topping Titanium all-wheel-drive is also frugal, with a claimed consumption of 9.0 l/100km on the combined cycle.

Ford's advertising campaign for the new Territory will see plenty of noise made about the diesel Territory's highway fuel use, which is as low as 6.5 l/100km. With a 75-litre fuel tank, the Territory offers a theoretical driving range of 1154km off one fill. 

For all-wheel-drive diesel models, the Territory offers a towing capacity of 2700kg with a braked trailer, and a maximum downward towball capacity of 270kg. 

In rear-wheel-drive, the diesel Territory will pull 2300kg with a braked trailer, with a downward towball weight of 230kg.

Petrol

The Territory's inline six-cylinder petrol engine - available in rear-wheel-drive models only - has come in for an upgrade, with power boosted by 5kW to 195kW and torque increased by 8Nm to 391Nm.

The engine's power increase comes courtesy of the same improvements seen in the FG Falcon, giving the I6 engine the advantage of a fast-burn cylinder head design, a new light-weight dual-resonance intake manifold, a new electric throttle body and a new fuel rail system.

As the standard engine with the new Territory, the I6 lists fuel consumption figures of 10.6 l/10kkm for RWD models - an improvement of 1.01 l/100km. On the highway, the petrol Territory will manage 8.0 l/100km - down from 9.1 l/100km.

Petrol models, available with rear-wheel-drive only, have a towing capacity of 2300kg with a braked trailer, and a downward towball weight of 230kg.

Transmissions

The 2011 Territory is fitted with six-speed automatic transmissions across the range, for both rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts. 

For the petrol rear-wheel-drive models, the Territory gets ZF's 6HP26 six-speed auto, while the TDCi turbodiesel variants, in RWD and AWD form, are equipped with Ford's ZF-based 6R80 six-speed auto.

Active Transfer Case

Among the modifications made to the TDCi engine and the AWD system is the front differential, which is mounted to the engine sump on all-wheel-drive models - rather than being mounted to the chassis, as with the outgoing Territory.

Thanks to this diff-on-sump arrangement, vibration and harshness (NVH) is reduced. There is also a clutch mechanism in the active transfer case which, when the vehicle is stationary in Drive, decouples driving forces applied to the front drive shafts.

Refinement

There has been a huge investment in the development of the new model in improving noise, vibration and harshness across all of its mechanical systems.

In the case of the diesel models, the Territory gets new engine mounts, an acoustically-modified exhaust system, an optimised engine bulkhead, a revised transmission mount and, for all-wheel-drive models, a new isolated crossmember at the back of the transmission.

"We carefully studied and improved every element of the new Territory to make it a more comfortable and pleasant vehicle for journeys of all kinds," Michael Stellamanns, NVH Manager for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa said.

All petrol and diesel models have also gained a laminated acoustic windscreen, further improving NVH. Ford says it has significantly minimised diesel 'chatter' in the cabin at idle, along with reducing wind noise while driving.

Dynamics

Continuing the raft of updates for the 2011 model year, the Territory benefits from a new suspension tune with new springs, dampers and stabiliser bars, along with new driveline and suspension bushes.

A major change to the Territory is the adoption of Electric Assisted Power Steering (EPAS) - the same system used by the US-market Mustang, but tuned specifically for Australian conditions.

“The new Territory’s EPAS system provides excellent feedback and on-centre feel to drivers, and also contributes to the new model’s impressively low NVH levels,” Vehicle Dynamics Manager for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, Alex de Vlugt said.

Among the EPAS system's attributes are the Drift-Pull Compensation program, which 'learns' the amount of steering effort the driver makes when travelling in a straight line but working to counteract road camber or steady winds.

Through this process, the system assists drivers with maintaining a straight course.

Similarly, Active Nibble Compensation works to counteract vibrations transmitted to the steering wheel due to out-of-balance or out-of-round forces generated by the front tyres.

“The new Territory’s EPAS system provides excellent feedback and on-centre feel to drivers and also contributes to the new model’s impressively low NVH levels,” de Vlugt said.

“EPAS is also more durable than a conventional power steering system, does not use hydraulic fluid, helps reduce noise levels and provides a better compromise between low-speed assistance and high-speed assistance, which is important for customers."

Ford says its EPAS system was put through an "exhaustive" testing regime before being approved for use in the Territory, including the equivalent of three lifetimes of use and the 'Grist-Mill' test, which sees the vehicle driven in a figure-of-eight at speed for several hours.

Safety

Already carrying a 5-Star ANCAP crash safety rating, the 2011 model year sees the Territory gain a driver's knee airbag, bringing the total complement to five for all models.

A Roll-over Mitigation system has also been added to the standard-fit Bosch Generation 9 Dynamic Stability Control, constantly monitoring the vehicle's behaviour and inducing additional understeer when the potential for rollover is detected.

Pricing and Availability

Ford has yet to reveal pricing for the new Territory, although with its launch scheduled for next month, all will be revealed in time.