Territory/Ranger hybrid

[GavL]

Saw this in The Age today, at first I thought "it looks like it's just a LHD Terri, but closer look the front half of the car is definitely a ranger while the back half is a territory.



http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...509-2ja81.html

Ford Australia's own Territory is coming under threat from inside its Broadmeadows bunker.

And here's proof that the blue oval's long-rumoured seven-seat SUV version of the Ranger ute is under development in Australia.

Drive reader Andrew Brook snapped this shot of a prototype vehicle in Melbourne today. At first glance it looks like a Territory from behind, but closer inspection reveals it is riding on the Ranger’s more rugged underpinnings. The "Left Hand Drive: Engineering Evaluation Vehicle" sticker on the back is also a dead giveaway.

“It’s definitely a front-end of the Ranger and the back end of the Territory,” Brook said.

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Ford Australia has been responsible for the global development of the new Ranger and its underpinnings - codenamed T6 - and is believed to be taking the lead on the SUV version; tipped to carry the Everest nameplate.

Officially Ford won’t confirm the Ranger-based SUV but admitted it is working on new models based on the Ranger.

“We have always said that the Ranger would only be the first of the vehicles to come off the T6 platform,” Ford spokeswoman Sinead Phipps told Drive. “We can’t provide any specifics of other program details at this stage.”

The T6-based SUV would be a direct competitor to the Holden Colorado 7 and Mitsubishi Challenger, as well as the popular Toyota Prado.

Despite strong sales of the Territory, its fate is linked to the underperforming Falcon, because the two vehicles share the same basic underpinnings. If the Falcon doesn’t continue beyond 2016 then neither will the Territory, so Ford Australia will need to find a new large SUV to fill that important spot in its line-up.

Speaking at the recent Kuga launch, Ford Australia president Bob Graziano said the company is evaluating its options when it comes to large SUVs in the future.

“If you look at the larger SUVs there’s certainly a market for body-on-frame, traditional off-roaders, and what some people call soft-roaders, like the Territory,” Graziano said.

“We’ll just have keep reassessing because the vast majority of those vehicles are Territory-type vehicles as opposed to off-roaders.”

Asked directly about the prospects of a Ranger-based SUV, Graziano didn’t give any details away.

“It’s really going to depend on whether that segment continues at its present rate or whether its going to start declining for a number of different reasons,” he said.

“That’s what we’re looking at now, and then we can look at what’s in the portfolio from Ford that we could slot in there.”

Ford Australia may be involved in the development but the SUV-version will almost certainly be built alongside the Ranger Ute in Thailand.

[phillyc]

Compared with the other photos going around on this about 1-2 months ago, the integration between the two different bodies is alot more integrated.

Nice to see that they have in fact talked to Ford Australia about it rather than just pretended to. Although, it was at the Kuga launch so those comments were obtained before the photo was taken.

[VZTRT]

Don't worry about the body its just there so they can do the testing for the t6 SUV. It's underneath the sheet metal that's important.

[WASP]

Unfortunately for the Territory, the idea of a SUV Range (Everest), Australian designed, engineered but Thailand built makes perfect sense. It's a global platform with global features and can be sold throughout the world. The only thing I will say is the Rangers package including drivetrain is much more 'truck' like than the Territory's which is part of the Terries appeal to mainstream domestic buyers. Its like a cheaper Land Rover Discovery alternative made for Australian market. This will see those buyers having to look at Kuga as a 'Ford' alternative which from what I have seen to date will only satisfy some buyers due to limited engine choices. Ford do offer a great range of class leading trucks and SUV's in the States so one of those options may fill the void.

[Falc'man]

Good to have another addition in their portfolio.

Within time, there will be the following sitting in the Ford showrooms.

Ecosport
Kuga
Territory
"Everest"

I don't see it as a threat to Territory more than it's a threat to the other brands in that off-road segment.

[WASP]

I don't see it as a threat to Territory more than it's a threat to the other brands in that off-road segment.

I guess Youssef I saw it differently because if I personally had to choose between the Territory and a SUV based Ranger I would want the Ranger (Everest). This is probably because the whole Ford Truck scene has always appealed to me and the Territory is just a bit to pedestrian for my tastes. I find myself actually getting excited when I see a Ranger on the road even though I currently have no need for one.

[Falc'man]

I guess Youssef I saw it differently because if I personally had to choose between the Territory and a SUV based Ranger I would want the Ranger (Everest). This is probably because the whole Ford Truck scene has always appealed to me and the Territory is just a bit to pedestrian for my tastes. I find myself actually getting excited when I see a Ranger on the road even though I currently have no need for one.

For those reasons would have gone to another manufacturer if you need something like this and Ford didn't have it? Or would settle for a Territory if there was no other Ford option?

[WASP]

For those reasons would have gone to another manufacturer if you need something like this and Ford didn't have it? Or would settle for a Territory if there was no other Ford option?

I've 'settled' a few times in my car purchasing life and I'm not keen to do it again. I've already looked at the Jeep SRT8 to give you an idea, and Merc also on the SUV front but that's because if it was going to be an 'SUV' I would want it to be something and less pedestrian as mentioned. If I was to buy a 'truck' today however it would be a duel cab Ranger. I wouldn't even bother trying the other brands as I love Ford Pick up Trucks.

[VZTRT]

I don't see it as a threat to Territory more than it's a threat to the other brands in that off-road segment.

Not sure how the Everest will go in Australia compared to the some of the other off road segments. This car (to me) seems like it is more for Asian and poorer euro markets. But I've really said to much.

Mind you most people who buy these off road SUV's only really use them as shopping trolleys so who know what will happen.

[Road_Warrior]

I've 'settled' a few times in my car purchasing life and I'm not keen to do it again. I've already looked at the Jeep SRT8 to give you an idea, and Merc also on the SUV front but that's because if it was going to be an 'SUV' I would want it to be something and less pedestrian as mentioned. If I was to buy a 'truck' today however it would be a duel cab Ranger. I wouldn't even bother trying the other brands as I love Ford Pick up Trucks.

But your taste is the exception rather than the rule, Ford has pitched the Territory as a soccer mum car, no ifs no buts and makes no excuses for doing so, the Everest or whatever it will be may take some sales from the Territory but its application is substantially different and I'm tipping that "supply will be an issue" which will work in the Territory's favour - by accident or by design.