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By
EWAN KENNEDY
23 June 2008
Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) has taken a standard Territory
Ghia and turned it into a hot performance machine it calls the FPV
F6 X-270.
Though
it’s subtle in appearance, the fastest Territory comes with some
strong styling features, including a mesh grille, bonnet scoop,
18-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust, not to forget badges
telling others you are driving something special. The optional
body striping kit fitted to our test car certainly lifted it in
the appearance stakes.
The
trim is in leather and has a real sporting flair that’s further
enhanced by FPV embroidered badges in the headrests of the four
outboard seats in the front two rows. The instrument panel is
relatively unchanged from the standard Ford unit, but the
instruments have a sportier flair, as well as using blue night
lighting.
The
front seats are big and comfortable with a reasonable amount of
support for harder than average driving, though you wouldn’t
really call them full-on sports numbers.
Space
in the second-row seat is good, with width for three children and
almost the ability to carry three adults. The rearmost seats
aren't all that easy to get into, but are moderately spacious and
can carry grown-ups without too much squeezing.
The
FPV Territory comes as standard with five seats, but is available
with the seven-seat option for a reasonable $2455. The boot space
with five on board is huge and still reasonable when it’s set up
to suit seven. You wouldn’t really be able to carry a full
complement of holiday luggage for seven occupants without using a
roof system of some sort, but the Territory is hardly alone in
this.
There's
plenty of stowage space in the cabin, with a good sized glovebox,
large centre-console box and better than average door pockets.
Take the large drink holders into account and everyone will be
well catered for.
Territory’s
suspension has been firmed up to make for sportier handling in
normal on-road conditions, but the ride height remains unchanged.
FPV doesn’t expect many owners to tackle any real off-road
adventures, but the hot Territory has the clearance to do so if
you do get ambitious one day. Note, though, that the FPV doesn’t
have the hill-descent system fitted to other AWD Territory
variants, as the computer changes made to suit the sporting
on-road handling meant it had to be left out.
On-road
handling is precise for such a heavy vehicle and the F6X is
impressive in the way it changes direction and holds onto the
sealed surfaces with big reserves of safety.
The ESP system,
called DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) by Ford, has been modified
by FPV's engineers to gain the maximum safety benefit without
reducing driving pleasure.
Running
noises and vibration are kept well under control and even
Australia's notorious coarse-chip bitumen doesn’t set up all
that must of a roar. Certainly not to the extent of that heard and
felt on many high-performance European machines.
Indeed,
this big Aussie Ford performs as well as many a Euro SUV costing
tens of thousands of dollars more in almost every respect. Making
you wonder if its worth paying extra for the prestige of a German
car.
The
straight-six 4.0-litre Ford engine has been improved by the FPV
guys to produce up to 270 kilowatts, (just in case you hadn't
already guessed that from the model designation). Much more
importantly, the torque has been spread right out, with the engine
running a hefty 550 Newton metres all the way from 2000 rpm to
4250. Most drivers will never be out of that handy torque band
unless they really want to hammer the big Ford along. And there's
no doubting the engine’s willingness to pull to its redline.
Acceleration
to 100 km/h from rest is accomplished in just under 6.0 seconds,
putting the Territory into true sportscar territory.
Engine
response is pretty good, though there's the inevitable pause
before the power and torque really start to do their work.
Acceleration to overtake, as well as hillclimbing is done with
almost contemptuous ease once the engine is fully on song.
You’re
probably not particularly concerned about fuel consumption if you
buy a high-performance SUV, but the engine is an efficient unit
and fuel use isn’t as high as you might expect. Anticipate using
about ten to eleven litres per hundred kilometres on motorways and
if cruising quietly on country trips. This will go up to about 14
to 16 litres per hundred around town, and sky high if you want to
fang it along like a full sports machine.
These
fuel figures aren't a lot higher than you would expect from a
standard Ford Territory and do reflect the quality of work put
into the turbo design by Ford Australia as well as the FPV engine
experts.
There's
surprisingly little competition in the hot SUV field in Australia,
indeed in any other country. Most other vehicles are either far
more expensive and come from Germany, or are smaller and cheaper
with less performance, and come from Japan, so FPV with its
competent combination of performance, dynamics and style and is
poised to do well in this market segment.
AT
A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
FPV F6 X-270 4.0-litre five-door five-seat wagon - $75,990
FPV F6 X-270 4.0-litre five-door seven-seat wagon - $78,445
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in both models
Air Conditioning: Standard in both models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in both models
CD Player: Standard in both models
Central Locking: Standard in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in both models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in both models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in both models
Stability Control: Standard in both models
Traction Control: Standard in both models
SPECIFICATIONS
(FPV F6 X-270 4.0-litre five-door five-seat wagon)
ENGINE:
Engine Capacity: 3.984 litres
Configuration: Six cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 8.7:1
Bore/Stroke: 92.3 mm x 99.3 mm
Maximum Power: 270 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 550 Nm @ 2000-4250 rpm
DRIVELINE:
4WD Type: Part-time
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.46:1
DIMENSIONS,
WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4856 mm
Wheelbase: 2842 mm
Width: 1898 mm
Height: 1714 mm
Turning Circle: 11.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 2145 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 75 litres
Towing Ability: 750kg (2300kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION
AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, double wishbone, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, control blade, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated rotor
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Fuel Type: Petrol 91RON
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 14.9 L/100km
STANDARD
WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km
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Marque Publishing Company
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