Ford Freestyle on display - short time only!!

Discovery · 28-12-2005, 11:29 AM

Here's your chance to see the US Ford Freestyle which is in the country for evaluation purposes. Touted as Ford US's slant on the Aussie Territory design, the Freestyle shares little more than a passing resemblance to its Aussie cousin.

The Freestyle is on display at the Ford Discovery Centre, corner Gheringhap & Brougham Streets, Geelong, VIC only until the 8th/9th January 2006. Following its stint here it will be returning to work.

Alongside the Freestyle is the Utemans' Trekka. Based on an RTV, the Trekka is a tough outback camping/utility unit.

For enquiries phone main reception. 03 5227 8700.

WizBang · 28-12-2005, 11:40 AM

Not all of us can make it, so if someone can take a few shot and post them up it will be grand

Discovery · 28-12-2005, 11:41 AM

Just so happens I have my camera at work today too! Will go muscle my way through the crowd and take a few snaps for you.

WizBang · 28-12-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discovery

Just so happens I have my camera at work today too! Will go muscle my way through the crowd and take a few snaps for you.

Thanks that wiill be cool

Discovery · 28-12-2005, 12:20 PM

Here goes, apologies for the size and quality! I ended up having to use works camera as the software for mine isn't on my work pc.

Oh and Parawolf, apart from the styling hints, the Territory and the Freestyle similarities and there. The Freestyle is available in either FWD or AWD and is powered by a 3.0lt V6 (from the Escape).

parawolf · 28-12-2005, 11:42 AM

Unfortunately the Freestyle looks ordinary, and in my (not so valued) opinion, the interior looks too much like an F-Series.

It's the yank's trying to rip off all the valuable market research for the territory and then doing a 1/2 assed job. Big case of 'not built here' rather than fund extra dollars into making the territory LHD compatible and import the damn thing.

LUXO_8 · 28-12-2005, 12:34 PM

holey crap its closer looking than i expected!!

Discovery · 28-12-2005, 12:41 PM

In the flesh it's much lower and looks longer than the Territory. The styling cues are definately there though.

JC · 01-01-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discovery

The styling cues are definately there though.

Seeing that the territory looks like just about any other 4WD/SUV out there, that wouldn't be too hard would it. Most $wds look like a jacked up station wagon, the only difference being size/scale. I keep getting mixed up between the territory and the Kluger (from a distance).

The RTV looks interesting!

WizBang · 28-12-2005, 12:41 PM

Will i be asking too much if you or someone can take some shots of the ute too
Cheers

Discovery · 28-12-2005, 12:43 PM

Err.. I can but the camera battry died. It's recharging now. Will take ute pics asap.

Discovery · 28-12-2005, 02:07 PM

Here's the ute. Apologies once again for size and quality, and for the fact there's only one of them.. On the roof is a fold out tent and a row of driving lights.

geoffa1 · 28-12-2005, 02:20 PM

Call me a traditionalist, but I do like the accent wheel arch flares. If the Territory had them, I may even have got accent bumpers and cladding on my Ghia

EFFalcon · 28-12-2005, 02:21 PM

looked better when there was some certain eseries cars there ;)
deffinately very similar to the terri, good stuff

keeping it fresh!

WizBang · 28-12-2005, 05:31 PM

Thanks for the ute shots , love THE UTE

jmc-007 · 28-12-2005, 06:08 PM

what are they evaluating the CVT gearbox and drivetrain for the territory. ?? other engine options.

Very yanky stlyling was the territory and the freestyle built off the same platform

The Stylist · 28-12-2005, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmc-007

Very yanky stlyling was the territory and the freestyle built off the same platform

Umm... no.

The Territory and Freestyle do not share the same platform - they don't even share anything except for some "similar" styling cues, but nothing else.

Smoke Pursuit · 28-12-2005, 07:03 PM

Freestyle looks like a Holden Adventura!

Nice pics.

**Raptor** · 28-12-2005, 07:16 PM

Ahhh, the USA's Style Free.

I hope it's not here being evalauted for the Aussie market. It'd be about as popular being sold alongside the Territory as the Taurus was when it was sold alongside the Falcon back in the mid/late 90's.

Oh, you don't remember that?

Lukeyson · 28-12-2005, 07:25 PM

looks like a baby exploder

**Mechan1k** · 28-12-2005, 07:30 PM

Errr ... yuck ... the only thing that looks the same is the mirrors ... but still not quite right there either.

As mentioned looks like an Adventera ... I hope it doesn't see the light of day out here on our roads either (like the Taurus managed it)

Oh ... did I mention I think the Taurus looked like a huge steaming cow pat on a hot day .... well ... I did now.

Would be good though if the Territory makes it to the US though.

b2tf · 28-12-2005, 08:06 PM

Just curious, what is it Freestlye is being "evaluated" on or for?

tbearz · 28-12-2005, 08:01 PM

The guy who was the main designer of the territory in the 'early' years of its well design was poached by Ford USA and took a big part of designing the Freestyle so thats why they share some design cues and under the body our Terri is RWD while 'their' Styler is FWD and it has cvt as well from memory so yeah completely different. Once again Ford wasting money...suprise....suprise

aquahead2001 · 05-01-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbearz

The guy who was the main designer of the territory in the 'early' years of its well design was poached by Ford USA and took a big part of designing the Freestyle so thats why they share some design cues and under the body our Terri is RWD while 'their' Styler is FWD and it has cvt as well from memory so yeah completely different. Once again Ford wasting money...suprise....suprise

If I remember correctly the "designer" was Scott Strong who was over here on assignment from the USA. Apparently the similarities do not extend further than appearance, Tezza is based on the Falcon Platform and the Freestyle is based on a Volvo Platform (XC90???).

I don't think in this circumstance it has been a waste of money, Ford Australia had very unique requirements (like comonality of components with the Falcon Platform and a general preference for RWD) as did the USA where they wanted something fast and cheap. The Volvo Platform suits the USA better than the Falcon Platform I'd be guessing.

Just my thoughts...

LUXO_8 · 28-12-2005, 08:08 PM

and whats under the bonnet of it?

.

**Mechan1k** · 28-12-2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

and whats under the bonnet of it?

Beat me to asking that same question.
Probably an East West motor .... LOL

LUXO_8 · 28-12-2005, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Beat me to asking that same question.
Probably an East West motor .... LOL

Engine type..........................Duratec 30 – 3.0L V6 engine
Engine electronics..................Electronic engine controls
Displacement.........................3.0L (183 CID)
Horsepower (SAE net@rpm).....203@5,750
Torque (lb.-ft.@rpm)...............207@4,500

and yeah i noticed it also comes with FWD/AWD

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/freestyle/

**Mechan1k** · 28-12-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

Engine type..........................Duratec 30 – 3.0L V6 engine
Engine electronics..................Electronic engine controls
Displacement.........................3.0L (183 CID)
Horsepower (SAE net@rpm).....203@5,750
Torque (lb.-ft.@rpm)...............207@4,500

and yeah i noticed it also comes with FWD/AWD

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/freestyle/

Notice the copied ads from the Territory as well.
Just like a lazy school kid copying details in an assignment.
Obviously there's no originality in Ford USA.

Husky · 29-12-2005, 06:49 AM

As far as appearance goes in my humble opinion the territory is way out in front. It reminds me from a styling perspective of some Korean copy cars. You know the ones, they try and take a lot of the good design from a succesful prior release and somehow lose it badly in translation.

MeestaNob! · 31-12-2005, 10:45 AM

Evaluated? For what, target practice at Puckapunyal?

No Aussie will ever choose the StyleFree when the classier Territory is available. Ever. The local Aussie is better in everyway.

Besides, that thing looks like a truck merged awkwardly with a Volvo AWD estate. Ugly.