New Territory Diesel

[Fez WQ]

I might look at one soon b the sound of this



Ford working on diesel Territory

By Ian Porter, car industry reporter, 11/05/06

As fuel prices rise, Ford is looking for ways to help drivers of off-road wagons ease the financial burden at the bowser.




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Ford Australia is working on a diesel version of the Territory wagon even though it believes buyers cannot recoup the extra cost of the drive train through lower fuel prices.

Drivers would be far better off buying a vehicle dedicated to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Ford president Tom Gorman said yesterday.

"The market has been telling us it wants performance engines, more luxury, diesel engines and off-road ability in the Territory," Mr Gorman said.

He said the Territory Turbo and Territory Ghia Turbo due for release next month would satisfy the first two items but he said the increased off-road capability was "inconsistent" with the Territory.

That left diesel engines, and Ford was "working really hard on it", but only because people wanted to buy it.

"The economics do not make sense," Mr Gorman said. "If you look at the premium consumers pay for the diesel power train, they do not earn that back in the short term."

He contrasted that with the LPG option that has been available in the Falcon for years.

"The economics of a dedicated LPG car are quite real," he said. "You can earn back the premium you pay for an LPG car in about 13 months. That's a sound economic proposition."

However, Mr Gorman conceded there were other reasons why diesels were becoming more popular.

"Diesel engines are not what they were five years ago - noisy, smelly and industrial.

"Ford has many good performance diesels. They have great low-end torque, great performance feel, and they are (now) quieter. That's part of why people are moving in that direction. But you wouldn't do it if you were making a logical and rational decision."

He said the company was testing Territories with some of the diesel engines from other parts of the Ford world and it was a painstaking process.

"People want performance and refinement, and that means great NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). You don't get that by jamming a diesel engine into the car. It takes time and engineering talent to do it."