New FPV Territory F6X Turbo Released - The World's Fastest SUV!

[JoeT]

Ford Territory F6X

Joshua Dowling
16 May 2008
www.drive.com.au

Ford has built the world's fastest six-cylinder soft-roader. There's only one catch: it's thirsty.

In case you ever needed proof few people ever take their all-wheel-drive wagons offroad, this is it. It's the super-quick version of the turbocharged Ford Territory that was released almost two years ago.

It has since been given the go-fast treatment by Ford Performance Vehicles, creating the fastest six-cylinder soft-roader in the world. Yes, it's faster than the V6 Porsche Cayenne. How does 0 to 100kmh in six seconds sound? That ought to get the kids to school on time.

When the original turbo Territory was released, pundits wondered to whom this type of vehicle would appeal. As it turns out, only about 2600 examples of the turbo model have been sold so far, accounting for just 8.5 per cent of total Territory sales. So it's no surprise that the same question is being asked of this model.

The regular Territory turbo starts at $53,990, while the more luxurious Ghia version costs $65,490. But the FPV version with the works tested here is $75,990. That's expensive in any language and we predict it won't be long before dealers start carving them up and selling them for between $65,000 and $70,000.

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All New Ford Performance Vehicles Range Is Here!

[YupYupYup]

That looks like the Ford Taurus X CUV sold in North America. Just with a few more different cosmetic touches. If it is, it really isn't an SUV per se (soft-roader)...More car based. Could be wrong though.

AUS$50K plus in Australia?! Wow, you really pay through the nose...

[roteague]

Originally Posted by YupYupYup

That looks like the Ford Taurus X CUV sold in North America. Just with a few more different cosmetic touches. If it is, it really isn't an SUV per se (soft-roader)...More car based. Could be wrong though.

AUS$50K plus in Australia?! Wow, you really pay through the nose...

It looks similar to the Taurus X, but that is about the only similarity. The Territory stands much higher, and has a wonderful I6. I can't speak about the interior, since I've only driven the Territory. Yes, it is car based - share the same platform as the Falcon.

FWIW, I found the interior of the Territory to have a poor level of fit and finish (the last one I drove was a 2007 model). I'm sure it was a base model; I hired it from Hertz in Sydney.

[1931Chevy]

Originally Posted by YupYupYup

That looks like the Ford Taurus X CUV sold in North America. Just with a few more different cosmetic touches. If it is, it really isn't an SUV per se (soft-roader)...More car based. Could be wrong though.

AUS$50K plus in Australia?! Wow, you really pay through the nose...

it might look as the Taurus but whats under the sheetmetal is not , RWD and a inline 6 with more hp than most US cars in the market

[MonaroSS]

The Territory is now really starting to look dated. It needs a refresh real soon.

I think they would have made a better bet having gone with a Diesel option instead. But the brakes should be an option on ALL Territory's.

[eb110americana]

New FPV Territory F6X Turbo Released - The World's Fastest SUV!

Hardly. You'd have to add so many qualifiers to that, it's not even worth it.

Trailblazer SS: 5.7 sec
Subaru Forester XT (old turbo): 5.3 sec
Toureg 2 (V8): 5.7 sec
Audi Q7 (V8): 5.8 sec
BMW X5 (V8): 5.7 sec
BMW X6 (V8): 5.3 sec
Infiniti FX45: 5.5 sec
Infiniti EX35 AWD: 5.6 sec
Cayenne GTS: 5.7 sec
Cayenne Turbo: 4.9 sec
Mercedes G55: 5.5 sec
Mercedes ML550: 5.6 sec
Mercedes ML63: 4.7 sec
Jeep Grand Cherokee (Hemi): 5.7 sec
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: 4.7 sec
Lamborghini LM02: 4.5 sec

Most of the above are V8's, but the Territory has a turbo on its i6--and is tuned for that matter. Even so, the Infiniti EX35 has a V6 and beats it without forced induction. Even the old Forester is faster with the 2.5L turbo flat 4 cylinder in its light chassis. And let's not forget the hometown hero: the GMC Typhoon, which used its turbo 6 to get to 60mph in under 5 seconds almost 2 decades ago. Maybe this is supposed to be about top speed, but even then, the only way that would happen is if somehow all of the above vehicles used German-style 150mph limiters, which seems rather unlikely.

[stelth]

Not sure but i think the quickest Territory Turbo is in Australia by a workshop called CV Performance.

The car has got bolt on mods only and has run a 11.2 @121 mph with a slipping box.

It weighs over 5000 lbs

0 - 100 kmh around 4 seconds i would think !

Here is the link below

http://www.cvperformance.com.au/news.php?show=4

[mikmak]

My father in law has a Turbo Territory Ghia (in case I hadn't mentioned it before) and when i mentioned to him about the sexy ass new FPV he said "I wont be buying another one".

Whilst it is pretty fast, you have to wait for boost to make it deadly. Yesterday I followed him to see if he was blowing any smoke (an investigation instigated by a burning smell traced to oil leaking from the flange just forward of the muffler). After a quick inspection post run, I got a slight jump on him for the run home. My wagon is certainly no cannon but the 65 (pushing it) well cambered, and 85 (comfortably) corners on our farm road were enough for me to get a good enough head start to ensure he didn't start catching me until my self imposed limit (extracted from the rating of my rubber). Whilst he still had a looong way to go before his confidence was tested, the extra mass really makes a performance SUV a bit of an oxymoron.

Other problems he's had is a strange vibration from the exhaust which is intermittent (you know the type that only shows up when you aren't at the dealer), poor sealing compound near the seam at the rear of the roof line (apparently leading to a common condition of corrosion in the tailgate region), ****ty GPS integration and scratch prone plastics that are at odds with its family friendly role. To make matters worse, when he dropped it in for its first service, they didn't have a before hours drop box for his keys so was told to leave them under the seat. Taking it even further, the receptionist didn't book it for a service, so when he went to pick it up in the afternoon, it was still sitting in a carpark by itself with the keys still under the seat!

He's only done around 40K. My wagon was 112K on it and occasionally the back lighting on the power window switches stays on after you lock the car.

As I said, he wont be buying another one. Since I have known him he has had the following: Hilux (wound up the boost and blew it up, rebuilt it then over boosted it again ), Nissan Patrol TD was good but too plain for him, Toyota Grande (loved it to pieces but fell in love with the Turbo Territory at the Brisbane Auto show). After spending 3 of the 4.5 hours we spent at the show, sitting in the front seat/playing with the rear vision camera and flicking endlessly through the catalogue, he waited patiently for the turbo Territory to become available, then waited impatiently for delivery (5 months). I was happy to see a domestic company get a conquest sale from someone who has always had Japanese cars. He took the plunge and enjoyed the honeymoon but ultimately 60k+ later, came away jaded and is now looking at a TTV8TD Land cruiser.

It's a shame that domestics can have all of these great new products come out. It doesn't mean a pinch of **** however, if they can't follow it up with reliability and strong customer service.


He enjoyed stretching its legs on a long holiday road trip recently but is past stretching his wallet and his patience.

[mikmak]

Oh and welcome to GMI stelth. Ozzy?

[BBDOS CV8]

Might be an idea for him to sell it before a balljoint drops out the bottom of the front suspension. Been happening to lots of Terris, not 4WDs, that have had no heavier duty than the daily schoolyard drive at about 60K....... At least it hasn't lead to any loss of control crashes, so far. Usually happens when you go up a drive, apparently. Clunk - no steering, not much forward motion.

Ford's answer? 'They all do it.........' There is no fix apart from a new balljoint, Ford apparently claims it's a corrosion issue caused by owner misuse (!).

Doesn't matter how good their cars like the Fiesta, Mondeo, Focus, Falcon are, as long as Ford and dealers persist in disowning problems they won't make inroads. It's like the early XR6Ts going to limp-home mode. Dealers reflashed the car with three or four versions of code. Ford's final solution? Reflash the ECU to something that knocked the edge right off performance to not much better than the n/a motor.

My workmate loves his LPG Falcon's basic performance and price, but hates the dealer with a passion.

[K Dawg ONE]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

And let's not forget the hometown hero: the GMC Typhoon, which used its turbo 6 to get to 60mph in under 5 seconds almost 2 decades ago.

w00t w00t! I was thinking Typhoon too! Turbo 262's FTW!!!

[ColoradoZQ8]

[quote=JoeT;1401526]Ford Territory F6X

Ford has built the world's fastest six-cylinder soft-roader. There's only one catch: it's thirsty.

World's fastest? Yeah, because Ford probably builds the only performance six cylinder soft-roader.

The title is totally misleading. There are much faster SUVs.
A Trailblazer SS or Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 would tear this thing apart virtually any performance category. World's fastest? Not even close.

[roteague]

Originally Posted by mikmak

My father in law has a Turbo Territory Ghia (in case I hadn't mentioned it before) and when i mentioned to him about the sexy ass new FPV he said "I wont be buying another one".

I can understand. I've driven a lot of different Territories over the past few years (because I like driving an SUV), and while I like the car, it is dated, the fit and finish isn't very good. I really like having an SUV because I find it easier to work out of (I'm a landscape photographer). I find the cost for what I'm getting, combined with the Territory petrol usage, make me ready for a change. This year, I'm going with Avis and a Commodore Calais I think.

[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

Trailblazer SS: 5.7 sec
Subaru Forester XT (old turbo): 5.3 sec
Toureg 2 (V8): 5.7 sec
Audi Q7 (V8): 5.8 sec
BMW X5 (V8): 5.7 sec
BMW X6 (V8): 5.3 sec
Infiniti FX45: 5.5 sec
Infiniti EX35 AWD: 5.6 sec
Cayenne GTS: 5.7 sec
Cayenne Turbo: 4.9 sec
Mercedes G55: 5.5 sec
Mercedes ML550: 5.6 sec
Mercedes ML63: 4.7 sec
Jeep Grand Cherokee (Hemi): 5.7 sec
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: 4.7 sec
Lamborghini LM02: 4.5 sec

Maybe instead of SUVs these can be called MUVs. Most Useless Vehicles.

[mikmak]

[quote=ColoradoZQ8;1401665]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Ford Territory F6X

Ford has built the world's fastest six-cylinder soft-roader. There's only one catch: it's thirsty.

World's fastest? Yeah, because Ford probably builds the only performance six cylinder soft-roader.

The title is totally misleading. There are much faster SUVs.
A Trailblazer SS or Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 would tear this thing apart virtually any performance category. World's fastest? Not even close.

Except for going around corners.