Territory into Africa

FORD AUSTRALIA has used the Melbourne International Motor Show to announce an export deal with South Africa for its Territory four-wheel drive wagon.

Ford Australia president Tom Gorman said the first South African-spec Territory would roll off the Broadmeadows production line within a month, with around 2000 sent to Ford South Africa per annum.

“Ford South Africa was very interested in the development of Territory and made an official approach to us early in 2004,” Mr Gorman said.

A prototype vehicle was sent to South Africa around June 2004, with a program starting the following month to finetune the Territory for that country’s requirements.

Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions will be exported and the full range of accessories for the vehicle – sans sat-nav, given South Africa has no GPS network.

“South Africa has unique driving conditions involving high altitudes and high speeds, but the excellent work of the Australian development team involved with Territory meant little change was required,” Mr Gorman said.

The other overseas destination for the Aussie-built 4WD is New Zealand, where it achieved 1400 sales in 2003 and is claimed to be the market-leading SUV since its launch.

As far as wow-factor at Melbourne was concerned, the Blue Oval had the overseas Focus Vignale concept – the svelte Pininfarina-penned steel-roofed convertible first shown in Paris last September and which Ford last week confirmed will go into production late in 2006. Expect in on sale here in 2007.