Description
The Ford Territory was built in China and it was developed together by Ford Motor Company and Jianling Motor Corporation. It was based on a Chinese SUV and sold only in China.
Doing car-business in China means that the manufacturers should work together with a local car-manufacturer most of the time. Apart from a few premium car-makers, most of the mass-production vehicle brands have an alliance with a local manufacturer since it is more affordable to built there than to transport there. Ford had a partner which already had developed their own product, the Yusheng 330.
The Territory had a different front fascia than the Yusheng 330. It features headlights that resembled other Ford models and a grille with a 3D mesh on it. The floating roof design concept was adopted well by the American car-maker for the Chinese market. In the rear, the design concept of the headlights was adopted for the taillights. Under the rear bumper, there was a fake splitter that was complemented by a dual exhaust system.
Inside, the dashboard was re-designed by Ford following modern concepts of ergonomy. It featured a large infotainment display on the center stack and a TFT display for the instrument cluster.
The drivetrain featured a 4G15 gasoline engine, which was a further development based upon a Mitsubishi 1.5-liter engine. It was mated as standard with a 6-speed manual gearbox and was offered with an option for a 6-speed automatic.
Press Release
Ford Motor Company is reaching a new generation of Chinese buyers and a different automotive landscape with the launch of the all-new Ford Territory, a midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) that will deliver a compelling product to consumers across China, including booming smaller cities.
The all-new Ford Territory, developed by Ford and its joint venture partner, Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), leverages Ford's global expertise in vehicle design, engineering, testing and manufacturing with JMC's market expertise and in-depth insights into Chinese consumers. Together, they are delivering an SUV that meets the demands of new car buyers in the world's largest automotive market.
"Our Ford customers in China now have access to an SUV with the exceptional comfort and capability they've asked for with more rear legroom, a large 10.25-inch all-digital high-definition LCD screen, 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, and cloud-based voice recognition that controls vehicle functions, such the sun-roof, windows, interior climate and infotainment," said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president and president of global markets. "The Ford Territory midsize SUV is set to exceed the needs of China's dynamic and diverse consumers in what is the fastest growing automotive segment in the country."
Charging into new territory
The Ford Territory's position as a midsize SUV will help Ford reach new Chinese car buyers who are generally in their 30s, educated, and are looking for a reliable, practical vehicle for their growing families. These consumers are transforming China's second-tier cities with their appetite for higher-quality, affordable products, including vehicles.
Although small by China standards, these fast-growing cities are still massive, with populations nearing the same size as New York City - 8.5 million. By 2020, vehicle registrations in these smaller cities, which do not have the same license plate restrictions as those in megacities like Beijing and Shanghai, are forecast to climb to 23.7 million, more than doubling since 2010.
Midsize SUVs are now the fastest growing automotive segment in the country. Between 2015 and 2017, sales of midsize SUVs increased 102 percent among Chinese consumers.
And 68 percent of midsize SUV buyers in China live in second-tier cities where the potential for further sales growth is greatest.
"Our onslaught of new vehicles has begun," said Peter Fleet, president, Asia Pacific and chairman & CEO, Ford China. "We are taking the best of how we've brought Territory to market - deeply listening to customers in China and delivering what they want in style, comfort, safety and new in-vehicle infotainment options - and applying it across the business. Ford Territory is just the beginning of more great things to come."
Talk to me
Tech-savvy Chinese consumers are demanding even greater connectivity options, and Territory delivers with its Ford DNA, inside and out. Powered by iFLYTEK, a hugely popular Chinese information technology platform with 500 million users, the Ford Territory offers intuitive Mandarin voice recognition, which understands dozens of regional accents.
Users simply talk to the vehicle to operate useful functions - boosting the fun factor on every drive. Say, "It's hot today," and Territory will turn on the air conditioning. Or tell Territory, "The sky is blue," and the roof sun visor and driver side window will open.
Smarter and safer
The infotainment system in Ford Territory includes not one, but two, high-definition touchscreens. A large 10-inch all-digital, high-definition LCD touchscreen is within easy reach on the center console.
And the driver's instrument panel is also a full LCD high-definition display that offers three design themes and can conveniently mirror information from the central display, like the audio system and navigation.
The FordPass Connect embedded modem transforms Territory into a mobile 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, which will appeal to today's "always on" consumers. FordPass Connect also enables functions that drivers can access through the FordPass app, including remote start, remote lock/unlock and parking and vehicle locators.
Offered for the first time in the entry-level midsize SUV segment by Ford in China, the Co-Pilot360TM suite of driver-assist technologies (DATs) brings the Territory to a higher level of safety and sophistication. These advanced features include: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Pre-Collision Assist, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Lane Departure Warning, Active Park Assist System (APAS), 360-degree camera and Hill Start Assist.
"When two global companies collaborate 'at China-speed,' it's possible to bring an exciting new product like Ford Territory to the market quickly to meet the diverse needs of even more Chinese consumers," said Qiu Tiangao, chairman of JMC.
Satisfying diverse customer needs
Ford is delivering an all-new vehicle that meets the needs of the country's dynamic and diverse consumers. In addition to rigorous testing in Nanjing, China for ride and handling, and durability testing in Melbourne, Australia, additional testing was also conducted in China's most extreme environments. From the scorching deserts of the west to the harsh climate of Harbin in the north, the Ford Territory proved it can handle even the toughest conditions. In total, the Ford team has conducted over 4.4 million kilometers of accumulated testing on the road.
