Ford Territory tech details

A new cylinder head and intake manifold help the petrol mill to a claimed fuel figure of 10.6 litres/100km for both the five and seven-seaters.  The petrol engine is good for 195kW (up from 190kW) and 391Nm (up from 383Nm) while the diesel puts out 140kW/440Nm.

The rear-drive diesel has a claimed fuel use of 8.2 litres/100km; the all-wheel drive model uses 8.8 litres/100km.  All models now come with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard.

NVH

Making the car quieter for front-to-rear seat conversations was a key priority for the noise, vibration and handling team.  New seals around the rear tailgate, more attention to aerodynamics - hence the new side mirrors - and better insulation in the bulkhead and beneath the floor all contribute to trimming decibels from the SZ range.

The team even looked at a double bulkhead to cut interior noise but instead opted for a plastic layer sandwiched in the regular sound-deadening material that achieves 95 per cent of the insulation for none of the weight or manufacturing cost.

NVH head Michael Stellamanns says interior quietness is a key trigger for customer satisfaction. That's why the diesel was tested in the most demanding conditions - a drive-through restaurant with the window down, car idling and sound bouncing off the bitumen and wall - to ensure the diesel "cackle" wasn't intrusive.

DYNAMICS

Anyone who drives an SZ Territory will pick the difference in steering, says Ford's vehicle dynamics manager Alex de Vluyt.  Put that down to a new electronic power-assisted steering system and revised front suspension geometry intended to make the new Territory less responsive to wheel inputs at high speeds.

Conversely, better responsiveness in parking situations was another target and one de Vlugt says will make the SZ model stand out.  Keeping the big SUV flat while cornering, accelerating or braking was another focus and to achieve the "roll agility of a Mondeo" the front anti-roll bar has been stiffened by 30 per cent, the front springs are 35 per cent stiffer and the rear springs have been beefed up by 10 per cent.