The Territory F6X is Ford's forgotten performance SUV

The F6X was like a cut-price Porsche Cayenne.

Despite the decals and badges, there isn't much difference between the F6X and Turbo.

Last year in the United States Ford revealed its Edge ST performance SUV and now the Explorer has received similar treated to create the Blue Oval’s most powerful Sports Utility Vehicle.

Packing a 3.0-litre EcoBoost engine with outputs of 335kW/562Nm, this has us Aussies a little teary-eyed as it reminds us of our high-powered Territory.

Introduced in 2006, the Turbo version ran the same engine as the Falcon XR6T, but then in 2008 Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) took things to the another level with the F6X.

Only 229 F6X were ever built.

Using the same powerplant as the F6 Typhoon, the turbocharged 4.0-litre Barra made 270kW/550Nm and was connected to the quick-shifting ZF six-speed auto.

The Barra will go down in history as one of Australia's greatest engines.

Coupled with all-wheel-drive, the high-riding SUV could blast from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds, despite weighing over two tonnes.

FPV claimed (at the time) it was the most powerful six-cylinder SUV money could buy in Australia and because of this the engineers added Brembo brakes and retuned the suspension.

The functional air scoop, feeds air to the intercooler.

Up to seven people could experience 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds at the same time.

The F6X was shorted lived, ending production in 2009 with only 229 units built. The less powerful Turbo model marched on until 2011, but afterwards there was no replacement.

Any chance of the Edge (Endura locally) or Explorer ST coming Down Under has also been ruled out by Ford Australia, so we're left without a successor for the meantime.

Would you like to see Ford’s ST SUVs come to Australia? Let us know in the comments.

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