Ford Territory FX6 2008 Overview

Range Rover Vogue and Porsche 911 are always welcome cars. And a handful of motorcycles, two- and four-wheel drive, have good maneuverability.

They have a class and character that go beyond a mere collection of mechanical devices.

Now the FPV F6X 270 pictured here should be added to this list of vehicles that feel good and bring smiles to drive from the start.

It's no secret that Ford's Territory is a favorite here, a well-designed Australian station wagon that can handle both good and bad roads while still transporting the family in comfort. There is a variant with seven seats and a variant with rear or all-wheel drive.

Some nitpicking about Ford's fuel economy - and a diesel powerplant would be nice - but in terms of breadth of capabilities, the Territory remains in a class of its own among domestic cars.

So the FPV-built super-hot territory needs to be a bit special.

It's not just about the extra power and torque of a retuned turbo, it's not just about the sharp cornering and excellent balance of ride and handling of the F6X, it's about leather seats, comfort, convenience and safety, and everything else. smooth finishing touches.

They add an ambiance that elevates Ford above the rest, and that luxury, combined with polished driving dynamics, puts the F6X in a prestigious company.

For FPV, the F6X 270 is a worthy – and cheaper – competitor to a number of European premium off-road vehicles.

There's more than enough power to propel and brake, more than enough finesse for a Ford all-wheel drive and chassis.

All this and the attention to detail gives the F6X a ton of credibility; he brings smiles whether he's jumping off the track into a sprint, cruising with a huge stereo system working overtime, or throwing himself enthusiastically up a mountain pass.

Some might think the F6X needs a bit more cosmetic work to differentiate it from other Ford Territory's, some are happy to travel around in a nice, understated car.

This FPV wagon is based on the turbocharged Ford Territory Ghia, which by itself is no slouch on the open road.

Here, the original turbo wagon's 245kW output is upped to 270kW thanks to a recalibrated engine map, fuel delivery, ignition timing and boost control. There are also additional 70 Nm.

This means that the F6X leaves a little faster than the donor car.

This is greatly appreciated immediately after the van leaves the line and lifts off on acceleration with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds. There's a smooth surge of boosted power here, quite subtle and most satisfying when 550 Nm of torque from 2000 rpm comes into play.

There is a determined push and a subtle note in the exhaust; and all this causes the first smiles.

The station wagon is assisted by a six-speed transmission with smooth and snappy shifting. While the driver can shift into sport mode and play with sequential shifting, the gearbox itself is fast enough for most movements.

The exception is when there is a perception that rapid decelerations are necessary to overtake or attack in certain corners.

This is the next deal where the F6X can bring a big and big smile.

Because the station wagon likes to attack corners with a panache that, for the most part, belies the F6X's heft.

Indeed, it's easiest when those 18-inch tires whine into a corner and then bite hard as the F6X straightens out and trudges into the next corner.

The FPV engineers left enough excitement in the electronic traction and stability control system for the driver to have some fun.

Now, as much as the assertive driver appreciates all these features, and some appreciate the leather-wrapped luxury of a perfectly practical car, the real smart work is in the suspension.

Here the FPV F6X is ahead of some big-name German competitors.

Here, while keeping the Territory's standard ride height, the engineers spent a lot of time testing to bring back the dampers and springs.

The result is an excellent compromise, one of the best, between tough performance needs and ride comfort. Foreign engineers don't always understand the state of Australian roads or how some people might use their premium SUVs; some of these more expensive cars offer great performance on racetracks, but too much roughness on local highways.

This FPV suspension work (on what was already a decent chassis package) bolsters the chassis and steering to the point where it's better than any other SUV in this price range.

Indeed, the FPV F6X, backed by Ford dealers with slightly more distribution than imported products, could be the perfect hot-rod SUV for this country.

It has power, grip, balance and all-wheel drive. And it has a full-size matching alloy spare tire, something you don't always find in European cars, and another little indication of the FPV F6X's suitability as a great Australian sports touring car.

FPV F6X 270

PRICE: $75,990

BODY: Four-door station wagon

ENGINE: Four-litre, turbocharged, straight-six

FOOD: 270 kW at 5000 rpm

MOMENT: 550 Nm from 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed sequential automatic, all-wheel drive

WHEELS: 18-inch

TOWING: 2300kg