MELBOURNE 2009: Ford Facelifts Focus and Territory
The latest generation Ford Focus hasn't really been the success Ford thought it would be. Sharing similar components to the Mazda3, it has been outshined by its competitor, purely because of its lack of style, and the Mazda's abundance of it. But Ford hopes that it's fortunes will be lifted with the facelifted Focus, with a more Mondeo-like front end. It's still recognisable as a Focus, but unbelievably, it seems that the entire "look" of the car has been transformed. If the Focus had've looked as good as this on launch in 2004, it could have sold as well as the Mazda3.
This facelifted Focus not only brings changes to the exterior, but the interior as well. Allegedly, more upmarket materials are being used, with a black soft-touch dash pad, soft-touch upper door trims, and a contrasting tan coloured inner roof lining to visually lighten the cabin.
The changes to the Ford Territory are less satisfactory. The Territory was a runaway sales success when it debuted, also in 2004, but of late, the appeal of the Territory has waned. Blame the spike in petrol prices in early 2008, and the financial crisis that has plagued us ever since the prices came down again. So after seeing the facelift magic Ford created with the new Focus, I was actually excited when I heard Ford spruking a facelifted Territory. After all, we didn't think they would, what with the money woes of the car industry. So I was excited. Until I saw it.
The facelift is in the form of this MkII model, on which it appears that only the front bumper and side mirrors have been modified. Pictured here is the Turbo Ghia model, so this really is as good as it gets. It's not enough. The Territory was a plain-looking car back in 2005, but now it looks old and tired. I really feel sorry for it. They didn't even update the engines to FG Falcon specification, so the new Territory gets a thumbs down from me.
March 1, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Here we have two executions of the current Ford design language. Exhibit 1: the Ford Focus. It is executed sufficiently. Whilst it does not carry the freshness of the Fiesta, or the sleekness of the Mondeo, it still has a sporty presence and looks very modern and contemporary.
Exhibit 2: the Ford Territory. Now the design language has been applied here too, noting the chrome upper part of the grille, and the trapezoidal air intake. But it lacks fluidity; its too boxy and clunky. It doesn't give off the same modern and contemporary feel as other Fords with the same design language. Why is it that Australian adoptions of Ford design languages (New Edge language on AU Falcon = Fail) don't work as well as European designs?
Post a Comment