Changes under the bonnet

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Ford Australia is looking at equipping its Falcon-based Territory sports utility vehicle with an optional V6 diesel engine from luxury British marque Jaguar.

Both all-wheel-drive and rear-drive variants of the Territory use the Falcon's 4-litre straight-six petrol unit.

The Melbourne-based carmaker has confirmed that a diesel is included in its long-term plans for the Territory but says nothing specific is under development.

It is understood Ford is evaluating the 2-7-litre oil-burner Jaguar offers in its S-Type in Europe.

The 24-valve, twin-turbo common-rail unit was developed in conjunction with the French PSA Peugeot-Citroen group and will appear in Peugeot 407 sedans and stationwagons next year.

In the S-Type, it develops 153kW (206bhp) and 435Nm of torque, 80 per cent of which is available from 1500rpm.

Land Rover uses a reworked version of the same 2.7-litre V6 in its new Discovery 3, expected in New Zealand early next year.

The single-turbo unit in the four-wheel-drive Discovery 3 produces 140kW (190bhp) at 4000rpm and 440Nm at 1900rpm.

It is this engine that Ford is understood to be trialling in the Territory. It is also testing a turbocharged version of the Territory's 182kW unit, a slightly detuned revision of the 240kW powerplant found under the bonnet of the Falcon XR6.

Ford New Zealand has sold more than 900 variants of the Territory since it went on the market in mid-June.