Ford tests hybrid Territory SUV in Brazil to counter Chinese rivals

Ford is conducting road tests of a plug‑in hybrid version of its mid‑size Territory SUV on Brazilian roads. The prototype pairs a 1.5‑liter turbo gasoline engine (150 hp) with an 82‑hp electric motor, delivering a combined output of about 218 hp. Power comes from an 18.4 kWh CATL battery that can provide an electric‑only range of roughly 115 km (Chinese test cycle) and a total driving range of over 1,300 km when the fuel tank and battery are full. Charging from 30 % to 80 % takes about 14 minutes on a fast charger; the system accepts up to 6.6 kW AC and 40 kW DC fast charging.

The hybrid powertrain is expected to improve fuel economy significantly compared with the current 1.5‑turbo gasoline‑only model, which records 8.8 km/l in city driving. Visually the vehicle remains largely unchanged, with only minor updates to grille, wheels and aerodynamic trim anticipated.

Ford’s move is aimed at recapturing market share in Brazil’s competitive midsize SUV segment, where Chinese brands such as GWM’s Haval H6, BYD’s Song Plus and Jaecoo 7 have gained strong footholds with affordable, technologically advanced offerings. By introducing a hybrid Territory, Ford seeks to offer a more efficient and technologically comparable alternative to these rivals.