Territory outsells Falcon for the first time

For the first time ever, the Ford Territory SUV outsold its Falcon sedan sibling. For the single month of November, the difference between the pair was almost 300 units – 1776 sales versus 1483.

Those figures speak as much about the rapid decline of Falcon as the increasing strength of Territory, although the figures may complement each other – Falc buyers swayed by turbo-diesel economy in the facelifted Tezza. Combined Falcon/Territory sales of 3259 units easily eclipsed Commodore sedan and Sportwagon’s 2808 total for the month.

The end of 2011 can’t come soon enough for Falcon, which has lost 10,000 sales compared with last year, a 37% year-to-date decline. The liquid-injected gas EcoLPI hasn’t yet fired, and it’s unclear whether the turbo-four Ecoboost will prove a meaningful addition next year.

Conversely, turbo-diesel power is proving a winning formula for the Territory. If momentum can be maintained, then 15-20,000 sales is possible for full-year 2012 – well above the previous few year’s circa-10K performances.

The general motoring media pick Falcon as a soft target – the new Mitsubishi 380? – but it appears that while buyers have deserted the big sedan, they haven’t completely deserted Ford showrooms.