The society for the protection of the word 'new' might well be ready to pen a letter of stern admonishment to Ford.

The subject of discontent? The freshened Territory - because it's barely freshened.

In dealerships now, the SY II represents the first significant improvement for the five-year-old car since it adopted the ZF six-speed auto, but don't get too excited.

This update is a once-over-lightly that delivers only minor cosmetic and feature enhancements. Even then, the sum total of visual component change is modest.

It's not enough, and Ford knows it, but the big improvements that are required now are still a year away. For now, then, the old vry much outweighs the... er, well, you know.

Of course that hasn't kept Ford New Zealand PR and marketing types from liberally splashing the 'n' word all over the place, which surely is playing with the society's ire.

Rest assured, we're steering clear of the impending controversy, and have asked the copy rewriting team to substitute every 'new' with a 'different'.

Which means we're going to tell you about a different nose, a different and larger wheel for the Ghia, a different lineup and sharper prices.

The revised model line now encompasses the TS in rear- and four-wheel-drive and the purely all-paw Ghia and Ghia Turbo. The TX and FPV F6 variants have gone.

'Major' - their word, not ours - design changes run to ... er, a new bonnet, on all but the Ghia Turbo, a change of grille, colour-coded bumpers and, oh yes, a new (oops) fog lamp bezel.

The Ghias have indicator lamps integrated into the wing mirrors, there are side steps and, gosh, privacy glass aft of the front side windows. All variants sport fresh wheel designs.

The new look brings it into line with Ford's new "kinetic design" corporate face that debuted on the Mondeo and features on the new FG Falcon.

On the inside, though, it's same old. No FG-style console or instrumentation. Just trim changes and some extra gear. The TS gains a reverse parking camera and a third row seat while Ghias now had a rear DVD screen.

Ford readily acknowledges what we're getting now is but a short-term move to keep public interest alive in the aging star until mid-2010. As we've previously mentioned, June or thereabouts next year is when alterations significant enough to warrant the 'n' word will be rolled out.

Specifically, we'll see new engines - including a turbodiesel that Kiwis could have done with from last year - and thorough exterior and interior overhauls.

Petrol cars step up to the upgraded Euro IV inline six engines from the FG Falcon. The engine upgrade will be accompanied for the rear-wheel-drive Territory by a swap from the current four-speed to a five- or six-speed auto.

The diesel is a sophisticated 3.0-litre turbodiesel - most likely the same Peugeot-Ford developed unit that has just gone into the updated Jaguar XF and Land Rover Discovery.

Melbourne has also already warned the engine will not be cheap, but it does expect an oiler to revitalise sales, which have waned significantly over the past 18 months.

The big changes sound great, but can we wait that long? It's a sad fact that the car that was once Ford's most popular, and which seemed set to revolutionise Australian car-making at its launch five years ago, is fast becoming a non-performer here and in its home market.

It's a sobering thought that more than two thirds of the 8400 Territorys registered in New Zealand went onto the road before the end of 2007.

Rising fuel sales and waning interest in large cars have taken an obvious toll on this model (and Falcon), but fact is Ford just hasn't reacted quickly enough to altered market conditions.

It must now look wistfully at Territory's robust sales in 2005 and 2006, when it was challenging Falcon as the brand's most popular car and commanded a significant share of the sports utility sector.

If anything should help it claw back, it'll surely be the diesel.

"Fifty percent of the medium SUV market is now diesel and you have to be there," Melbourne-based product development director Russell Christophers told Australian media, adding: "If you want to increase your volume then you have to have diesel and we want to increase Territory volume."

With SY II, fuel efficiency is still not brilliant. The improvements wrought the six-cylinder engine in the Falcon have been passed on. This means a new catalytic converter and revised software calibration.

Ford also claims this Territory has improved aerodynamics and reduced kerb weight, though it still looks like a brick and weighs like one too.

In any event, while the rear-drive Territory is said to be five percent more economical, with a claimed 11.6L/100km on the combined cycle, this only applies to the five-seater, not sold here.

The seven seat TS rear-drive is appearently no thriftier and, since they are still rated at 12.5L/100km overall, neither are the all-wheel-drive models.

Ford New Zealand has made no secret that it desires - actually, make that demands - a diesel, and it has previously said it doesn't expect SY II to bring a lift in sales.

Oilers now account for more than 70 percent of all SUV sales here, and last year's fuel price roller-coaster ride hurt Territory badly.

Residual values have also dropped - moreso on four-speed cars than the ZF-equipped cars - but trade prices might react to the SY II pricing, which in positioning Territory in the $52,990-$67,990 band, takes up to $6000 out of previous sticker values.

What this means to you:
Australia's most innovative car has been allowed to fall behind the times. Shame on you, Ford.