Automotive

Why the Next-Gen Ford Territory is an endurance athlete’s choice

From City to Trail, it’s ready to take on any adventures with you

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As an endurance athlete, fatigue is my number one enemy. Most days, I take on a long-distance trail in one day. Sometimes, I compete in a back-to-back endurance race.

Whatever the circumstances are, I’m certain I’ll be driving to the race venue and back. Gone are the days when I was a passenger prince. I decided to become part of the next-generation of athletes who forge their own path towards greatness.

I didn’t want to feel like I’m just riding the wave, or just cruising through time while doing endurance sports. Instead, I wanted to take on the challenges and land a podium spot one day.

This aspiration of mine felt attached to driving the Next-Gen Ford Territory for over a year now. The Next-Gen vehicle somehow allows me to become the Next-Gen athlete I’ve always wanted to be.

Becoming my extra legs when I couldn’t feel them anymore

Like any Next-Gen Ford vehicle, the Next-Gen Ford Territory Titanium is designed to assist you in having a comfortable drive.

When my back feels heavy and I barely have the energy to move my shoulders and arms, the rotary e-Shifter makes it easy to change gears with just a simple twist on the knob-like dial.

Since most of my endurance races happen in the mountainsides, I’m used to parking the vehicle on slopes. I would burst out in tears if I had to drive my manual hatchback and park it on a slope.

The Next-Gen Territory, luckily, has a Hill Launch Assist, Roll Over Mitigation, and Hill Descent Control built in its system.

Together with its Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), the Territory stabilizes on an uphill slope, preventing it from rolling over.

This is particularly helpful when my legs don’t work like they used to before. I don’t have to use my remaining leg power and my vehicle’s torque when I have to leave the side street parking.

I simply have to step on the accelerator, and I don’t have to worry about rolling over or suddenly speeding up since the system works hand-in-hand to support the Territory when driving on a hill.

Smart enough to do what I’m supposed to

When you’re tired from a race, you often forget where you put your keys. I used to scramble finding my keys just to enter my vehicle. But that was not the case when driving the Next-Gen Territory.

When the keys are within a 90cm range, as long as you have it with you, the Territory unlocks so you can enter right away.

You also don’t have to insert the key since it uses a Push-Button Start. Just step on the brakes, press the START/POWER button, and voila!

Often, I don’t have functional brain cells after an endurance race. I sometimes forget to release the handbrake. Thankfully, the Electric Parking Brake automatically releases once the vehicle detects that the driver door is closed, and when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Once you drive away and you forget to lock the doors, the Territory automatically locks the vehicle once it reaches enough speed and momentum.

On certain conditions, I also like how the Territory automatically does what I need to do before I even do it. For instance, the Rain-Sensing Windscreen Wipers activate automatically when it detects water on the windscreen. I still have control over its intensity and speed, though.

But it’s a nice touch that I get to concentrate on the road instead of getting distracted by the volume of rain drops.

Entertaining enough to keep me awake

Upon entry inside the Territory, it instantly feels like home with the perfect entertainment setup. Most endurance races finish at noon time, and I stay inside the vehicle to cool down.

The 12-inch colored touchscreen enables me to play my favorite music, whether via Radio or Bluetooth. It works hand-in-hand with the 6-speaker system to immerse me.

Sometimes, I play my favorite OPM tunes and take a nap inside the car.

When I have enough energy to drive, the steering wheel is packed with necessary controls for music playback. It also helps that the Next-Gen Territory is compatible with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

All I need to do is connect my smartphones and tinker with the connected apps through the huge touchscreen.

Comfort is king

Whether as a passenger or as a driver, the Next-Gen Territory feels comfortable inside.

The interior uses a perforated partial leather seat material, keeping me warm when the vehicle gets too cold, but at the same time, comfortable to sit on even if the weather is scorching hot.

My beau finds it easy to rest while I drive, and makes himself comfortable by reclining the seat through the 4-Way Manual Adjust Passenger Seat.

When I feel the fatigue, I just adjust the 10-Way Power Adjust on the Driver’s Seat to make sure I sit in a way that I get to be still focused on driving.

For most weekends, the Next-Gen Territory easily becomes my home. It’s cozy enough yet you still get to personalize it to appease your senses and levels of comfort.

Keeping you safe and sound

While I appreciate having an intensive Driver-Assist Technology like I experienced driving the Next-Gen Ford Everest, the Next-Gen Territory has everything I need.

The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert helps me switch and/or merge lanes, especially on busy roads and traffic jams.

When on the freeway, I get to relax a little bit using the Cruise Control, giving me extra peace of mind that I wouldn’t go beyond the speed limit.

And when I need to park, the Next-Gen Territory uses its High Definition 360-Degree Camera to aid me while driving. Though it has an Active Park Assist feature, I still believe I have better parking skills. At least, I think I do. And I’ll keep believing it until circumstances prove otherwise.

Lastly, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System will always be a helpful feature for me. I often forget to check the tires since I’m always in a hurry, and seeing the information regarding my vehicle’s tire pressure in a glance helps me prepare for a long drive.

Truly an endurance athlete’s choice

The Next-Gen Ford Territory enables me to show up as the endurance athlete I want to be.

With its creature comforts, driver-assist technology, and high-tech features, I get to balance my life being an athlete, a goal-getter, and a lover boy who finds joy in driving to keep his beau safe and sound, even when extremely fatigued from competing.

I get to attend my races, and show up in my training, dates, and important occasions in my life.

If this is my own path towards greatness, then I’m proud to be part of the next-generation of athletes who get to balance life and sports. I’m certain that one day, I’ll still land a podium spot at the right time.

Above all, I’m glad that the Next-Gen Ford Territory is with me every step of the way, whether on the city or on the trail.


For more information about the Next-Gen Ford Territory Titanium, visit the Ford Territory page. Reserve the Next-Gen Ford Territory through www.ford.com.ph or check your nearest Ford dealer.

SEE ALSO: Quality time goes miles with the Ford Territory Titanium X | Tracing roots across Manila with the Next-Gen Ford TerritoryWhen the Ford Co-Pilot 360 takes over | Celebrating spesh occasions with the Ford Territory

Automotive

Ford Philippines kicks off the year with Drive Now, Pay Later

Get offers up to three months of free amortization!

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Ford Philippines opens the year with a strong push for drivers ready to start fresh. Introducing Drive Now, Pay Later, the program is designed to make stepping into a new Ford feel lighter and more timely.

At the center of the offer are two of Ford’s most in-demand nameplates. Customers can take home the Ford Everest Trend today with three months of free amortization.

Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger lineup brings even more flexibility. The Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 comes with four months of free amortization, and the Ranger Sport 4×4 is offered with three months free.

These offers allow buyers to drive their new vehicle now and begin bank financing only after several months. This eases the transition into ownership at the start of the year.

More ways to save this January

Beyond deferred payments, Ford Philippines is extending a wide range of January offers that focus on value and flexibility.

The Ford Everest comes with cash savings of up to PhP 95,000 this month, alongside an all-in option priced at PhP 69,000 on select variants for customers seeking simpler entry costs.

Across the Ranger lineup, buyers can enjoy cash discounts reaching up to PhP 155,000 or opt for a PhP 69,000 all-in down payment on select variants.

The Ranger XLS AT remains one of the most accessible ways to enter the lineup, with a starting price of PhP 1,379,000.

Performance-focused customers can also take advantage of extended January offers for the Ford Raptor. Options include cash discounts or bundled savings with the 5-Star Care Package, depending on the variant.

Electrified and premium options

For drivers ready to explore electrified mobility, the Territory Hybrid Trend starts at PhP 1,399,000. This January, customers may choose between a PhP 20,000 discount or a complimentary three-year Scheduled Service Plan.

Ford’s larger SUVs are also part of the month’s offerings. The Ford Explorer is available with a PhP 99,000 all-in option or 0 percent interest with 20% down payment for 60 months. The Ford Bronco carries the same flexible choices, too.

Availability

The Drive Now, Pay Later program runs across all Ford dealerships nationwide until January 31, 2026. Customers can visit Ford Philippines’ official website or social media channels to explore the full details.

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Automotive

The price I paid for trusting my car too much

A minor crash forced me to confront how technology and misplaced trust can erode the responsibility every driver still carries.

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I never imagined I would be the kind of person who crashes into someone else’s car.

I drive slowly and gently, and practice restraint when another car provokes me on the highway. I’ve made it a habit to pray right before I roll out of the garage. It’s my small ritual asking for protection and patience.

I’ve watched countless videos of drivers making terrible decisions, caught in road rage, accidents, and violations that somehow get tolerated by culture and circumstance. Years of driving and I never thought I would be one of them.

It was a Wednesday morning when I decided to drive south to meet colleagues for a project in Tagaytay. I was already carrying an aching heart, passing through my own version of Cornelia Street along the long stretch of the South Luzon Expressway.

Grief and memory sat beside me in the passenger seat. What was meant to be a coffee run, heavy with nostalgia, became something I wish I could undo.

While reversing out of my parking spot, my right leg twitched. In a flash, my rear bumper hit someone else’s car.

I know that sound. Anyone who drives knows it. I froze before my brain even caught up. My stomach dropped and my chest tightened. I sat there, eyes flicking between the screen, the side mirror, and the rearview mirror, trying to understand how this had happened.

What unsettled me most was the silence.

There were no warning beeps. No flashing icons and no alerts telling me to stop. The sensors that had trained me to trust them went quiet all at once. In that moment, there was no one else to blame. It was only me and a mistake I failed to prevent.

I was lucky. The people whose car I hit were around my parents’ age. They were kind and willing to settle things without turning the situation into something heavier than it already was.

Their brunch was interrupted by my carelessness, and that thought stayed with me longer than the dent itself.

The damage was minor. Their front bumper was dented and the radiator cover cracked. My car only carried scratches on the plastic stepper.

Still, my heart pounded harder than the situation seemed to warrant. The inconvenience stretched on for months through insurance and repairs, unfolding at the same time my life was already unraveling from heartbreak and forced transition into a new home.

It took me months to recover emotionally. I stopped driving the way I used to. Driving once gave me relief when my thoughts felt too loud. After that day, it only reminded me of how easily I failed to be present.

My mistake was allowing technology to take over a part of my responsibility.

I had grown comfortable believing that if something was behind me, my car would tell me. If danger was close, the system would sound the alarm.

Somewhere along the way, I let my awareness be filtered through cameras and sensors instead of relying fully on my own body and judgment. That comfort cost me time, money, and peace of mind.

We live in the most advanced era of driving the world has ever known. Cars can see farther than mirrors ever could. Brakes are designed to react faster than human reflexes. Our car’s systems warn us when we drift or speed up, and when something approaches from the side.

These features save lives, and I am deeply grateful for them. Still, assistance is not replacement.

Without realizing it, I behaved less like a driver and more like a supervisor watching a machine do the work. Even though I checked behind me, I failed to be more careful.

I relied on expecting a warning and trusted that the car would intervene before I had to.

When systems fail and sensors miss angles, there’s no safety net waiting for you.

There’s only the person behind the wheel.

I was lucky that day that I hit a car, and not a person. No one was walking behind me and no child crossed at the wrong moment.

The consequences were small enough for the world to forgive, though my conscience hasn’t fully done the same. I know how easily this could have been worse.

I should’ve done the simplest thing a driver can do. I should have turned my head and looked again. No matter how advanced a vehicle becomes, the most important safety system is still human attention.

Because when the warning never comes, you’re responsible for what happens next. And sometimes, it only takes one missed glance to remind you how fragile everything really is.

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Automotive

Inside the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4

A closer look at the cabin that makes this truck feel smarter and more comfortable than expected.

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They call it a truck, but the moment you step inside, you understand why that word no longer feels enough.

The Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 carries a tough, ready-for-anything energy you’d expect from a pickup. It looks like it was built for mud or long highways that stretch beyond the city.

But inside, it tells a different story. One about comfort and knowing exactly how people live with their cars now.

Inside the Ranger is the kind of cabin that doesn’t ask you to brace yourself. Rather, it invites you to settle in.

Comfort with consideration

The first thing you notice is how easy it is to find your place behind the wheel.

The driver’s seat adjusts in eight ways, which means posture never feels like a compromise. The front passenger seat gets four-way adjustment, which still feels thoughtful rather than basic.

A combination of leather and synthetic leather seats add a softness that immediately changes your mood, the moment you sit down. It’s as if they were designed for long drives that accompany you in heartfelt conversations and unplanned detours.

Temperature never becomes a discussion inside the Wildtrak. With Dual-zone electronic automatic climate control, both sides of the cabin stay exactly how the people inside will want it.

Rear passengers get their own air vents, too, which reinforces the idea that this truck is meant to be shared. Everyone rides comfortably, no matter where they sit.

Even the small conveniences matter here. For instance, I love how the smart keyless entry and push-button start make it easy to start the car. The auto-dimming rearview mirror also takes care of harsh headlights, especially at night.

This cabin understands technology

Taking center stage is the 12-inch portrait touchscreen running SYNC 4A. The Wildtrak’s display feels intuitive and easy to trust, especially with how quickly it responds to inputs.

Voice commands work naturally, allowing your eyes to stay on the road where they belong. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect almost instantly, and once you experience that kind of seamless pairing, cables start to feel unnecessary.

In real-world use, I did notice that my Android devices occasionally disconnected, which eventually pushed me to plug them in for longer drives. Google Maps is non-negotiable for me, especially when I am navigating unfamiliar routes.

On the other hand, my iPhones connected more consistently and only tended to lose signal in congestion-heavy areas, like certain stretches of the South Luzon Expressway.

Still, the Wildtrak makes it easy to stay powered and connected. There is a wireless charging pad ready for your phone, along with multiple USB ports placed exactly where you expect them to be.

The six-speaker sound system is controlled directly from the steering wheel, which means music is always within reach. It also means I can comfortably get through Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” whenever traffic slows everything down.

Everything feels accessible without ever feeling crowded. That includes the 8-inch digital instrument cluster, which presents all the information you need in a clean and reassuring way, without overwhelming the driver.

Driving with confidence

Out on the road, the Wildtrak feels like it is constantly looking out for you. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go takes the edge off heavy traffic, especially during bumper-to-bumper moments when the drive feels longer than it should.

Once you hit the freeway, the Wildtrak feels composed and confident, like a Beast let loose. Features like Lane Centering and Evasive Steer Assist help keep everything steady and controlled, particularly on long southbound drives where fatigue can creep in.

In the city, Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection becomes one of those features you hope you never need, yet deeply appreciate once you understand how quickly it reacts. It responds faster than instinct, which matters when every second counts.

Add Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, and the Electronic Locking Rear Differential, and the Wildtrak feels prepared for situations you cannot always predict. Even the rear parking sensors earn their keep, especially when backing into tight spaces where visibility is limited.

Despite its imposing size, parking never feels intimidating. The 360-degree camera quickly becomes a trusted companion, making tight spots manageable and reducing the stress that often comes with driving a large vehicle.

It’s especially reassuring for drivers who love big trucks but are still getting used to their presence on city streets.

More than a truck

The Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 feels like it understands modern life.

It balances being tough with power and comfort. It feels ready for anything, whether it’s a weekday traffic or a weekend escape.

If you’re looking for a truck that feels like it already knows what you need, this one makes a strong case without ever raising its voice.

This is what it feels like inside the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4.

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