2009 Ford Flex - The New Crossover King - 2007 New York Auto S

Love 'em or hate 'em, the crossovers have officially arrived. No longer able to be dismissed as a passing fad, automakers are dumping millions of dollars into development of what each hopes will be the next Crossover King.

Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, has verbalized Ford's intentions of dominating a crossover segment that has surpassed SUVs in sales for the first time last year and could, according to Ford, reach over three million annual sales by decade's end. It is no secret that Ford did very well in the SUV industry with their Explorer, and Fields is hoping that their return to glory could come with the troubled domestic automaker's latest production debutante, the Ford Flex.

Based on the Fairlane concept of 2005 (the original name was deemed a bit outdated), the Flex is Ford's take on luxury people-moving with a theme that dates back to the automaker's classic luxo-wagons of the 1950s. The horizontal creases in the doors and rear hatch easily resemble the wood trim pattern that was all the rage half a century ago, while the optional silver or white roof and three-bar front grille leave admirers waxing nostalgic.

Inside the Flex , classic design mixes with modern technology. Optional wood trim (from real trees, not those deceptive fake plastic versions) and second row leather captains chairs with footrests share a cabin with a mini-refrigerator and Ford Sync, an entertainment system that combines a hands-free communication system with a voice-activated MP3 audio and DVD video unit. Audio storage capacity is a whopping 2,300 songs providing a jukebox-like experience. The Flex's Vista roof offers multiple skylight-like panels over individual passengers and an ambient lighting system brightens the interior with a choice of seven different colors.

But the Flex isn't all flash - there are practical touches too. The fuel filler requires no screw-on cap, yet seals better than a traditional capped units. Second row seats fold flat into the floor of the Flex and, optionally, do it by themselves at the push of a button. A backup camera is available and displays on the integrated front-row navigation unit and Ford has even brought back the keypad-entry system, but now the keypad is attractively integrated into the black B-pillars rather than the doors.

Obviously an option-laden crossover will need a powertrain up to the task of moving up to seven passengers and their belongings, but fear not. Powering the Flex is Ford's 260 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine which sends 245 lb-ft of torque through the six-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. An electronic traction control unit transfers up to 100 percent of the Flex's available torque to either front or rear wheels, depending on where it is needed most. Ford says that their Yamaha-developed V8 will fit in the Flex's engine bay, but we suspect that in times of increasing gas prices and an emphasis on economy, the V6 will likely be the only option for the foreseeable future.

Will the Flex be the yardstick by which the crossover segment is measured? And perhaps more importantly, will it help restore Ford's profits? We'll find out a year from this summer when the 2009 Ford Flex finds its way to showrooms. Until then, Mark Fields will likely be keeping his fingers tightly crossed.