2009 Ford Flex: Ford reinvents the minivan
Great idea, dumb name
Elegant in its design and yet a hefty, big SUV/minivan crossover box, the Ford Flex is the next big new model that has to save the company. The New York International Auto Show introduction was a bit early to unveil the production version of the Flex, which first appeared at the 2005 Detroit show as the Fairlane concept. The Flex goes on sale next summer as a 2009 model.
While the Fairlane's suicide doors have been replaced by four conventional doors, many details remain, including horizontal strakes on the profile and brushed, stainless rear-deck accent. Not retro, the Flex comes off as a quietly luxurious modern station wagon, the obvious descendant of the 1940 Woody or 1965 Country Squire. But given the five-passenger Edge's near-Explorer weight, how much mass does the Flex have? Another issue is Ford Motor president of the Americas region Mark Fields's assertion that Ford will become the crossover leader with the Flex. Is Ford headed toward crossover-dependency the way it was truck/SUV-dependent in the 1990s? Consider the crossovers in Ford dealerships in the near future: Escape, Edge, Taurus X (may be dropped), Flex, Explorer (next version is unibody).
Here are the detailsBased on the Volvo-derived D3 platform. 117.9-inch wheelbase; 202.3-inch overall length. Front drive standard, all-wheel drive optional. 18-inch wheels standard, 17- and 19-inch optional.3.5-liter DOHC V-6 rated more than 260 horses and 245 pound-feet. 4.4-liter Yamaha V-8 will fit, but won't be available. Expect a twin-turbo, gas direct-injection 3.7-liter version of the V-6, if any, as an optional engine.Available real wood trim, navigation with voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather and 23,000-song hard drive. Refrigerator option fits between the second- and third-row seats. Bench or captains chairs for the second row.Second-generation keypad has touch-sensitive, flat-panel display. Unlocks doors, disarms alarm, and disables auto-lock function. Standard front- and side-seat airbags, three-row Canopy side curtains, optional AdvanceTrac with RSC.Optional multi-panel vista roof covers each of the three rows with sunroofs. Top available in white, silver, or same paint as lower body. Available power liftgate and rear backup camera.MacPherson struts with isolated subframe front, independent coil-over shocks, isolated subframe, rear. More than 4000 pounds towing capacity. Ford says capless fuel filler provides a "much better" seal than traditional gas cap.