Finally - a truly bold move from Ford: something unique!
Lets first review where Ford currently stands today:
- the Edge: nothing more than a response to the excellent Murano. Not an original idea, and nothing unique in the execution. Reviewers see it as heavy, lethargic, but comfortable.
- the Mustang: nothing more than a parody of old glories - and shows nothing about what Ford engineers and designers are truly capable of. Old tech thru and thru, nothing modern in the suspension design, engine, or tuning - only the safety structure. It's good enough for the marketplace (and last month's selling was down 15% from last year) - but that is not good enough to take the company forward or demonstrate what it's capable of.
- the Five Hundred: or make that the Taurus. A failed launch, the mysteriously delayed 3.5 engine, and blatant reuse from Volvo. No personality of it's own. This car has yet to make due on it's promises. SHO fans have made a brave suggestion to Ford about resurrecting the SHO and have zero chance of success (or should it be on the Fusion?).
- Crown Vic. A car that needs a mercy killing. Is this or the Ranger more outdated? And which of the two is safer?
- Same for the Focus. A car that should have died and been replaced by the excellent and world-class C1 platform many years ago. Who would buy this product on in it's present form? Only the uninformed: there's too much on the market that is incredibly *far* better.
- the Explorer - a concept whose time has passed. Full-frame trucks are pointless - they almost never go off-road and they are unnecessarily heavy. Apparently Ford is working on a smaller monocoque rear-wheel drive based Explorer for the future - although this and the Flex probably makes the Taurus-X obsolete. I'd like to see the next Explorer parallel the Infiniti EX concept: sporting and of a reasonable size with a good V-6 in the 300 HP range. Then move the oversized Expedition to the former Explorer chassis. This would be about the 2012 timeframe and we've got to raise the overall fleet fuel economy average significantly by then.
- the Fusion - or "Mazda6 version 1.5" as it's product plan probably is labeled. A car that required AWD to beat it's competitors in some "slanted" comparison tests. And the milquetoast engine fails to raise any kind of passion or even just a hint of enthusiasm.
So none of these are unique, or they came from some other platform, or they are old and tired, or they have yet to make good on their potential. A sad story for the once-proud and successful Ford Motor Company.
I do applaude some of the work Ford has done on the interiors of the latest vehicles (Flex, Fusion, Taurus, edge): they show the beginnings of fresh thinking for design. But largely the front ends are all variations of the horrible 3-bar grill theme. A visit to a Ford lot will eventually be a sea of 3-bar grills. You need only choose the width of the grill.
Now on to the Flex. The Flex is new thinking: it's truly unique in the market. It's not an SUV, it's not a mini-van, it's not a crossover (that terribly over-used term, with truck-like or utilitarian connotations). Yet it manages to evoke memories of what station wagons used to be all about 40 years ago: it brings the concept and the happy memories and "go-places" image into this century. This is a vehicle you can indeed travel in comfortably, and with not unreasonable economy. Thank goodness it's not another truck, and that it wasn't saddled with Ford's ugly truck grill or anything else from Ford's horrible truck culture.
It's based on the same Volvo chassis that is underneath the Five Hundred. And that's technically a good thing, although I'm not happy that Billy Ford's lack of a product plan dilemma was so conveniently sidestepped by the convenient availability of the excellent Mazda6 and Volvo platforms (something he should thank Jacques Nasser for - but of course he wouldn't admit to that).
There are all sorts of interesting little details here - such as the refrigerator and the lack of side sliding doors. An article in AutoWeek explains what happened to the door paradigm, but I think they miss two points:
- the sliding doors are a mini-van paradigm. In order to escape the perils of that particular paradigm, and make this a viable people-mover without the stigma of the mini-van image, something else was needed.
- Sliding doors require an ugly track for the doors to slide in. These are also difficult to engineer. The AutoWeek article mentions costs - and they are high, but instead focuses instead on how the saved money was spent rather tha on what it would have cost and the fact that Ford was operating on a shoestring. AutoWeek suggests that if Ford had been operating on a normal budget that the sliding doors would have been used. I don't think they listened to what J Mays was telling them.
- The 3-bar grill. What was bold on a concept car several years ago is just ugly now. It shows Ford is short on styling ideas. Nor is it functional.
And I have some problems with the Flex:
- the Flex name is controversial. Again, it begins with "F" - and why is that? This is a tired paradigm, although the promising show vehicle from 2 years ago was named "Fairlane". Why wasn't that name used? It certainly has historical precedence, and it certainly points to the target audience for this vehicle. Perhaps it will make a return on an upmarket Falcon someday instead?
- The Flex is large. You can see from the specs below that the Flex is 202" long. I would have said that something in the 190" range would have been "just right": smaller and much more economical. On the other hand, the Edge is already available in that size. If needed, Ford can sell the Flex on size if nothing else. And the fact that it has a third row of seats - but then you are stuck with providing those these days.
- The Flex is heavy. I haven't seen a weight spec yet, but since the Edge is over 4000 pounds, this probably will be on the order of 4200 (base) to 4500 (loaded AWD). And I also don't see any particular weight saving measures here, such as composite hoods or fenders, or extensive use of aluminum in the suspension.
- The Flex is very modestly powered, if not outright under-powered. The 3.5 is a fair engine, but ~260 HP and 245 torque will be strained. This market doesn't need all the power in the world, but I do predict the magazine reviews will remark on how underpowered it is. The 3.5 is falling behind in the technology race, and it's barely out the door. The same size engine could be making over 300 HP, and 270 torque - with better economy and emissions. Ford needs to get direct injection on the engine, as well as variable valve timing on the exhaust side (it already has it on the intake) as well as variable valve lift and cylinder shutoff. We know that Ford is readying direct injection for this engine family. Nobody has said anything about variable lift or cylinder shutoff that I've seen.
So now the vehicle is complete (final engineering) and will be out in about 15 months. Ford will make it or break it with marketing, dealer training, and follow-on work. By follow-on, I mean advancements in future models, rather than just leaving the vehicle sitting unchanged until it becomes irrelevant in the marketplace and sales gradually die. That is after all the Ford way: a lesson they've almost never learned much less practised. And the main reason why so many other Fords with great potential (like the Lincoln LS) failed miserably.
I saw a review last week that said it looks likle an enormous Mini Cooper. Oddly, that was my first reaction when I saw the Fairlane... the proportions are similarily tight with short overhangs. I think that Ford could have made the Flex even more "Cooper" and that it would have resulted in an even more unique vehicle. I would have have been much happier without the Ford paradigm 3-bar grill and the newer headlamp style.
But the big question is: do I like it or not? Well... it's not the type of vehicle I am interested in, or would have any use for whatsoever. So I'm not picturing myself inside it and wondering. Instead I'm looking to the Flex to be a part of the resurrection of Ford and I think it can help. I do wish it was smaller, because the upcoming CAFE rules changes (either from the present administration, or the next one - raising them is inevitable and that's the right thing to do) would favor a smaller vehicle (Ford's trucks are too big, the Mustang is way to big, etc). And I do despise third-row seating (and don't believe it's safe either!). But yes I do like it - and will like it even more if Ford uses it as a model for future offerings.
Press release and specs follow:
2009 FORD FLEX: AN ALL-NEW FULL-SIZE CROSSOVER REDEFINES THE JOURNEY FOR THE AMERICAN FAMILY
- Bold Design Inside and Out: New Ford Flex full-size crossover is the first vehicle of its kind with a bold design, striking interior and seven-passenger seating for families.
- Cool Features: Interior refrigerator, second-row footrests, Ford Sync™ in-car communications and entertainment system, capless fueling, a 2,300-song personal juke box, programmable ambient interior “mood lighting” and a Multi-Panel Vista Roof™ are among the many customer-inspired innovations.
- Safe and Secure: An available rear back-up camera, s tandard f ront-and-side-seat mounted air bags, three-row Safety Canopy ® side curtain and AdvanceTrac ® with RSC ® (Roll Stability Control) offer the safety and security customers demand for their families.
- Powerful and Confident: An award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine, fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission and available intelligent all-wheel-drive provide powerful and confident road manners.
- On Sale Next Year: The 2009 Ford Flex goes on sale in the summer of 2008, joining the Edge and Taurus X in Ford’s popular crossover lineup.
NEW YORK, April 4, 2007 – Ford Motor Company redefines the modern American family journey with the introduction of the 2009 Ford Flex, a full-size crossover that sets a new standard for style, features, functionality and comfort in the U.S. industry’s hottest segment.
“The new Ford Flex crossover is a game-changer. It’s the first vehicle of its kind that combines seating for seven, interior spaciousness and surprising features with a striking design that looks great on the road and at home for today’s modern American families,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas, as he revealed the new vehicle at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. “The Flex builds on Ford’s leadership in crossover vehicles, which is the fastest-growing part of the auto market today.”
On sale in the summer of 2008, the Flex is arriving as crossovers continue to outpace even the remarkable growth of SUVs during the 1990s and minivans of the 1980s.
Last year, crossovers surpassed traditional SUV sales for the first time, and they are trending toward annual crossover sales of 3 million units by the end of the decade. Such growth likely will make crossovers the first or second largest vehicle segment in the U.S.
“Flex is another example of Ford creating more of the products that our customers really want,” Fields said. “Ford intends to define crossover vehicles this decade just as we did SUVs in the 1990s.”
The Flex joins the Edge and Taurus X in Ford’s expanding crossover lineup. Ford’s success with crossover utility vehicles is substantial. In March alone, the company’s U.S. crossover
sales were up more than 40 percent over last year – led by the success of the new Edge.
Redefining the Family Journey
Bold, expressive design and exclusive innovations define the new Flex.
“The Ford Flex has the power to move people emotionally as well as physically,” said J Mays, Ford’s group vice president of Design and chief creative officer.
“This crossover has been created for people who know it’s the journey – not the destination – that matters most,” Mays added. “Its upright, upscale design, versatility and clever touches allow Ford Flex to stand out in an increasingly crowded sea of crossovers.”
The Ford Flex brings to production the Ford Fairlane concept vehicle that turned heads at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
“Flex is following in the tire tracks, so to speak, of Ford vehicles like the Taurus, Explorer and Mustang. It’s the next iconic Ford,” said Peter Horbury, Ford’s executive director of Design for The Americas. “It shatters today’s image of people movers.”
Flex’s signature exterior design includes:
- Ford’s signature chrome horizontal three-bar grille, which builds on the family “face” that defines the Ford Edge and Taurus X crossovers, as well as the Ford Fusion sedan.
- A unique, all black “greenhouse” – defined as the windshield, rear and side windows,
and the pillars separating and connecting them to the roof. The design brings together seamlessly the body with the available multi-panel roof. Customers can pair a White Suede or Silver roof option with one of Flex’s 10 available exterior colors or choose a body-color roof.
- Standard 18-inch or available 19-inch bright aluminum wheels, which plant the new crossover firmly on the road.
- Flex’s integrated rocker panel design, which eliminates the need for customers to step over the rocker panel when getting in and out of the vehicle.
- Edge-inspired taillamps, which are outlined in chrome. Flex Limited models have LED taillamps and a brushed satin finish metal appliqué spanning the center of the liftgate.
Interior Quality
Inside, Ford Flex delivers textures, features and functionality – including segment exclusives – that create an ideal atmosphere for discerning customers and their families.
“More than 90 percent of crossover customers make their vehicle purchases based in part on
the overall quality of interiors,” said Kate Pearce, Flex marketing manager. “When they see
the Flex’s exterior, they’ll be intrigued. When they see its interior, they’ll fall in love.”
Flex’s interior provides a level of craftsmanship inspired by fashion and furniture design,
with modern materials and soft touch points.
Details include tweed-like fabric for the base-level Flex SE’s seats, with inserts in a miniature houndstooth. Meanwhile, the Flex SEL features a soft insert with a more pronounced grain on the seat bolsters, while the Flex Limited features unique diamond-pattern perforations on the leather seat inserts. Contrast stitching also is available on leather seats and the center console.
Cool Features Built Right In
Flex is set apart from other vehicles thanks to a long list of surprising features. They include:
- Class-exclusive refrigerator, mounted between the second-row captain’s chairs. Unlike competitors’ systems that merely keep cold beverages cool, the Flex’s available compressor-driven refrigerator can cool up to seven 12-ounce cans, four half-liter bottles or two 20-ounce bottles from room temperature to 41 degrees in just more than two-and-one-half hours. That’s 40 percent faster than a standard home refrigerator.
- Multi-Panel Vista Roof™. It not only brightens the interior, it gives Flex occupants seated in each row their own special skylight.
- Second-row, best-in-class legroom, including class-exclusive adjustable and removable footrests. The Flex’s second-row seats fold and tumble to provide access to the third-row and fold flat into the floor for added cargo space. An available one-touch system folds and tumbles the second row.
- Seven-color programmable ambient lighting. Flex owners can choose interior lighting to fit their mood. With this feature – which also is being introduced on the 2008 Ford Focus – customers use a dashboard switch to change the lighting on two LEDs mounted on the front console, two on the footwells and two around the cupholders.
- Capless fuel filler system. This exclusive feature eliminates the likelihood of forgetting to put the gas cap back on after fueling. It also saves time by doing away with unscrewing and replacing a fuel-filler cap and provides a better seal, cutting down
the emissions of smog-forming vapors.
- Ford Sync™, Ford’s industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system. This available system fully integrates mobile phones and digital media players into the vehicle. The Sync in-car communications system was developed in collaboration with Microsoft and will be offered exclusively on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles later this year.
- Ford’s next-generation navigation system, featuring voice recognition technology and more than 150 hours of music storage. Users can browse the music jukebox via touch-screen or by using voice recognition. They can also create custom play lists and burn CDs for storage on the system’s hard drive. The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS Satellite Radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, 8-inch touch-screen display. Premium AM/FM/MP3 audio systems also are available with a six-CD changer, auxiliary jack to accommodate MP3 players and the latest generation DVD entertainment system with a large 8-inch, drop-down screen.
- Ford’s exclusive second-generation door-entry keypad . Housed within the vehicle’s black B pillars, the flat-panel, backlit keypad eliminates the need for door-mounted buttons and gives customers the ability to unlock doors, disarm the alarm system and disable the auto-lock function by entering a five-digit code.
Quiet, Confident Ride
The Ford Flex’s chassis was designed to be capable, including more than 4,000 pounds of towing capacity, while still delivering the quiet, confident ride that crossover customers demand.
“A quiet ride is no longer a luxury,” said Gary Boes, Flex chief engineer. “It’s something that customers have come to expect from their vehicles and equate with quality. Flex has been engineered from the onset with reduced noise, vibration and harshness in mind.”
Engineering advancements include a new independent rear suspension system (IRS) with unique geometry that allows for better tuning to deliver a broad range of capabilities without compromising the interior package. Interior noise was minimized by using sound-deadening materials in the dash panel, headliner and under the carpeting.
In addition, a 6-millimeter thick windshield helps reduce wind and powertrain noise, while specially selected tires make road noise nearly unnoticeable.
Powerful V-6 with AWD
Flex is powered by Ford’s award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine and is mated to a fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission. The powertrain is expected to deliver more than 260 horsepower, 245 lb.-ft. of torque and good fuel economy.
Flex’s available intelligent all-wheel-drive system is tuned to provide confident driving in all weather conditions. Intelligent AWD uses an active, on-demand electronic center coupler to allocate a precise amount of torque from front to rear – up to 100 percent to either axle. The system also can anticipate wheel slip before it happens.
Safety Families Demand
Flex comes equipped with features that reflect Ford’s commitment to keeping customers and their families safe and secure. The new crossover’s body structure has been optimized with side intrusion beams in the doors, strategic use of high-strength boron steel and specially designed, energy-absorbing interior door trims.
Other safety advancements include:
- Rear back-up camera. Mounted in the bottom of Flex’s liftgate badge, the available camera is activated when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a view of what’s behind the vehicle. The system works in conjunction with the vehicle’s reverse sensing system and uses the navigation screen as a display.
- AdvanceTrac ® with RSC ® (Roll Stability Control). This system can predict a vehicle’s path, using a sensor to measure oversteer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses wheel slip or the loss of traction, it applies braking where needed to keep the vehicle safely on its intended path.
- Ford’s Personal Safety System. This suite of safety features includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, thorax side air bags for front seat occupants, safety belt pretensioners, seat weight sensing system for the passenger seat and crash severity sensing.
- Ford’s exclusive Safety Canopy ® side curtain air bag. Designed for all three rows, this feature utilizes roll-fold technology to efficiently deploy the air bag when an occupant’s head is resting against the side glass. In the event of a crash, the roll-fold bag will deploy between the occupant's head and the side of the vehicle.
- Ford’s BeltMinder™ safety belt reminder for driver and front passenger. Flex also comes equipped with such standard features as child safety locks on the rear doors, the trunk LATCH system and Ford’s tire pressure monitoring system.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Preliminary Specifications
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POWERTRAIN |
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3.5-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, 60-degree V-6 engine |
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Standard 6-speed automatic transmission |
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More than 260 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque |
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DRIVETRAIN |
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Front-wheel drive standard; optional all-wheel drive |
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SUSPENSION |
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Front |
Macpherson strut and rear facing L-shaped lower control arm with hydrobushing, isolated subframe and stabilizer bar
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Rear |
Independent suspension coil over shock and hydro-formed lower control arms, fully isolated rear subframe
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STEERING |
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Type |
Rack and pinion |
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Steering Column |
Tilt |
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BRAKES |
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Type |
4-wheel ABS (4 channel); AdvanceTrac® with RSC® |
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Front / Rear |
Ventilated Disc / Disc |
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WHEELS AND TIRES |
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18-inch wheels standard; available 17- and 19-inch offerings |
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EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS |
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Wheelbase |
117.9" |
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Overall length |
202.3" |
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Overall width |
79.9" |
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Overall height at curb |
67.6" |
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Track width, front/rear |
65.3"/65.4" |
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INTERIOR DIMENSIONS |
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Seating capacity |
6 or 7 passenger |
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Headroom |
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Front row |
41.8" |
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Second row |
40.5" |
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Third row |
38.7" |
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Legroom |
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Front row |
40.8" |
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Second row |
44.3" |
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Third row |
33.4" |
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Shoulder room |
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Front row |
58.4" |
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Second row |
57.1" |
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Third row |
50.8" |
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Hip room |
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Front row |
55.4" |
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Second row |
55.0" |
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Third row |
41.1" |
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WARRANTY INFORMATION |
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Warranty |
3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper
5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and roadside assistance |
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AVAILABILITY |
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On sale Summer 2008 |
