Ford Flex
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future automobile. It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the vehicle. |
| Ford Flex | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 2009- |
| Assembly | Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
| Predecessor | Ford Freestar |
| Class | Full-size crossover SUV |
| Body style(s) | 5-door SUV |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Ford D4 platform |
| Engine(s) | 3.5L 260+ hp Duratec V6 |
| Transmission(s) | 6-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 117.9 in (2995 mm) |
| Length | 202 in (5130.8 mm) |
| Width | 80 in (2032 mm) |
| Height | 68 in (1727.2 mm) |
| Related | Ford Taurus Ford Taurus X Mercury Sable Lincoln MKS Lincoln MKT |
The Ford Flex is a full-size "people-mover" crossover SUV built by Ford that replaces the discontinued Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans. Its styling is based on the Ford Fairlane concept as introduced in the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The 2009 Flex made its debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show [1].
Sales of the Flex are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2008 as a 2009 model.[2] A pre-production Ford Flex was donated to the Woodhouse Family on the January 13, 2008 episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.[3] The Flex is produced on the same "flexible" assembly line as the Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers at the Oakville Assembly Plant in Oakville, Ontario, where the first Flex was driven off the line at the beginning of June, 2008.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Market
The Flex joins Ford's range of crossover vehicles as the flagship:
- Ford Edge (mid-size CUV)
- Ford Taurus X (full-size CUV/wagon)
- Ford Flex (full-size CUV)
- Ford Explorer (to be a full-size crossover in 2010)
It enters the crossover vehicle market as an alternative to the traditional family-oriented minivans and sport utility vehicles. Ford made the decision in 2006 to cancel production of the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans, which suffered from weakening sales and profit margins, relative to competitive minivans from Chrysler and Dodge, and Asian-based automakers. As fuel prices increased in the United States, consumer preferences shifted away from truck-based SUVs towards car-based crossover utility vehicles, which tend to have better fuel economy. The Flex provides a product for the large crossover vehicle market, blending some of the people-moving capacity of the minivan, and some light cargo and trailer hauling capacity of the SUV. In price, it would slot between the Taurus X and the truck-based Explorer, while in size, it would slot between the Taurus X and Expedition.
[edit] Features
[edit] Interior
The 2009 Ford Flex includes seven-passenger seating, including adjustable and removable footrests for second-row passengers. The second and third row seats fold flat into the floor. The vehicle includes a class-exclusive optional interior "mini-fridge" refrigerator in the middle console mounted between the second-row seats. A voice-activated communications and entertainment system, called Ford Sync, integrates the functions of cell phones, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, compact disc, DVD and other media players, navigation systems, and was developed in collaboration with Microsoft. The interior is lit with programmable "mood lighting" available in seven colors, along with a multi-panel Vista Roof, similar to that on the Ford Edge, for skylighting.
[edit] Exterior
.jpg/250px-2009_Ford_Flex_(Overhead).jpg)
The Flex continues Ford's signature chrome horizontal three-bar grille design, as seen on the Ford Edge and Ford Taurus X crossovers and the Ford Fusion and 2008 Taurus sedans. The windows and pillars appear blacked out, and the roof is available as either white, silver, or body-colored (a unique retro-cool styling touch on the otherwise modern exterior, similar to the Mini). The Flex includes LED tail lamps, and a "capless fueling" system, which does away with the traditional fueling door and cap, and provides better sealing to reduce evaporative emissions from the fuel tank. The standard wheels are 18-inch diameter, with 19-inch versions available.
[edit] Safety and security
An optional back-up camera, mounted just above the bumper, allows the driver to see obstructions behind the vehicle, displayed on the 8-inch navigation display screen, whenever reverse gear is engaged. The Flex comes with Ford's AdvanceTrac traction control system with roll stability control, which assists the driver with maintaining control on low traction surfaces, and during emergency maneuvers. All-wheel-drive is available as an option.
[edit] Powertrain
The Flex's 3.5-liter V6 engine will produce 262 hp (195 kW) and 248 lb·ft (336 N·m) of torque, and will be paired with the 6-speed 6F automatic transmission. A 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will be introduced later in the model year with output close to 340hp 350tq. Towing capacity is expected to be 4,000-pounds. The all-wheel drive system is capable of transferring up to 100% of torque to the front or rear axle as needed.
[edit] Chassis
The Flex includes an independent rear suspension system (IRS). It is built on the same chassis as the current generation Taurus and Taurus X. [5] [6]
[edit] References
- ^ The Ford Flex, a.k.a. Fairlane, to debut in New York (March 24, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
- ^ 2007 New York Auto Show Preview: Production Version of Ford Fairlane To Be Christened "Flex" (March 26, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
- ^ PRWeb.com - Rayne Water Conditioning and Kern's Water Treatment Featured in "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" - 17 Jan 2008
- ^ http://fordflexforum.com/index.php?showtopic=85
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_D3_platform
- ^ 2009 Ford Flex Overview
[edit] External links
- Official Ford Flex website at FordVehicles.com
- Ford Flex Enthusiast website
- Ford Motor Company video introducing the all new Flex.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Compact pickup | Courier | Ranger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size Pickup | Explorer Sport Trac | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size pickup | F-Series 7G | F-Series 8G | F-Series 9G | F-Series 10G | F-Series 11G | F-Series 12G | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Super Duty 1G | Super Duty 2G | Super Duty 3G | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Econoline 3G | Econoline/E-Series (after 2001) 4G | E-Series 5G | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Escape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size SUV | Bronco II | Explorer Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Explorer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size SUV | Bronco | Expedition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Excursion | Expedition EL/Max | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | Edge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Freestyle | Taurus X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Aerostar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Windstar | Freestar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
