New York - The 2009 Ford Flex was designed for drivers who want something different, something unique. That's how Richard Gresens describes the type of customers targeted by this all-new crossover, which was introduced to the Canadian auto press earlier this week in the Big Apple.
As the Ford Flex Chief Designer, Mr. Gresens headed the design process of the most eccentric and unorthodox vehicle produced by the automaker since the 1986 Taurus. "It is the purest interpretation of a box on the road, he says. Its boxy design is controversial because it is different. And it had to be. We (Ford) needed to stand out with this vehicle, and we do. Flex sets a bold statement as did the original Taurus. It may set a trend for future vehicles."
There's arguably nothing like the Flex on the road right now. The low, angular body with ultra-short overhangs and wide tracks is extremely eye-catching. At a toll bridge, a police officer asked us to move toward him, not because he wanted to give us a ticket or something like that, but simply because he was curious to find out what vehicle we were driving exactly! Clearly, the Flex leaves no one indifferent.
The "floating roof" is also a big contributor to the vehicle's uniqueness (even though the idea was largely borrowed from MINI). Buyers will be able to customize their Flex by ordering a white- or silver-painted roof panel instead of the standard body-colored top. With the black pillars, this optional two-tone treatment ($500) gives the impression that the roof is floating over the rest of the vehicle. The latter therefore appears lower that it actually is. What a clever way to set it apart from traditional minivans, like the old Freestar which Ford discontinued in 2006 with the intent of adding a crossover like the Flex as a sort of replacement.
Family ties with the Taurus X
Under this original bodywork, the Flex hides a few familiar components. In fact, it shares its architecture and powertrain with the new Taurus X. The ultra-rigid platform, by the way, is an evolution from the Volvo XC90's. As a front-wheel drive vehicle, the Flex is motivated by a 3.5L DOHC V6 engine producing 262 horsepower through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Please note, however, that a Haldex-based all-wheel drive system is optionally available.
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| With the all-new Flex, Ford is banking on a radically bold design to attract customers. |
As the Ford Flex Chief Designer, Mr. Gresens headed the design process of the most eccentric and unorthodox vehicle produced by the automaker since the 1986 Taurus. "It is the purest interpretation of a box on the road, he says. Its boxy design is controversial because it is different. And it had to be. We (Ford) needed to stand out with this vehicle, and we do. Flex sets a bold statement as did the original Taurus. It may set a trend for future vehicles."
There's arguably nothing like the Flex on the road right now. The low, angular body with ultra-short overhangs and wide tracks is extremely eye-catching. At a toll bridge, a police officer asked us to move toward him, not because he wanted to give us a ticket or something like that, but simply because he was curious to find out what vehicle we were driving exactly! Clearly, the Flex leaves no one indifferent.
The "floating roof" is also a big contributor to the vehicle's uniqueness (even though the idea was largely borrowed from MINI). Buyers will be able to customize their Flex by ordering a white- or silver-painted roof panel instead of the standard body-colored top. With the black pillars, this optional two-tone treatment ($500) gives the impression that the roof is floating over the rest of the vehicle. The latter therefore appears lower that it actually is. What a clever way to set it apart from traditional minivans, like the old Freestar which Ford discontinued in 2006 with the intent of adding a crossover like the Flex as a sort of replacement.
Family ties with the Taurus X
Under this original bodywork, the Flex hides a few familiar components. In fact, it shares its architecture and powertrain with the new Taurus X. The ultra-rigid platform, by the way, is an evolution from the Volvo XC90's. As a front-wheel drive vehicle, the Flex is motivated by a 3.5L DOHC V6 engine producing 262 horsepower through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Please note, however, that a Haldex-based all-wheel drive system is optionally available.
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| Le Flex partage le V6 de 3,5 litres de la Taurus X. |