Now, I understand the term Crossover-SUV. After all, that's basically a cross between a car and a SUV, and so it works. Yet, to call the Flex simply a crossover doesn't, and so I'm going to stick my neck out and call it a "Crossover-Minivan", because that's what I see it as.
I know that the M word is old fashioned nowadays, and that the marketing guru's tell us that the younger buyers don't want minivans, but is that one word really going to turn young parents away? Not a chance! In fact, if the average parents owned one of these, their kids would be lining up to cruise around the neighborhood in such a cool ride.
After all, it is a very stylish and up market looking vehicle. From the outside, it appears to be a mixture of minivan, cum station wagon, cum luxury car. Add to that mix, a touch of hot rod and you have one of the best looking Ford's that I've ever seen!
The vehicle looks quite unique, although I have to say that I found slight resemblances to other vehicles here and there. With it's 3 bar grill, the new face of Ford, it resembles the Edge to a certain degree. From the side, I saw a little Range Rover, and at just the right angle, the rear quarters have the appearance of the new Mini Traveler, albeit slightly larger.
Then there are the "washboard panels". These were first seen on the hood of the Chrysler's Crossfire. On the Flex, these contoured panels run the entire side of the vehicle. They break up the flat sides perfectly, and possibly add a little more rigidity to the panels.
The Flex appears long and squat to the eye, yet sitting next to an Edge, it is roughly the same height. That is another reason for my naming it a "Crossover-Minivan". In terms of interior room, the Flex offers all but minivan size, yet in a much more desirable package.
The interior certainly has a more car-like feel to it, and the Limited model which was on display, could only be described as "dressed to the nines".
Now it has to be said, that what I saw was basically a pre-production mock-up. Typically with these, by the time the first vehicle leaves the production line, some of the goodies shown have done a Harry Houdini and disappeared. Somehow though, I just don't see this happening with the Flex, as the car looked and felt finished. In fact, the only tell-tale signs that this was a mock up were the fiberglass body shell, and the fact that they never opened the hood to reveal the 3.5 L V6.
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| The Flex "Crossover-Minivan" is stylish and up-market looking. |
I know that the M word is old fashioned nowadays, and that the marketing guru's tell us that the younger buyers don't want minivans, but is that one word really going to turn young parents away? Not a chance! In fact, if the average parents owned one of these, their kids would be lining up to cruise around the neighborhood in such a cool ride.
After all, it is a very stylish and up market looking vehicle. From the outside, it appears to be a mixture of minivan, cum station wagon, cum luxury car. Add to that mix, a touch of hot rod and you have one of the best looking Ford's that I've ever seen!
The vehicle looks quite unique, although I have to say that I found slight resemblances to other vehicles here and there. With it's 3 bar grill, the new face of Ford, it resembles the Edge to a certain degree. From the side, I saw a little Range Rover, and at just the right angle, the rear quarters have the appearance of the new Mini Traveler, albeit slightly larger.
Then there are the "washboard panels". These were first seen on the hood of the Chrysler's Crossfire. On the Flex, these contoured panels run the entire side of the vehicle. They break up the flat sides perfectly, and possibly add a little more rigidity to the panels.
The Flex appears long and squat to the eye, yet sitting next to an Edge, it is roughly the same height. That is another reason for my naming it a "Crossover-Minivan". In terms of interior room, the Flex offers all but minivan size, yet in a much more desirable package.
The interior certainly has a more car-like feel to it, and the Limited model which was on display, could only be described as "dressed to the nines".
Now it has to be said, that what I saw was basically a pre-production mock-up. Typically with these, by the time the first vehicle leaves the production line, some of the goodies shown have done a Harry Houdini and disappeared. Somehow though, I just don't see this happening with the Flex, as the car looked and felt finished. In fact, the only tell-tale signs that this was a mock up were the fiberglass body shell, and the fact that they never opened the hood to reveal the 3.5 L V6.
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| The last two rows of the versatile interior fold completely flat. |