This is the first anniversary of the Ford Flex [not being on sale]. Ford debuted a concept that looked production-ready at last year's NY Auto Show. This year, it's pretty much ready to go, in finished pre-production form, and off to dealers this summer. Ford's PR folks, who join Toyota in warming up to TTAC, gave me a 20 minute ride in the Flex. Without driving it, what I can say hit me the most is how it feels fully thought through, as opposed to previous cars in which someone started a good effort and then went out to lunch (the Mustang's missing interior, e.g.). The seats are extremely comfortable, and the prepro car was silent inside – which is a feature I hope stays on the actual production models. It's very heavy on creature comforts and goes as far as having a compressor-driven refrigerator as an option, so odds are that it'll be heavy in general. Fit and finish is a huge improvement over most other Ford products, and there's even some character – the cloth version's seats were described as having a tweed pattern. Huh? Engine will be the 3.5 liter V6 from the Flex and Taurus, although one of the marketing guys admitted he wishes Ford's 2.7 liter diesel from Europe would be available. In the future though, the EcoBoost version will be available with a turbocharged V6. Sadly, the packaging isn't what we hoped for, because while the seats totally fold flat, this still ain't rivaling a minivan or the Expedition for space. For example, the third row is still only for children and Napoleonic adults (like me). Looks slick in person, so much so I don't have any idea why Ford's going to sell it alongside the extremely similar Taurus X.
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Looks slick in person, so much so I don’t have any idea why Ford’s going to sell it alongside the extremely similar Taurus X.
I have absolutely nothing to back this up, but I strongly suspect the Taurus X will be discontinued a year or two after the Flex is introduced. That would take the X to about the MCE “deadline” and negate the need for a hasty refresh followed by the axe.
I would be pleased to have my theories debunked in this space.
I would’ve thought they would give it the full minivan functionality since it’s replacing the Freestar. Here I was thinking it would be a minivan that might actually get bought by the people that ought to have them, but instead it’s just another damn crossover.
The side view reminds me of the old Jeep Wagoneer.
I’m quite sure I read that the Taurus X will be canceled before the Flex goes on sale.
“I’m quite sure I read that the Taurus X will be canceled before the Flex goes on sale”
What about the Edge, Explorer and Escape?
Aviator? Mountaineer? CX-7? CX-9?
Justin Berkowitz: Engine will be the 3.5 liter V6 from the Flex and Taurus.
This thing is basically just a bigger, fatter, heavier Taurus X. I hope the 3.5 liter engine will be enough to haul it around. A good case can be made for using the larger displacement 3.7 liter version that is used in the Mazda CX-9.
That Flex in the photo shares the body and roof colors of my old Cooper S.
Another lot queen FoMoCo dealers won’t be able to unload on the buying public with out bribes(oops, sorry rebates) !!!!!!!!!! Ford can’t sell the Taurus X now(and before that the same vehicle maketed as the Freestyle) so what makes them think this BUTT UGLY thing will do any better ????? Makes one wonder what is or should i say who is running FoMOCo into the dumper ???????
How was the ride you didn’t talk about it? Comfortable ride, was the engine noise and labored sounding, etc.
it feels fully thought through, as opposed to previous cars in which someone started a good effort and then went out to lunch
This is probably the reason why it has taken so long for it to come out. My guess is Al put the breaks on introducing another half finished car and made them go back and address the issues before the Flex hit the market. If that’s the case it means they really are starting to fix their internal mess at least a little. But they should have made sure they had the ecoboost ready for the lauch of this thing, it would have been an added selling feature to set it apart for the rest of what they sell and warrant the price tag its going to come with.
Sounds like possible good news.
The one change I can already say I wish they’d made is this: make the doors regular-size (just like they are), but put them on sliders, like the awkward passenger-side door on the Peugeot 1007. Just seems like a better arrangement to me. At least it would give it a difference from the 1.3 million other crossover nameplates on the market.
For the record, I’m thoroughly impressed by the 2008 Taurus as far as a highway car goes. Yes, it’s a bit awkward looking, but it’s got a good amount of features, a good price, great power, a spectacular ride, huge interior/cargo space, and excellent visibility.
Looks as if the Flex shares all of those with the Taurus except the price (the Flex is monstrously expensive).
Wow, it looks like Ford re-invented the mid-sized station wagon. Sounds good to me as such has long been one of my favorite automotive architectures.
Third row seats in wagons have always been a little-tikes only proposition, which is again not a problem to me.
I saw this vehicle at the auto show this year and it’s fairly impressive in person.
The Taurus X is going away. I think it’s a real shame as it’s probably Ford’s best family car and most underrated car. Ford put zero effort in marketing it so it’s no surprise it is virtually unknown and it’s sales reflect that.
As for the Flex, it’s hideously ugly, badly named and very derivative of the Scion xB. It’s the type of vehicle I’d expect to see at a circus pulling into the main ring with fifty clowns existing from all the openings.
It’s probably the style that will make this a decent seller for Ford however.
Ugly! Expensive! A “Turkey” (pardon the pun) as far as I can see.
I’ll say it again: the Flex can be tricked up to become a great limousine or luxo-cab, and replace the Livery Services’ Town Cars and shuttle services’ big SUVs.
Seriously, how long has Ford owned Volvo? We could have a re-badged XC70 wagon and we get this pile of WTF. I don’t know what’s in the drinking water down there along the Southfield Freeway.
hmmmm…some like it…some hate it….sounds like Ford has struck an emotional chord. That is a good thing….get out of blandville.
umterp85 – Exactly! For every four of you who hate the looks of Flex there’s two people who absolutely love it and can’t wait to buy it. Where as before Ford was producing designs where the same six people looking at the Ford Five Hundred or Freestyle would collectively say, “Oh, it looks Okay” — and no one bought anything.
I agree with umterp: Ford can’t sell bland (like Toyota) and get away with it. Now about that power to weight ratio…shame this thing isn’t built on a Mustang or Panther platform. :)
That Flex in the photo shares the body and roof colors of my old Cooper S.
Funny, every time I’ve seen this thing (especially in profile) I’ve thought it looks like a MAXI Cooper! It’s the blocky shape and the white roof, no doubt, that give me that impression.
“Engine will be the 3.5 liter V6 from the Flex and Taurus…”
I think this shold be “the Edge and Taurus,” as the Flex cannot share an engine with itself. Or at least doing so would not be newsworthy.