Prototypes of Ford’s Flex are Building Buzz Across the Country

The Stig December 27th, 2007 10:20 AM Link

So where does this fit in Ford’s lineup? There’s already overlap with the Freestyle (ooops Taurus X) and Exploder - and this looks similar in size and function. Does Ford need another vehicle like this?

jsharnik December 27th, 2007 10:56 AM Link

It’s a handsome vehicle, but does the world need another SUV/crossover? I guess I need to see it in person to understand this car/truck… er, whatever? It looks large in the pictures, but I could be wrong.

Jeb December 27th, 2007 11:19 AM Link

This will replace the Taurus X, mark my words. It’s got almost the same interior as my Freestyle…some of the interior pieces are IDENTICAL. The seats fold the same way. I don’t think it sits quite as tall as the TX/Freestyle, because it doesn’t have the roofline bump that allows the elevated rear seating, but spec-wise, it’s got everything else. There’s no way that the Taurus X stays in showrooms past 2010.

Bob Martel December 27th, 2007 11:44 AM Link

Put a hybrid or diesel drive-train in this thing and I’d buy it!

mbslrm December 27th, 2007 11:49 AM Link

I agree with The Stig, there is too much overlap in Ford’s lineup.

And whatbout the Mariner, MKX, Escape, and Edge? They are all around the same size and spec.

Jeb December 27th, 2007 11:59 AM Link

“Mariner, MKX, Escape, and Edge are all around the same size and spec.”

Uh, no. Mariner/Escape are noticeably smaller than the T-X and Flex, and I’m pretty sure none of those offer three-row seating.

The T-X and Flex really are station wagons at heart, and as long as they’re presented in this “hey, we’re hip, we’re cool, we’re advanced” mode and never referred to as wagons, then you’ll see families flocking to them. Really, I had the opportunity to buy just about anything $20K and under on the CarMax lot when my Contour died. But with one kid approaching age 3 and another kid approaching birth, we zeroed in on the one Freestyle on the lot, compared it to the Mazda 5 and all of the bigger minivans, and took the Freestyle home, underpowered 3.0L V6 and all. It’s a great family vehicle, and the Flex looks even better to me.

mbslrm December 27th, 2007 12:12 PM Link

“Uh, no. Mariner/Escape are noticeably smaller than the T-X and Flex, and I’m pretty sure none of those offer three-row seating.”

I meant overlap between the Mariner, MKX, Escape, and Edge, not the Flex.

davido December 27th, 2007 3:39 PM Link

Jeb, I agree with you. This car serves the same purpose as the T-X while looking like, well, something you’d remember having driven to the Mall and therefore not walk past and fail to recognize as your car.

The Edge is a smaller five passenger crossover with SUV ground clearance and no seven passenger option. The Escape is a class size smaller than that. I think the Edge makes the Explorer redundant but if there are enough people who still want a pickup truck framed SUV, then Ford will continue to sell it. They’ve already paid for the tooling.

What seems to be happening here is that some car makers are moving towards five door tall wagons in each class size sitting alongside their sedan offerings in each class size. That seems to make more sense than building cars and light trucks and it’s a return to an older model when each sedan had a wagon counterpart for those who needed that kind of space. For Ford the pairings are Taurus/Flex, Fusion/Edge, Focus/Escape.

Ducati Minor December 27th, 2007 4:22 PM Link

Stig’s right on. The Explorer, Edge, Taurus X, and Freestyle can’t compete with one another in the market for long. I, too, suspect the Taurus X will succumb first.

Ducati Minor December 27th, 2007 4:23 PM Link

I meant to say “Flex,” not “Freestyle.”

Jonathan Fung December 27th, 2007 8:59 PM Link

I like the Flex. It is one of the nicer applications of Ford’s 3 bar grille. I wouldn’t mind seeing some other overlapping cars in Fords lineup be sacrificed for the Flex to come to market.

dwashington314 December 29th, 2007 2:11 AM Link

i disagree with people who say young people don’t want wagons. if you look at trendy areas like silverlake in los angeles wagons , new and vintage are considered hip by the hip, monied people who are gentrifying the area.

these people are the trendsetters. what they don’t want is a ford focus. they drive audis, mercedes and bmw wagons. what they want from american companies are big old school wagons with style. i know they didn’t buy enough roadmasters and impala wagons in the 90’s but they were blinded by suvs. now they hate suvs and are nostalgic for the vista cruiser days. and i know the magnum is failing but in europe they do all right with the 300 wagon.

ford should put some vinyl “wood” on the side of the flex (stupid name - country squire would be much better) and watch those babies become the hip thing.

Charlie Yoshimura December 29th, 2007 2:06 PM Link

Oh how soon we forget. The Flex replaces Ford’s star-crossed Freestar minivan. It targets the same market while avoiding the minivan stigma, i.e. sliding doors.

Harry December 30th, 2007 12:21 AM Link

WOW! Another Bold Design from American Owned Ford Motor Company! What a unique,useful and timely design. Kind of NEW+Old School look that makes people want have FUN driving again! Awesome double Moon/Sky Roof! Hopefully a HYBRED and Diesel version will be offered!

Bob January 4th, 2008 10:00 AM Link

Only six? I see them a few times a week coming out of Dearborn on Hines Drive. One was even cruising the Telegraph Cruise.

The gray/white with 19″ polished wheels looks sweet when I build it at http://www.fordvehicles.com.

Flex or Town & Country? I’ll get Z-plan and supplier pricing, so lets see who offers the better deal!