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	5-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform	Ford D3 platform
Engine	3.5L 265 hp V6
Wheelbase	117.9 in
Length	202 in
Width	80 in
Height	68 in
Related	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus X Mercury Sable Lincoln MKS
Similar	Chrysler Pacifica GMC Acadia Mazda CX-9

The Ford Flex is a full-size "people-mover" crossover SUV 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. Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Automakers or automobile manufacturers are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... Ford Motor Company, (Fomoco on mechanical parts), is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker based on vehicle sales in 2005. ... Oakville (2006 population 165,613[1]) is a town on Lake Ontario in southern Ontario, Canada, midway between Toronto (about 31 km or 19 mi away) on its eastern border and Hamilton (about 20 km or 12 mi away) from its western border. ... The Ford Freestar was a minivan made by the Ford Motor Company, manufactured until November 2006. ... It has been suggested that Vehicle size class be merged into this article or section. ... The Honda CR-V is a crossover SUV based on the Honda Civic platform. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States A sport utility vehicle, or SUV, is a passenger vehicle which combines the towing capability of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a sedan. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of or on the front axle. ... Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... This article is missing citation of sources. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The D3 (for D-class and called P2 by Volvo) is a Ford global full-size car automobile platform. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Internal combustion engine. ... The liter (spelled liter in American English and litre in Commonwealth English) is a unit of volume. ... hp, see HP (disambiguation). ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Ford Taurus is a mid-size, front wheel drive car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in North America. ... Not to be confused with Ford Taunus. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Lincoln MKS is luxury sedan announced on August 9, 2006 for production in the 2008 model year. ... Chrysler Pacifica The Chrysler Pacifica is a crossover SUV from DaimlerChrysler. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Mazda CX-9 is a crossover SUV to be built alongside the smaller Mazda CX-7. ... Ford Motor Company, (Fomoco on mechanical parts), is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker based on vehicle sales in 2005. ... The Honda CR-V is a crossover SUV based on the Honda Civic platform. ... The Ford Freestar was a minivan made by the Ford Motor Company, manufactured until November 2006. ... The Ford Freestar was a minivan made by the Ford Motor Company, manufactured until November 2006. ... Lloyd LT 600, a vintage minivan 05 Mercury Monterey minivan Buick GL8, sold exclusively in China A minivan, multi-purpose vehicle, people-carrier, people-mover or multi-utility vehicle is a type of automobile similar in shape to a van that is designed for personal use and has between four... 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ford Fairlane The Ford Fairlane was an automobile model sold between 1955 and 1971 by the Ford Motor Company in North America. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... NAIAS 2005, near the Audi exhibit. ...

Sales of the Flex are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2008 as a 2009 model ^[1]. The Flex made its debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show ^[2]. The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in late March or early April. ...

Market

The Flex joins Ford's range of crossover vehicles as the flagship: This article may contain original research or unverified claims. ...

• Ford Escape (compact SUV)
• Ford Edge (mid-size CUV)
• Ford Taurus X (mid-size CUV/wagon)
• Ford Flex (full-size CUV)

It enters the crossover vehicle market as an alternative to the traditional family-oriented minivans and sport utility vehicles. Ford made the decision 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 Explorer and Expedition. The Ford Escape (designated U204) is a compact crossover SUV sold by the automaker Ford Motor Company beginning in the 2001 model year and priced below the Ford Explorer. ... A compact, light, or mini SUV refers to a class of small sport utility vehicles, especially those with only 2 doors, and are between 3,60 and 4,00 metres long (under 3,40 meter cars are called in Japan midgets). ... The Ford Edge is a new mid-size crossover SUV to be launched in November 2006 under the marque Ford. ... The Honda CR-V is a crossover SUV based on the Honda Civic platform. ... Not to be confused with Ford Taunus. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... Lloyd LT 600, a vintage minivan 05 Mercury Monterey minivan Buick GL8, sold exclusively in China A minivan, multi-purpose vehicle, people-carrier, people-mover or multi-utility vehicle is a type of automobile similar in shape to a van that is designed for personal use and has between four... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States A sport utility vehicle, or SUV, is a passenger vehicle which combines the towing capability of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a sedan. ... The Ford Freestar was a minivan made by the Ford Motor Company, manufactured until November 2006. ... The current Mercury Monterey minivan is the Mercury variant of the 2004 Ford Freestar. ... For other uses, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... 1917 Dodge Brothers Touring car. ... Not to be confused with Ford Taunus. ... The Ford Explorer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle sold mostly in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990. ... The Ford Explorer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle sold mostly in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990. ... The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. ...

Features

(source: Ford press release materials from Media.Ford.com) ^[3]

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 refrigerator mounted between the second-row seats. A voice-activated communications and entertainment system, called Ford Sync™, includes a 2,300-song personal juke box system. The system integrates the functions of cell phones, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, compact disc, DVD and other media players, navigation systems, and a CD burner, 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. Sirius Satellite Radio NASDAQ: SIRI is one of two satellite radio (SDARS) services operating in the United States and Canada, along with XM Satellite Radio. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... DVD (commonly known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... Microsoft is one of few companies engaging itself in the console wars Where they are up against sony, nintendo, and of course sharps new console which may cause a threat. ... The Ford Edge is a new mid-size crossover SUV to be launched in November 2006 under the marque Ford. ...

Exterior

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 sedan. The windows and pillars appear blacked out, and the roof is available as either white, silver, or body-colored. 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 a 19-inch versions available. The Ford Edge is a new mid-size crossover SUV to be launched in November 2006 under the marque Ford. ... Not to be confused with Ford Taunus. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... External links LEd Category: TeX ...

Safety and security

An optional rear 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. There is a traction control system, called "AdvanceTrac" with Roll Stability Control, along with all-wheel-drive, which assists the driver with maintaining control on low traction surfaces, and during emergency maneuvers.

Powertrain

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine produces 265 horsepower and 245 ft-lb of torque, and is equipped with a 6-speed transmission, with the capablity of towing a 4,000-pound trailer. The all-wheel drive system is capable of transferring up to 100% of torque to the front or rear axle as needed. Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ...

Chassis

The Flex includes an independent rear suspension system (IRS).

References

1. ^ 2007 New York Auto Show Preview: Production Version of Ford Fairlane To Be Christened "Flex" (March 26, 2007). Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
2. ^ The Ford Flex, a.k.a. Fairlane, to debut in New York (March 24, 2007). Retrieved on March 24, 2007.
3. ^ Ford Press Release material on Ford Flex - dated 4 April 2007

March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (86th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (84th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

External links

• Offical Ford Flex website at FordVehicles.com