Ford Introduces a New Crossover Vehicle – The Ford Flex
by Renatay Cathey
 Ford
has kicked its Ford Freestyle and Mercury Monterey minivans into retirement.
The Ford Flex, the third crossover vehicle following the Edge and Taurus
X, is in the spotlight now hoping to generate consumer excitement.
"Ford intends to define crossover vehicles this decade,” said Mark
Fields, Ford's president of The Americas, “just as we did SUVs in the 1990s.
Flex is another example of Ford creating more of the products that our
customers really want.”
The Flex offers amenities that provide convenience to many
types of consumers.
 The techy
and multi-tasker may appreciate the voice activated communications and
entertainment system, Sync™, exclusively available on the Flex and on all
new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
Sync™ integrates Bluetooth enable mobile phones and MP3 on a Microsoft
platform. One smudge-resistant, 8-inch
touch-screen gives drivers the power to choose over 150 hours of their favorite
songs from the system’s hard drive, control the Flex’s temperature, and listen
to the variety of SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
To accompany their music and attitude, drivers may change the mood
lighting to their choice of 7 colors in the front seating area.
 The busy
cargo handler can easily manage people and things.
The Flex seats 7 people.
Second row passengers of varying heights will welcome the 44 inches of leg room
compared to average of 39 inches of other vehicles in the same class. The seats
in the second and third row fold flat with a push of a button.
So transporting sports equipment, tools, school projects, and pets are
simple. Satisfy passengers’ thirst
with seven 12 oz cans, 4 half liter bottles or two 20 oz bottles from the
in-console refrigerator chilled 41 degrees F. Save
time by never unscrewing and replacing a gas cap again.
The Flex’s Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filler system provides a seal that
cuts down the emissions of smog-forming vapors.
The adventurer can tow more than 4,000 pounds while getting 17
MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway.
It’s your choice of a 3.5 liter V6 engine with front wheel drive or the
all wheel drive (AWD) coupled with either the standard 18-inch or upgraded
19-inch bright aluminum wheels. The
powertrain delivers more than 262 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque.
The long commuters tend to crave solace.
Every Flex gets a 6-millimeter thick windshield that helps reduce wind
and powertrain noise. Interior
noise is minimized by the sound-deadening materials used in the dash panel,
headliner and under the carpeting. "A quiet ride is no longer a luxury.
It’s something that customers have come to expect from their vehicles and
equate with quality,” said Gary Boes, Flex chief engineer.
 Families
are a combination of many consumers and they focus on quality and safety.
The BeltMinder™ reminds driver and front seat passengers to buckle up.
The Flex Limited offers a rear mounted
back-up camera that automatically displays an image of what's behind you on the
center dash display panel when the car is in reverse. AdvanceTrac ® with RSC ®
(Roll Stability Control) senses wheel slip or the loss of traction and it
applies braking where needed to keep the vehicle on its intended path.
In the event of a crash, Ford's exclusive Safety Canopy ® side curtain
air bag will deploy between the occupant's head and the side of the vehicle.
This was designed for all three rows in
addition to the dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags and thorax side
air bags for front seat occupants.
Ford Flex aims to be competitive in crossover vehicle market.
"The new Ford Flex crossover is a game-changer, said Fields.
Sales in the upcoming year will determine this belief.
To find out more about the Ford Flex go to
www.fordvehicles.com and Sync™
www.syncmyride.com.
Renata Cathey is an independent car dealer and a writer.
See more of industry related stories at
www.netvins.com.
edited by Renata Cathey
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