FORD FLEX BOWS IN NEW YORK
SEMA eNews, Vol. 10, No. 14 – April 11, 2007
http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=57113


Ford’s exciting new CUV Fairlane concept has now become a reality. The Ford Flex made its debut at the New York International Auto Show. This 2009 model will fall between the Ford Edge and Taurus X (formerly Freestyle) CUVs and is expected to go on sale in the summer of 2008.

Because research shows that 90% of CUV owners base their purchase decisions on interior quality, Ford paid special attention to the Flex’s interior. With seating for seven, the Flex has a refrigerator, second-row footrests and programmable interior mood lighting. The base model, the SE, will have tweed-like fabric, with inserts in miniature houndstooth. The Flex SEL and Limited models will feature more upscale seating fabrics, with the Limited having diamond-pattern perforations in its leather inserts. The Flex is powered by a 3.5L V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, a combination already found in the Edge CUV. The V6 is rated at 260 hp and 245 lb.-ft. of torque.

The intelligent all-wheel-drive system uses an active, on-demand electronic center coupler to deliver up to 100% of torque to either the front or rear axle. Towing capacity is expected to surpass 4,000 pounds. Safety features include AdvanceTrac stability control, a back-up camera and side-curtain airbags. Mark Fields, president of The Americas, Ford Motor Company, told Ward’s Auto that Ford’s CUV sales were up 42% last month, the largest increase among the Big Six. “Ford intends to be the defining crossover company this decade.”

Source: Christie Schweinsberg, “Ford Says Flex CUV ‘Game Changer,” WardsAuto.com

Relevance:

It is likely that the target market for the Flex is the same demographic for the Scion xB.
The Flex is yet another example of the growing popularity of the CUV market.