Today, at NYIAS, Ford Motor Company introduced the 2009 Ford Flex, a full-size crossover that sets a new standard for style, features, functionality and comfort in the U.S. industry’s hottest segment.
“The new Ford Flex crossover is a game-changer. It’s the first vehicle of its kind that combines seating for seven, interior spaciousness and surprising features with a striking design that looks great on the road and at home for today’s modern American families,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas, as he revealed the new vehicle at NYIAS. “The Flex builds on Ford’s leadership in crossover vehicles, which is the fastest growing part of the auto market today.”
On sale in the summer of 2008, the Flex is arriving as crossovers continue to outpace even the remarkable growth of SUVs during the 1990s and minivans of the 1980s.
Ford’s signature exterior design includes:
-Ford’s signatures chrome horizontal three-bar grille, which builds on the famil “face” that defines the Ford Edge and Taurus X crossovers, as well as the Ford Fusion sedan.
-A unique, all black “greenhouse”-defined as the windshield,rear and side windows, and the pillars separating and connecting them to the roof. The design brigns together seamlessly the body with the available multi-panel roof. Customers can pair a White Suede or Silver rood option with one of Flex’s 10 available exterior colors or choose a body-color roof.
-Standard 18-inch or available 19-inch bright aluminum wheels, which plant the new crossover firmly on the road.
-Flex’s integrated rocker panel design, which eliminates the need for customers to step over the rocker panel when getting in and out of the vehicle.
-Edge-inspired taillamps, which are outlined in chrome. Flex limited models have LED taillamps and a brushed satin finish metal applique spanning the center of the liftgate.
Details include tweed-like fabric for the base-level Flex SE’s seats, with inserts in a miniature houndstooth. Meanwhile, the Flex SEL features a soft insert with a more pronounced grain on the seat bolsters, while the Flex Limited features unique diamond-pattern perforations on the leather seat inserts. Contrast stitching also is available on leather seats and the center console.
Other Cool Features
*Class-exclusive refrigerator, mounted between the second-row captain’s chairs
*Multi-Panel Vista Roof
*Second-row, best-in-class legroom, including class-exclusive adjustable and removable footrests.
*Seven-color programmable ambient lighting.
*Capless fuel filler system
*Ford Sync
*Ford’s next generation navigation system, featuring voice recognition technology and more than 150 hours of music storage.
*Ford’s exclusive second-generation door-entry keypad
Photo Gallery: Ford FLEX Pictures