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Filed under: Spy Photos , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , Lincoln Only a few days after Ford officially confirmed that the seven-seat crossover everyone already knew was coming was indeed coming , a preproduction mule of the Lincoln MKT has been spotted in the wild. Ford promised that the MKT would look nothing like its Ford Flex sibling, and a quick glance at these spy pics prove that to be the case. In fact, the well-covered MKT development vehicle looks an awful lot like the MKT concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show . Up front the new Lincoln split grille is visible under the bra, along with the same headlight shape as the concept. The concept's love it or hate it belt-line also appears to be carry over to production, as well as the curvy C-pillar. The production MKT also appears to have a glass roof, though it doesn't look as dramatic as the concept. One thing the MKT appears to have in common with the Flex is its relatively low ride height and massive wheels, which helps the Lincoln...
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Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , Lincoln Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lincoln MKT concept. We've been waiting for an official production announcement of the Lincoln MKT since the concept was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and according to Automotive News and the Wall Street Journal , that confirmation comes today. The Ford Flex -based crossover will give Lincoln a seven-seat CUV to compete with the Acura MDX and the Audi Q7, while providing customers a more fuel efficient alternative to the Navigator. The production MKT will share none of the Flex's boxy sheet metal, but the mechanicals will be very similar. The MKT will launch with either the 3.5L V6 from the Flex or the bored-out 3.7L version from the MKS sedan . It's almost assured the MKT will get Ecoboost soon after launch, but Ford hasn't announced anything yet. Ford plans to build approximately 25k Lincoln MKTs annually, and production is slated to begin next year. Gallery: Detroit...
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Filed under: Safety , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Flex. Ford has made safety one of its top priorities, and its efforts have paid off. Not only does the Blue Oval have more five-star crash rated vehicles than any other automaker, but it's added another notch to its safety belt with NHTSA giving the Flex five stars for both front and side impact tests. A front crash impact score of five stars means that there is a 10% or less chance of serious injury at 35 mph, and the five star side impact score indicates a 5% chance of serious injury at 38.5 mph. The Flex comes standard with dual front air bags, headliner mounted side curtain air bags, traction and stability control, and tire pressure monitoring, which helps with NHTSA scoring. The Flex also received four stars for rollover protection, tying the CUV for best in class in the crossover segment. With a Volvo-derived platform and plenty of heft, we're not surprised the Flex achieved a five...
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Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs , Plants/Manufacturing , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , Canada Click above high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Flex Ford has been banking on strong sales of its crossover vehicles to help counter the sinking ship that is its line of SUVs. While the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, along with the brand new Ford Flex and revised Escape, have sold well enough to post a meager 2.8-percent gain in overall sales so far this year, that number apparently isn't high enough to warrant a third shift at Ford's Oakville, Ontario plant that the automaker was hoping would be necessary . Unfortunately, this shift cancelation means that 350 workers who had planned on showing up for their first day next Monday are now left jobless. While there are certainly buyers out there who require the capability to haul around their entire families and their associated gear, all large passenger vehicles -- crossovers like the new Flex included -- face an uphill battle now to overcome...
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Filed under: Videos , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford We're typically too busy with our nose to the automotive grindstone to goof off. After stumbling across some 50 year old Ford commercials on YouTube during our time with the Ford Flex , we had all the inspiration needed for some weekend fun. The old days of automotive advertising meant long, one- to two-minute commercials, bad camera work, and scripting that was done before the women's rights movement took hold. We had a somewhat retro-looking Ford Flex, a camera and a few spare moments to put something together, and the finished product is available after the jump. Continue reading VIDEO: Autoblog goes commercial with faux Flex spot Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Car Buying , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Click the image above for more high res photos of the 2009 Ford Flex When the Ford Fairlane concept bowed in Detroit in 2005, it proved that Ford could design a stylish crossover recognizable from a mile away. Unfortunately, Ford didn't exactly have a stellar record of bringing hot concepts to market, so expectations were low that we would ever see the Fairlane reach production. Fast forward to 2008, and the Ford Flex is born. It's bigger than the Fairlane, yet it looks very much like the outlandish wagon that we saw in Motor City a few years earlier. Does the Ford Flex have the style, capability and appointments to be a player in the suddenly crowded large CUV market? Or is this modern day Woody just another oversized people hauler that misses the mark? Hit the jump to see how the all-new Flex fared during its stay in the Autoblog Garage. Gallery: Ford Flex Autoblog Garage All photos Copyright (C)2007 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc....
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Filed under: Etc. , Tech , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford They're not very glamorous, but tires make or break our driving enjoyment. Ford wants to soothe drivers of its new Family Truckster Flex, so Goodyear's Assurance ComforTred tires have been specified as the original fitment for the big crossover. The Assurance ComforTred uses a special cushion layer to smooth out road imperfections, the last thing anyone wants with a Flex loaded for bear with the kids, the dog, and a fully stocked refrigerator. The Flex is obviously designed to devour large stretches of interstate without a whimper, and Goodyear seems to think their ComforTred tires share the same appetite for asphalt, backing them with an 80,000 mile warranty and calling the Assurance Goodyear's very best tires. To make the Flex a success, the entire program needs to encompass multiple "very bests;" here's hoping. Press release after the jump Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex [Source: Goodyear] Continue reading...
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Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Click above for high-res gallery of our first drive of the 2009 Ford Flex According to Peter Horbury, Ford's head of design in North America, the Blue Oval will be shortening the time frame between major styling changes for its models from five years to three. This move is part of a plan to reduce the need for large incentives to move older models that haven't had a major redesign in 4 - 5 years. Apparently, the company has not seen big sales jumps with its standard practice of giving older models minor facelifts. So, for instance, the Ford Flex, which is arriving to market as we speak, could see some major changes for its first makeover on which designers are already working. First seen in 2005 as the Fairlane concept, the Flex could be in danger of getting stale faster than other models. Considering that we just drove the new 2009 Ford Flex for the first time, already starting its next major restyling is a good sign that Ford's planning...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Gadgets , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford The move to make your car a rolling house makes takes another step. Ford has included a refrigerator option on the all new Flex, and in doing so has provided something better than what you'll find on many luxury cars. The rear seat gadget doesn't just chill the holding area -- it runs off of a compressor, like a proper fridge, to chill a liquid to keep things cool. In normal operation it can take drinks from room temperature, at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, down to 41 degrees in two- and-a-half hours. It also has a freezer option that can get keeps items a chilly 23 degrees F. And it is sealed well enough so that it takes almost three hours for the temperature to go up just 18 degrees F. Should you wish to add the fridge to your Flex, the option will cost you a cool $760. [Source: Kicking Tires ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Car Buying , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Click above for new high-res pics of the Ford Flex The Ford Flex has that boxy design that people either love or hate, which is good because for many years the Blue Oval had too many designs that nobody cared about either way. After looking at some drop-dead sexy picks that FoMoCo added to its flickr account, there could be a few converts from the abhorrence camp. The Flex is without question a family hauler, but most seven-passenger CUVs look less than stellar out on the town. If the Flex can look this good in daylight and in the dealer showroom, Ford shouldn't have any trouble attaining its goal of 100,000 sales annually. Click on the photo above for more high resolution pics of the decked-out Flex out on the town. Thanks for the tip, Sam! Gallery: 2009 Ford Flex [Source: Flickr ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Flex. The SUV exodus means Ford's Flex has the potential to be a hit and it's gearing up for an onslaught of orders when sales begin this summer. Ford's group veep of marketing and communications, Jim Farley, told Automotive News that consumers leaving the full-size SUV fold and others who haven't considered putting a Blue Oval badge in their garage might be ready to give something like the Flex a chance. CUV sales have been strong over the last year, and Ford and Farley believe that the Flex could rack up 100,000 sales annually if the trend continues. Gallery: 2009 Ford Flex [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Certain automotive fashions are better left in the grave. To wit: faux wood paneling. It looks good on the old Woody, but it's an absolute atrocity on everything else (see: Griswold, PT Cruiser). However, spies have caught the new Ford Flex donning some woodgrain shelf paper paneling, and as much as FoMoCo is trying to redefine the people-mover/minivan segment with the Flex, this would seem to be a seriously counterintuitive move. We're hoping it's a joke, and for our money, it is. [Source: The Car Connection ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , Lincoln click above for more high-res images of the Lincoln MKT We first saw spy photos of the Lincoln MKT concept only a week ago, and it's now here as a concept at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Based on the fact that a development mule was spotted already, you can ignore Lincoln when it says the MKT is a potential new vehicle for the brand. It is a new vehicle for the brand. The new premium CUV is believed to be based on the platform of the Ford Flex and follows the Explorer America concept in being powered by one of Ford's new EcoBoost engines. Like its sedan sibling, the MKS, this one gets a turbocharged 3.5L V6 that allows you to choose between either E85 or premium grade petroleum-based gasoline. The premium requirement is the result of the engine being optimized for the higher octane ratings of the biofuel. The upside is that output jumps from 340 hp/340 lb-ft to 415hp and 400 lb-ft. All of that twisting...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Spy Photos , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , Lincoln Click image for a gallery of the suspected Lincoln MKT mule According to an LA Times piece on the silliness that is modern vehicle naming, the paper appears to have flubbed a little bit revealing that Ford will introduce the 2009 Lincoln MKT at the Detroit Auto Show next week. What's the MKT? Well, the conventional wisdom suggests that it's a large 3-row crossover based on the Ford Flex architecture. We expect to see it wearing Lincoln's new, more dramatic styling language as introduced on the MKS along with a more upmarket interior in terms of look and feel. Looks like the spy shots that came out last week were timelier than we thought. While the mule pictured is disguised with Taurus X bodywork, not even that black mask can hide the new-look baleen whale grille that Lincoln has adopted. We won't need to wait much longer to see how this ultimately plays out, so as soon as we know the full skinny...
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