Automotive
Occasionally, major automobile manufacturers take the risk of creating unique vehicles to gauge market interest. However, such ventures are successful only when companies have sufficient financial resources to bear the expenses in case the product fails to gain popularity.
In 2007, Ford introduced an atypical crossover known as the Flex. This vehicle truly embodied the crossover concept. Its design represented a fusion of a station wagon and an SUV. Featuring an extended body exceeding 5 meters (200 inches) in length, it was built on the Ford Taurus chassis. Ford made a distinctive choice by replacing the traditional blue oval emblem on the hood with the word “FLEX”. The vehicle’s grille received updates compared to its predecessor, achieving better integration with the headlights in the front fascia. Stylish embossed lines adorned the vehicle’s sides.
Given its foundation on a comfortable sedan platform, it was expected that the Flex would offer comparable ride quality. Additionally, Ford equipped it with seven seats, providing ample space for adults in the third row, complemented by a fixed panoramic roof. For the 2013 model year, all trim levels except the base version came standard with Ford’s Sync entertainment system, featuring voice recognition and an 8-inch touchscreen. The driver’s cockpit included two 4.2-inch information displays.
The entry-level variant was powered by a naturally aspirated V6 engine with front-wheel drive, while the top-spec model boasted a twin-turbo EcoBoost engine paired with all-wheel drive as standard. All versions were equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
