Where else would a company debut what looks like a modern interpretation of a  | | Being bold helps the Flex stand out, and turns heads even in a place like California. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press) |
classic “surf wagon”, but Santa Monica, California? The 2009 Ford Flex really isn't like anything else on the road at the moment, let alone anything from Ford, and it's good to see the brand taking chances. Looking at it, I see some 1940s Woody and 1960s station wagon influence, blended with both Mini's Clubman and Scion's xB, but on a much larger scale. Driving around Los Angeles, a city where I saw countless flashy six-figure modes of transportation, it takes something different to stand out from the crowd, and in the midst of it all, this Ford works. If a vehicle can garner attention here, then it can get attention anywhere. Our Cinnamon Metallic Flex Limited drew a lot of stares, thumbs up, and words of encouragement from just about everyone from a young guy in a black Expedition on dubs to a well-informed older gentleman in a PT Cruiser who knew exactly what the Flex was and asked when he could buy one. Some people find it strange that Ford doesn't have a particular demographic targeted with the Flex, but why should they when it's grabbing consumers from all walks of life?
The Flex traces its origins back to the 2005 North American International Auto Show, where Ford showed the Fairlane concept. With its grooved slab | | Limited's HID headlamps are filled with metal-like details. You wouldn't expect to find these in a Ford. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press) |
sides, suicide doors, blacked out greenhouse, contrasting white roof and wheels-pushed-to-the-corners stance, it was a modern, stylish twist on a large wagon. From the get-go the Fairlane was intended as a replacement for Ford's Freestar minivan. Ford felt that instead of releasing another me-too minivan that would almost certainly lag behind Caravan, Odyssey and Sienna sales, it could do much better by launching a new product in the booming crossover segment. True, crossovers are the new "me-too" category, but at least they're on the upswing, and not trending downward.
Very little was lost in the translation from Fairlane to Flex, though it is a little longer, a little wider and not as tall. Externally only the suicide doors and some other exterior detailing are MIA. Ford's signature chrome three-bar grille is encapsulated into a single wraparound piece along with the headlamps. The rear of the Limited model mirrors the look with chrome outlined tail lamps and a grooved brushed satin finish panel spanning the center of the tailgate. A lot of crossovers have bland rear ends, but you can't say the same about the Flex. Chrome mirrors, window trim  | | Is brushed metal the new woody? (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press) |
and door handles do a good job of tying the front and rear together. For that added classy touch, Limited models also offer High Intensity Discharge headlamps and LED taillights. The blacked out greenhouse, a first from Ford, provides the illusion that the roof floats above the body, similar to what you'd find in a Range Rover. Most crossovers have a monochromatic paint scheme, but Ford has gone one step further by offering the roof in white Suede or Silver.
Another interesting detail about the Flex is that it includes Ford's exclusive capless refueling system; it was first introduced on the '08 Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, and will be offered as standard equipment on the all-new '09 F-150, updated '09 Escape, and the Lincoln MKS too. Dubbed EasyFuel, the system negates the use of a traditional fuel cap. Ford touts that EasyFuel not only eliminates the likelihood of forgetting to put the gas cap back on after fueling, but it saves time by doing away with the need to unscrew and replace a fuel filler cap. Do people actually forget to replace their fuel caps? Haven't they been on tethers for years? Does it take that much time to unscrew a gas cap? More importantly than either of these issues are the environmental benefits; Ford claims the capless system provides a better | | No fuss or mess with Ford's capless fuel filler system. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press) |
seal than a traditional gas cap, cutting down the release of gasoline vapors into the atmosphere.
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