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Detroit Report Part 2: The Ford Freestyle in Detail

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Freestyles Interior Made for Families

The Freestyle was designed to be a crossover vehicle with the exterior look of an SUV, but with the flexibility to carry people and cargo too, Marentic said. It has three rows of seats and can carry seven adults. And, while having a trunk that is more spacious than the Chrysler Pacifica, when the third row seat is folded flat, it has 154 cubic feet of storage space, and an additional 50 cubic feet when the second row is folded flat too. Lastly, the front passenger seat also folds flat to provide even more room to haul long items.

"Im married with three children--a daughter whos 10 and sons who are nine and

Designed to be a crossover vehicle, the Freestyle has the exterior of an SUV, but the interior functionality of a minivan. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

The vehicle offers theater-style seating, where the second row sits higher than the first and the third row sits higher than

The Ford Freestyle features a rear hatch, much like that of a minivan or SUV. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Just like the Freestar minivan, the Freestyle also features a "conversation mirror and sunglass bin in the overhead console," Marentic said. "I can flip down that conversation mirror and see my kids in the third row seat because they are sitting higher and I know exactly

If maximum cargo carrying capacity is desired, not only do the second and third row seats fold flat, so does the front passenger seat. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

The crossover was designed for a natural, upright seating position, said Chris Civiero, Freestyle program ergonomics engineer. By taking into account the "H-point," the position of an average-size adults hip in relationship to the ground and the vehicle floor, passengers dont have to climb into the vehicle; they can simply sit at a natural height and close the door.

Other

Designed by both Ford and Volvo engineers, the Freestlye "will be one of the safest vehicles that will be on the road." (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

• A recessed storage bin in the instrument panel (features also now found on the new Freestar minivan and the Five Hundred).
• A total of 12 cup and bottle holders, some found in the door pockets, others in the center console.
• The optional overhead console, which can come with the conversation mirror, sunglass holder, DVD player and screen.

Designed for Safety

The Freestyle "was developed by Ford and Volvo engineers and will be one of safest vehicles that will be on the road," said Jan Vulcan, Chief Nameplate

The Freestyle can be equipped with an optional "Safety Canopy," a side curtain airbag system that can protect all three rows of seats in the event of a vehicle rollover. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

The Freestyle features standard three-point seat belts for all three rows of seats, with pyrotechnic pretensioners for the front seats which activate when sensors detect a crash occurring and pull the seat occupants into a better position for the airbags to deploy.