The 2009 Ford Flex: Changing the Game with Design
Posted April 10, 2007 at 9:16 am
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The big story from the 2007 New York Auto Show is the 2009 Ford Flex, and the everyone’s talking about how it looks: it’s a departure for Ford, and Ford’s design team wants to make an impact.
J Mays, Ford’s Group Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, sees the challenge in building a stylish crossover” “Imbuing a seven-passenger vehicle with some emotion a tall order,” he admits, “but The Ford Flex will stand out in a sea of people movers.”
Richard Gresens, Ford’s Chief Designer, NA Design, says that the Flex is a polarizing vehicle, and he likes it that way. “People either love it or they don’t, but it grows in you. A vanilla, ‘oh, it’s nice’ reaction from everyone would be disappointing! That’s not what you want when you take a risk.”
Both Gresens and Anthony Prozzi, Flex interior design manager, were inspired by an American classic. “We took apart the iconic American woody station wagon and modernized it, because this car is for a modern person.” Prozzi says. “We thought of taking the whole family to the beach and looking at the quiet horizon—that was the overall inspiration for the interior.”
J Mays and Mark Fields have said that the Flex is a “game changer” for Ford in the crossover segment, and a big reason for that is a bolder emphasis on design. Mays wants Ford Flex to be “a family vehicle that people really want to drive.”
Prozzi and Mays are on the same page. “Without design,” Prozzi says, “It’s game over.”
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19 COMMENTS ABOUT The 2009 Ford Flex: Changing the Game with Design
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Douglas Hageman says (March 2, 2008 at 9:55 am):
I need something fairly large for my job. Currently I drive a 98 Windstar with 222,900 miles on it (that's not a typo).
Having driven imports for decades prior to picking up the Windstar (used) for my job; I've been more than impressed with the durablity of the vehicle *and* the low prices of the occasional replacement part.
This new Flex entry looks my Windstar's replacement..which I doubt will happen before it hits at least 300,000 miles (it's running fine now, and it looks presentable as well.)
-Doug Hageman
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Adema says (February 23, 2008 at 6:39 am):
My girlfriend owns a Ford Focus and she loves it. I guess everyone just has a diff opinion on makes/models. I'm a gamer so I don't really know much about cars other than they all have pros/cons.
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tim says (January 7, 2008 at 6:33 pm):
I'm want information pertaining to how the flex will be powered. Your building a "Family" vehicle, great. Then it must be affordable to buy AND to operate. Put in the 4.4 liter diesel you've got in your land rover right now. Back it up with a 6 speed transmission, (manual?, Please?), maybe lock-out front hubs?,, and I'm there. Provided you can bring it in for under $30,000.
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R Meloche says (December 30, 2007 at 9:18 am):
I was driving down the 401 here in Ontario a week before christmas, and noticed a transport carrying 3 heading the other way towards Detroit. They caught my eye...not sure if it's because i enjoy looking at cars, or because they are so different. Either way, if they look as good standing still, or driving down the road as they did sitting on this auto carrier, Ford has scored a winner in my eyes...finally, something different, something ...how do they say it, oh ya, BOLD!
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Quadad says (December 14, 2007 at 2:13 am):
As a Ford HVC employee in So Cal, I have finally can get a Ford that fits my family of 6. It has style
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LT. PHILIP MILLER USN(RET) says (November 12, 2007 at 3:46 pm):
PLEASE MAKE THIS VAN ABLE TO BE HANDICAPPED EQUIPPED FOR DRIVERS TO PASSENGERS. ALL OF THE CURRENT MINIVANS LOOK ALIKE DRIVE ALIKE AND FORD COULD HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE. LIKE ME. PARALYZED VETERANS AND THOSE THAT HAVE LOST LIMBS GET OUT OF OUR LARGE VANS AND ALL THE OTHER MINIVANS INTO A GREAT LOOKING VAN WITH A MORE POWERFULL ENGINE THAT STILL GETS GOOD TO GREAT GAS MILEAGE DEPENDING ON THE ENGINE WE SELECT.
T. Cunningham says (March 11, 2008 at 9:08 pm):
Amen. Our son is 11 and uses a wheelchair. With the loss of Ford Minivans, I don't know which way to turn. Please listen Ford!
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E Jones says (November 8, 2007 at 10:50 pm):
My husband and I are looking to buy a new Ford. Problem is, Ford has nothing we can both agree on. So what if a vehicle can seat 7, but it can't hold the STUFF of those seven. I was really disappointed with what Ford if offering these days. And the name FLEX is stupid.
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anthony lapaglia gia says (October 24, 2007 at 4:03 pm):
anthony lapaglia gia
Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts..
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Keith says (October 19, 2007 at 9:26 pm):
The interior could be better looking in the way of color, however it is better than most Fords lately and much better than the EDGE. I actually love the look and I really hope that it drives like a Mazda CX9 and not like a Lincoln. Tweenty more horses and a manumatic and I think that you might have a winner. Just a suggestion for the next generation Flex is to drop 200 lbs off of it and the rest of the line up. I want to buy a Ford because I have always loved them but so far you guys dont make anything that I want right now. Maybe when I see the Flex in Jan 08 I will change my ( and my wifes) mind and not by the Buick Enclave.
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Concerned in Michigan says (October 7, 2007 at 12:00 am):
Ford has taken some great strides here with the Flex but...what a ridiculous name for a fine auto. Sounds like some aging marketing group who just doesn't understand the demograph here and just gave it some psuedo 'buzz' name. 08 Focus misses COMPLETELY with market segment and exterior design - J Mays should be run out of town for this one alone. Redeeming feature here is decent gas mileage and a much needed update on the interior. Stop playing games with the B/C class autos and bring your fabulous European versions here NOW - Fiesta RS should be in my garage but I'll never see it here. Bic razor front grilles on everything is tired already but I have to say my Fusion is a great vehicle but please knock off these large front overhangs - other OEMs give us fine safety with min overhang - another J Mays Mess. Stop with the pretty F Series stuff and give me a badass bulldog stance and stump pulling manual trans with a rubber floor to hose down. Taurus is FANTASTIC but the name flop is ridiculous not to mention that the once prominent nameplate here was left to die and go down with a boring vehicle. Enough I guess - selling my stock until J Mays and the useless Mark Fields are gone. - You BLEW IT by not delivering the truly superior Bronco concept from the 2004 Auto Show. Hey Alan - when are you and Bill going to realize these guys alone are ruining your company???
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Tishawn Wilson says (August 31, 2007 at 2:26 pm):
I think ford need to step up father then they are. What up with the new Lincoln Navigator grill
I like the old navigator better then the newest one. The front heads light are ugly in exterior have too much chrome,
Ford should redesign the lincoln towncar for 2009, because if they don't GM might get futher then them
on the cadillac dts.
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David Martin says (August 4, 2007 at 6:20 pm):
This morning I saw the build it on Autoblog on the Fairlane/Flex and got as far as the colors; I stopped right there disappointed. I recently wrote a letter to all of the car magazines on how all the domestics have such a paltry interior color palette with the exception of the new "Brick" interior of the Acadia and "Cocoa" of the Enclave. I was once again disappointed in that Ford is using the same old colors minus parchment for this bold new design. Black and gray only! How sad! I like the overall look of the vehicle but have scratched it off my list because of this. I can live with "Parchment" but "Brick", and "Cocoa" are so much more upscale. Please rectify this before production.
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PRIVATE says (July 1, 2007 at 12:56 am):
I THINK THE OLD WOODY LOOKS BETTER
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Private says (July 1, 2007 at 12:54 am):
I think for most people Ford products will not be for them anymore. 3 bar grill does nothing for me. With the Windstar which was replaced by Freestar which now in 2007 no van at all. Our Windstar was the best. Edge is not a minivan or the freestyle which is now called Taurus X. Whats with the name switches all the time. Taurus is gone now its back for 08. Montego is now Sable and now the Lincoln Towncar might be gone. The new Navigator designs interior and out does nothing for me same with the rest of the Lincoln brand. But still like the Towncar.
VOLVO HAS THE BEST CARS FOR MY FAMILY NOW AND THE SAD PART IT THEY ARE NOT MADE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES
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Dakota Farmer says (June 21, 2007 at 1:19 pm):
I love this crossover!!! When I saw for the first time, it did remind me of the old woodies and of traveling to the beach with surfboards on the roof! I love the design of the Flex and Ford should make them for a very long time!!! Big time Ford Lover!!!
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Carlos says (April 17, 2007 at 1:12 am):
Love the design. I think that it is a strong step forward in building up a powerful fleet (along with the Fusion, Edge, and hopefully Interceptor). People who think of it as a larger Scion have not seen it in person. It is a very impressive car. Instead, think of it as a less expensive Land Rover.
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Fred Loya says (April 13, 2007 at 2:25 pm):
Without design,” Prozzi says, “It’s game over.”
Kinda like the Five Hundred.
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Thomas Brown says (April 13, 2007 at 9:04 am):
I have been loyal to Ford for years. I love the minivans and other Ford vehicles I have owned (Windstar, Monterey, Ranger, Mustang, Taurus), but now you went and destroyed it. You are dropping the best minivans America has to offer for a vehicle that looks like a Scion Xb on steroids. I loved the features you put into those vans such as the adjustable pedals (which my wife needs to drive safely), front and rear sensors for parking (they are great), seating design, ergonomics, and just the all around design was great. (Quote: Prozzi and Mays are on the same page. “Without design,” Prozzi says, “It’s game over.”) Well I guess it's game over for me if this is what you are designing. I am sorry to say that at this point Ford has nothing to offer my family that I would feel proud to drive around in.
Don't get me wrong, I love some of what the Ford Motor Company has to offer (Mazda CX-9, Ford Mustang, F-150, Volvo(all), Mercury Mariner, Montego(Sable), etc.). I could go on a long time but for me my wife and my family you have taken away the vehicle we all loved, so now when my lease is up this September I have to look somewhere else. (“It’s game over.”) Bye.
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