2009 Ford Flex makes its debut
Yesterday, I got a glimpse into the next wave of Ford SUVs. I got to drive the 2009 Ford Flex. I have promised not to publish any driving impressions until Thursday, but I can talk a little bit about how the vehicle looks right now.Flex looks cool. I'm a big fan of the whole Retrofuturism thing -- you know, when a new design echoes an older design, bringing familiar styling cues up to date with modern technology. J Mays, Ford's Chief of Design, is the master of Retrofuturism, in my mind, having scored a huge victory with the current Ford Mustang. Other manufacturers have also had successful Retrofuturist designs: The Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Chevrolet HHR, the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger and the new Challenger.
Flex is a little different. Its Retrofuturism is very loosely based on the look and feel of an old Woodie wagon, rather than on one specific vehicle. It looks a little like a stretched Scion xB, on a much larger scale.
I'll share some driving impressions after the embargo is lifted later this week, and I'll follow up with a full review as soon as I can get my hands on a production vehicle later in the season.
Photo © Jason Fogelson
Comments
You know the thing for me about this vehicle is that it is the next-gen Ford Fairlane concept which was really cool, with it’s airline cockpit like interior. I was totally psyched too that they were bringing back the Fairlane legacy name. This however, falls far short of that concept and to me is a refrigerator box–just like the Scion Xb was…