Question: Will Ford keep the Flex, and Moreover, Should it?

Ford has barely been moving half of what it predicted at the low end of annual Flex sales. However, since its platform is so spread out through the FoMoCo portfolio, the Flex helps spread some costs around while giving Ford a big people-mover. But there's more to the Flex than just being a box on wheels, and not enough people get it yet.

With the new Explorer "SUV" coming out, people are insinuating that the Flex could be put down if it can't start pulling more of its weight. Some argue that the two vehicles are much too similar, both seating seven, offering AWD, and being "aimed squarely at families".

Yes, they are family cars, but for different kinds of families. Two related products with two unique customers? My goodness, good thing Ford has a marketing division.

Read more »

Ford Adds Top-End Titanium Model to Flex Lineup

Ford is enhancing its 2011 Flex crossover lineup with the addition of the new range-topping Titanium model. Set to arrive in U.S. showrooms later this summer, the Titanium is based on the Limited series model adding certain unique exterior and interior details as well as some new features.

Read more »

Ford Confirms 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost Turbo for F-150, 2.0-liter Turbo for Explorer and Edge

Over the past few months we've heard several rumors regarding the models that will get FoMoCo's EcoBoost turbocharged engines.

Now, the Detroit automaker has officially confirmed that the 2011 F-150 pickup truck will be offered with its 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 upgraded for rear-wheel-drive applications, while a new 2.0-liter inline-four turbo will find its way under the hood of the next next-generation Ford Explorer SUV and Edge CUV.

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit will be launched along with a smaller displacement 1.6-liter EcoBoost unit, which will be used initially on the European C-Max people mover, by the end of the year.

Read more »

Huh? Ford Flex Voted as the 2009 Collectible Vehicle Of The Future

Take that GM and Chevy Camaro owners. According to the predictions of the Friends of the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC), from all the new cars and trucks launched in the USA in 2009, the most desirable collectible in 25 years from now will be the Ford Flex.

Yes, you read correctly, the members of the organization, which supports the automotive collection at the Detroit Public Library, believe that the vehicle most likely to turn heads at the Woodward Dream Cruise of 2034 is Ford's overgrown Scion - no pun intended.

"This selection is unique among all the 'Vehicle of the Year' awards, because it is selected by car buffs who know what future collectors will value," said Charles K. Hyde, chairman of the NAHC Board of Trustees. "We asked our members to predict which of this year's new vehicles will turn heads in the Woodward Cruise of 2034."

Since we consider galileo maeshary readers to be car buffs themeselves, we invite you to share your thoughts on which new vehicle launched in the U.S. in 2009 will most likely capture your attention in 25 years from now.

NAHC Previous winners are:

2008 - Dodge Challenger

2007 - Dodge Viper SRT10

2006 - Pontiac Solstice

2005 - Ford Mustang

2004 - Chrysler 300

2003 - Dodge Viper

2002 - Ford Thunderbird

1996 - Chrysler Sebring Convertible

1995 - Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Aurora

Ford Develops Eco-Friendly Wheat-Straw Reinforced Plastics, First Application on 2010 Flex

Powertrains aside, automakers are also looking in other areas to make today's vehicles more environmentally friendly. One such example is a newly developed natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20 percent wheat straw bio-filler developed by the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, as part of the Ontario BioCar Initiative. Ford is the first automaker in the world to make use of this new bio-material on the 2010 Ford Flex's third-row interior storage bins.

According to the company, this application alone reduces petroleum usage by some 20,000 pounds per year and CO2 emissions by around 30,000 pounds per year while the bio-material is said to demonstrate better dimensional integrity than a non-reinforced plastic and weighs up to 10 percent less than a plastic reinforced with talc or glass.

But what makes this initiative even more impressive is that it also represents a sustainable usage for wheat straw which is the waste byproduct of wheat. Ford said that in Ontario alone, where the Flex is produced, more than 28,000 farmers grow wheat, along with corn and soybeans. At any given time, there are some 30 million metric tons of available wheat straw waste in Ontario.

"Wheat is everywhere and the straw is in excess," said Dr. Ellen Lee, technical expert, Ford's Plastics Research. "We have found a practical automotive usage for a renewable resource that helps reduce our dependence on petroleum, uses less energy to manufacture, and reduces our carbon footprint. More importantly, it doesn't jeopardize an essential food source."

Ford said that it is considering the use of natural fiber-based plastics for other applications in the near future including the center console bins and trays, interior air register and door trim panel components, and armrest liners.