For all intents and purposes, the 2009 Ford Flex — together with the Edge and Taurus X — fills the gap left behind by the discontinued Freestar minivan. Ford won’t build traditional minivans anymore, but it also doesn’t want consumers to view the Flex as a successor to the decidedly uncool minivan.
“This vehicle (the Flex) is extremely different,” Flex marketing manager Kate Pearce told Ward’s Auto. “I wouldn’t say we’re specifically going after any particular vehicle owner type.”
Since the Fairlane concept was first revealed, the press has touted it as Ford’s minivan replacement. Pearce’s comments are more than likely a marketing tactic, rather than an indication of a shift in Ford’s plans for the Flex.
To help shed the minivan image, the Flex has regular doors, rather than a costly sliding system. The Fairlane concept had rear-hinged “suicide” back doors, but those were dropped for the production Flex, likely due to cost and safety concerns.
“They were definitely an interesting component to the Fairlane, but we don’t think we’re missing an opportunity without suicide doors,” Pearce says.
04/18, 1:17 PM
posted by:
Fromes
The article states that the flex, along with the edge and Tarus X are meant to replace the gap left behind by the freestar…can somebody please explain to me why it takes 3 vehicles to fill the gap left by one medicore minivan?
I had a chance to see the Flex up close at the New York Auto show and I must say, I wasn’t that impressed, it looked like a minivan with some fancy styling, nothing really unique or innovative outside of that. I’m also have trouble trying to figure out why ford has this, and the taurus X, a vehicle with the same amount of seating for passengers.
04/18, 2:08 PM
posted by:
Jazz
They don’t know what the market wants. A SUV on a squat
car setting, a tall station wagon or a crossover that sits like a suv. So they’ll sell all three and try to pummel us with the choice. Or ‘there’s a car for everybody’
04/18, 2:25 PM
posted by:
buenos
Or on the flip side Jazz, they could be three answers to questions that no one is asking.
04/18, 2:45 PM
posted by:
cknoff
The reason they need three vehicles is because people buy minivans for many different reasons. Some people buy them because they need to haul 7 people around. They will buy the Taurus X or the Flex. Some people buy them because they are looking for a vehicle that can carry their teenagers and still have space in the back for a drum set. Those people will flock to the Edge. Other people want fuel economy with the ability to toss a sheet of plywood in the back. The Flex will most likely fulfill their needs then. The fact of the matter is the minivan is a very versatile vehicle with a wide range of demographics. I think Ford is managing to capture most of them. Whether or not the market is large enough to support 3 different vehicles has yet to be seen though.
04/18, 3:41 PM
posted by:
LamborghiniZ
There’s no vehicle Ford would want to market as a successor to the Freestar, that outdated piece of ****.
04/18, 3:55 PM
posted by:
gotsmart
The Flex is a minivan with swing-out rear doors. Get over it already.
04/18, 6:48 PM
posted by:
SRT-4Ken
——————>gotsmart, true….
04/19, 4:24 PM
posted by:
bigjob
hey, and how about that cheap plastic Lambo……surprised you did not add that in your post.
04/19, 6:56 PM
posted by:
t-ak-box
I’m not a fan of Mini-Vans, but this really sucks. If it had some of the concepts features, like just the suicide doors on the concept. Maybe this has more presence than I see in the photos I’ve seen, but this just looks like a crappy wagon. Great Way Forward FORD!
If they just shrunk this, made it a 4cyl, 5 passenger, B or C class vehicle. This would be a great Scion Fighter.