Ford had high hopes for its new Flex crossover that was launched earlier this year. After reporting that Flex sales have dropped in two of the four months since it went on sale, we’ve now learned that Ford is offering up to $3,000 in incentives on the vehicle, an unparalleled move for a vehicle the automaker expected to be its savior.
Though the incentives differ in various regions, they are quite extensive. In Ford’s hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, potential Flex buyers can expect $3,000 in incentives. In Texas, Florida and California, three of Ford’s biggest markets - but the three in which the automaker is most rapidly losing sales - discounts are $2,500. Certain markets also receive special financing and lease deals.
Ford hopes that the discounts will boost sales of the edgy new crossover, which has garnered positive reviews in Leftlane testing. Initially, Ford suggested that up to 100,000 Flex vehicles would be the sales target, though that was subsequently lowered to 75,000. Currently, Ford is on track to sell less than half of that revised number in the vehicle’s first year.
10/08, 12:11 PM
posted by:
6ix
Maybe, just maybe, they shouldn’t have given it such retro styling. They should have just let the european side of Ford design it. Then, it probably would have been a success.
10/08, 12:30 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
I actually like the Flex, but its launch timing and real-world applications are now out of sync with the rest of the world. Now, it’s a Ford fumble at best.
10/08, 12:37 PM
posted by:
tastyorange
Very sharp car… but maybe if they did something really radical and made it a diesel-electric hybrid and it got over 30 mpg… it might sell a little better! It’s a heavy car! Over 4600 lbs with AWD. I guess most people figure if they are going to buy such a porker, get an SUV or minivan.
Maybe they should have made it more mid-size and lighter. People who are attracted to such styling I think tend to also like smaller vehicles… I don’t know…
10/08, 12:45 PM
posted by:
autonut
Diesel electric would cost enormous amount. At this point it would be cheaper to shut off the line. They are running negative numbers on this one: vehicle is less then year old and requires 3 large in incentives.
10/08, 12:47 PM
posted by:
TomF
In person, it looks as big as a school bus. Much bigger (and less relevant to my household) than I thought. From the early concept art I figured it’d turn out as a slightly bigger Element, and I was interested. But having seen it, no way.
We’ve been over this before, but it didn’t help that the Flex was stealth-launched with barely any marketing that I could see until the last few weeks. I’ve yet to see one on the road. I only saw one in the flesh (?) for the first time at a dealership last week.
Maybe Ford couldn’t see the economic crisis coming, but it sure as hell saw fuel prices spiking, so this flop isn’t totally an act of God. It’s mainly dumb product planning by people who don’t read the papers.
I can’t fault the edgy styling. At least they tried SOMETHING, which is more than you can say about the Fusion, Taurus, Explorer, etc.
10/08, 12:50 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The first Edsel of the new millennium. Congrats Ford.
10/08, 1:19 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Death to Flex. Death to anything with Volvo DNA.
10/08, 1:24 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I like the Flex, but the price is just way too high. I’ve seen two on the road, and they looked good.
Tom, if you think the Flex is big, it’s smaller than my Nissan Quest, in EVERY dimension, too. Actually, my Quest is lighter than the Flex, but my quest is longer, taller and wider than the Flex. Oh, it was also much cheaper…
10/08, 1:35 PM
posted by:
A4
theres nothing wrong with this car, its priced a little high for a Ford but its pretty spot on in the market… there just is no market right now. People arent buying new vehicles and that isnt helping their case.
10/08, 1:55 PM
posted by:
sharpie
Hybrid is a nice idea, but with the price already high, it won’t do the Flex any good. What the Flex need is a slimmed down version with a reasonably fuel efficient 4-cyl, FWD and lower starting MSRP. Think Scion xB, then you have something. I know the Flex is bigger than the xB, but it would benefit from a 2.4L-2.5L 4 bangers. Just steal them from Mazda. That’ll work.
10/08, 2:12 PM
posted by:
golf4me
Note to Ford:
1) Lower the price on this thing. It’s Lincoln-priced.
2) Change the grille. Please.
3) Improve your warranties
10/08, 2:18 PM
posted by:
tzu13
4) Fire your North American design team and let Ford Europe handle it all. Styling a vehicle does not mean making it a box with wheels.
10/08, 2:43 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
You know I saw one up close this past weekend at the O.C. auto show, is looks real good, the inside look better then my brother in law’s R Class Benz, (the limited up cores) the price is a bit to high, but from the buzz just about every one els liked them, but like people where saying it’s just not the best time for this car…
10/08, 5:52 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Seriously why did they think it would be their savior? You would think with a falling economy and high gas prices it would be an overpriced boxy SUV/crossover. But I saw one in public an honestly I liked it but probably not the average family looking for a people hauler.
10/08, 5:57 PM
posted by:
MercMark
Still can’t afford one.
10/08, 6:00 PM
posted by:
larsim
Dear Ford,
The only freaking way that I will ever drive this vehicle, is if instead of me paying you, you pay me. And neither me or my ego are cheap. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be caught dead driving this vehicle.
If interested in my offer please reply here.
Sincerely,
Larsim
10/09, 2:59 AM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Oh, and please just give up and bring your European models here!!!!!
10/09, 10:22 PM
posted by:
bigp
well the 3k helps sell them