It appears that the 2009 Ford Flex is already attracting some attention.
The Flex was exhibited in a Ford showroom in Las Vegas, Nevada recently. There, a team of designers, engineers, and marketers from Ford were also present answering questions from consumers.
Pundits say that there are a few challenges Ford needs to overcome with this new model. First, the Flex is viewed by experts as a replacement of Ford’s minivan. (The automaker left the segment last year.)
Ford says that is not the case. To counter such "soccer mom" imagery, marketing the Flex will be done by highlighting styling and innovative features. Already, execs at Ford are referring to the vehicle as “a Sync and Fridge” -- a shout out for its Sync wireless communications and entertainment technology and optional refrigerator designed for the rear center console.
The full size crossover is priced at $28,295 to start.
Pundits believe that 120,000 to 140,000 vehicles will be manufactured a year. Our take? Amazingly enough, we find the Flex quite viable despite our general distaste for SUVs and crossovers. Its design is unique and the price is right for that target market of young parents and their children. We have a feeling it'll be the pundits, not Ford, that'll be eating crow.
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