2009 Ford Flex
Ford is looking to make some additional noise in the crossover segment with the 2009 Ford Flex, which will join the Edge and Taurus X (formerly Freestyle) in the automaker's lineup next summer. Flex is powered by Ford's 3.5-liter V-6 with an estimated 260 horsepower on tap, mated to a six speed tranny and available all-wheel-drive. The seven-passenger seating is multi-configurable, and Flex features a lot of neat options on the inside, including an interior refrigerator, the Ford Sync communications and entertainment system, ambient mood lighting and a multi-panel skylight roof.
On the outside, Ford's signature three-bar grille and what the automakers calls an all-black greenhouse, defined by the windshield, rear and side windows, and the pillars separating and connecting them to the roof, which can be white, silver or body colored, make for a unique appearance. Flex also comes with a raft of safety features and has standard 18-inch or available 19-inch bright aluminum wheels.