First Look: 2013 Ford Flex

News I By Brandon Turkus I November 08, 2011

Ford’s seven-passenger Flex burst onto the scene way back in 2007, as Ford’s first three-row CUV. Now, it’s getting a refresh for 2013 with a new nose and a bevy of new options.
 
The most obvious change comes with the Flex’s new nose. A new iteration of Ford’s three-bar grille is evident, with the word “FLEX,” spelled out, Range Rover style, along the front of the hood. New headlights round out changes to the front end.
 
The base 3.5-liter V-6 has been upgraded, with an extra 20 horsepower, and a slight economy bump of one mile per gallon. That means a total of 285 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, along with economy ratings of 18 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. For those who desire a bit more speed, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 will still be available for 2013, delivering the same 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.
 
Inside, the Flex gets the latest version of MyFord Touch, along with new driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, push-button start, blind-spot monitoring, and active park assist. Safety upgrades include the inflatable rear seatbelts that debuted on the 2012 Explorer.
 
The 2013 Flex will make its official debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
 
Please scroll down for the official press release from Ford.
 
New Ford Flex Brings More Technology, Better Fuel Economy, Modern Sophistication to Seven-Passenger Crossover
 
·       The latest three-row, seven-passenger Ford Flex offers comfort and advanced technology in a distinctive package, including sleek new front end and modern interior
·       New Flex features the latest MyFord Touch® system, new safety and driver-aid features such as adaptive cruise control, Ford’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) as well as push- button start, rear inflatable belts, rain-sensing wipers and active park assist
·       Under the hood, Flex is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 that delivers 20 more horsepower and projected 1 mpg better fuel economy, or the popular and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine
 
Click here to visit the 2011 L.A. Auto Show Media Site.
 
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 8, 2011 – Fans of the Ford Flex have even more to love next year with an upgraded model with a sleek new look and even more technology to make driving safer, easier and more fuel-efficient.
 
“Flex appeals to people who want to stand out from the crowd and has the highest retention rate of any vehicle in the Ford lineup,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “With technologies not found in other full-size utilities, even better fuel economy and a more modern, sophisticated look, we’re offering people even more reasons to choose Flex with the new model.”
 
The seven-passenger, three-row crossover – which debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show this month – comes equipped with the new generation of MyFord Touch, rear inflatable belts, collision-avoidance technologies, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, first-row heated and cooled seats, power-fold mirrors and an optional new Appearance Package. Plus, the base 3.5-liter engine is projected to deliver 1 mpg better fuel economy on the highway and in the city, with 20 more horsepower.
 
Enhanced technology 
The new Flex features SYNC® with the new generation of MyFord Touch®, making it easier to manage information, control features and adjust settings.
 
“We’ve listened to our customers and have improved what they love about MyFord Touch,” said Kenneth Williams, systems integration engineer. “In this upgrade, the screens have a cleaner, clearer display. The words on the screens are larger and easier to read, the pressable areas on the screen look more like buttons, and we have made the functions clearer for faster navigation.
 
“What separates MyFord Touch is that there are multiple ways for customers to manage and control what they want through voice commands, menus accessed through the steering wheel controls, touch screen, buttons or knobs – whatever they prefer.”
 
MyFord Touch includes two 4.2-inch screens in the instrument cluster and an eight-inch screen in the center stack. The feature pairs with the latest version of SYNC.
 
The base SYNC package includes:
 
Hands-free, voice-activated calling via a Bluetooth®-connected mobile phone or USB-connected digital music player
911 Assist™, the automated emergency calling service that is free for the life of the vehicle
Vehicle Health Report, the on-demand diagnostic and maintenance information service
Enhanced safety and driver-aid technology
The new Flex is equipped with the automotive world’s first production rear inflatable belts to offer improved comfort and protection for rear seat passengers. Last month, this safety innovation was named a Breakthrough Product Award winner by Popular Mechanics, part of the magazine’s seventh annual Breakthrough Awards.
 
The advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seat passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries.
 
Advances in airbag inflation and safety belt construction methods have enabled Ford and its suppliers to develop inflatable seat belts that are designed to deploy over a vehicle occupant’s torso and shoulder in 40 milliseconds in the event of a crash.
 
The new second-row belts operate like traditional safety belts in everyday use and inflate when sensors indicate a collision event. Each belt’s tubular airbag inflates with cold compressed gas, which flows through a specially designed buckle from a cylinder housed below the seat.
 
The new Flex also boasts available radar-enabled adaptive cruise control (ACC) and collision warning with brake support and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with cross-traffic alert. These technologies help drivers avoid potential accidents using radar to detect the relative position of other vehicles and warn the driver with a combination of visual and audio alerts.
 
The ACC technology uses advanced radar to scan for vehicles in front of Flex at 20 times per second. The sensor can detect vehicles up to 150 yards away and detect speed changes as small as ¼ mph. When the system is activated, it functions like normal cruise control with the exception of being able to slow down the car when vehicles in front are detected to be slowing down. When traffic has cleared, the vehicle resumes the set speed. Four distance settings accommodate a range of driving styles and road conditions. The driver can set distance, speed and the time gap between vehicles.
 
Fuel economy bolstered by engines, technologies
Under the hood, Flex’s new base engine delivers even more efficiency and performance with the addition of twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to the 3.5-liter V6.
 
The upgraded 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine provides 285 horsepower – an approximate 20 horsepower increase from the previous engine – and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. The new Flex also is projected to deliver 1 mpg more fuel economy, with projected fuel economy of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
 
This efficient V6 allows precise, variable control of valve overlap, or the window of time in which both the intake and exhaust valves in an engine are open at the same time. By adjusting overlap continuously, the engine can operate at optimum settings for peak fuel economy or peak power output as conditions demand.
 
The popular 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 remains on the new Flex, bringing the fuel economy of V6 engines with all-wheel-drive capability and V8-like performance of 355 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.
 
A key contributor to EcoBoost fuel efficiency is direct injection of gasoline. This system precisely delivers a fine mist of fuel directly into each cylinder for optimal performance, economy and emissions.
 
EcoBoost engines are fundamental to the Ford strategy of providing technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver exceptional fuel economy and uncompromised performance for millions of drivers around the world. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford’s North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology. Ford holds more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine technology.
 
Both engines are mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic® transmission.
 
The SelectShift advanced gearbox offers the driver a choice between fully automatic operation and manual control. With SelectShift with EcoBoost, paddle shifters are integrated into the steering wheel spokes. Intuitive to operate, a squeeze back on either paddle will deliver an upshift, while a gentle push forward on either paddle will induce a matched-rev downshift. SelectShift won’t second-guess the driver with an override shift; manual control is truly manually controlled. The thumb shift is new for 2013 with the standard engine models.
 
Both engines also are made more efficient with EPAS (electric power-assisted steering). EPAS improves fuel economy approximately 4 percent and reduces emissions while improving steering performance primarily because the steering system is powered by an electric motor connected to the vehicle’s battery, instead of engine-mounted hydraulic pump steering systems.
 
In addition, the new Flex’s battery management system operates the vehicle’s power supply system in a more economical manner to save fuel. The system:
 
Allows the alternator and system voltage to be controlled based on battery condition, vehicle operating state and electrical load status
Provides feedback to the vehicle regarding battery condition for active load management and battery diagnostics
Monitors battery temperature (higher voltage in lower temperatures, lower voltage in higher temperatures), extending the battery life
Fresh new look, touches – inside and out
Flex’s new front end rounds out the previously boxy edges, creating more visual harmony between the front and the rest of the vehicle. The signature Ford blue oval has been removed from the front, which now solely bears the Flex badge.
 
In the rear, Flex now has standard dual exhaust and available rear appliqué.
 
Inside the Flex customers will find a modern, sophisticated driver zone with new clusters, steering wheel and electronic finish panels, as well as new seat trim and foam.
 
Class-exclusives include the available second-row refrigerated console and the latest generation of MyFord Touch with SYNC.
 
Appearance Package and paint, wheel choices
Also new is an Appearance Package on Limited and SEL models that includes an available two-tone roof and mirrors, 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with painted pockets, leather seats, unique door trim panels and other interior upgrades for a truly distinctive, premium look and feel.
 
The new Flex comes in nine exterior colors, including three new colors for the 2013 model year: Ruby Red, Deep Impact Blue and Kodiak Brown. Customers also can choose from body-color roofs, or two-tone with white, gray or black available on the Appearance Package.
 
Six wheel styles are available for Flex as well.
 
Production
The Ford Flex is built at Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada.

The Guide to Road Racing: Winding Road Magazine's ultimate guide to getting your start in racing.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

EV Inspired Automobile Renaissance

By the start of the 20th Century, the development of consumer automobiles was in full swing, and, seemingly, everyone was throwing their hat in the…

March 14, 2024
Audi accelerates preparations for successful entry into Formula 1 and significantly expands its commitment

Supervisory Boards of Volkswagen AG and AUDI AG vote for complete takeover of Sauber Group Oliver Hoffmann takes over responsibility for Audi’s Formula 1 commitment…

March 08, 2024
Rivian Introduces R2, R3, and R3X Built on New Midsize Platform

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. March 7, 2024 – Rivian today unveiled its new midsize platform which underpins R2 and R3 product lines. R2 is Rivian’s all-new midsize…

March 07, 2024
BAC introduces Mono Cup – a new chapter in high-performance racing with the world’s fastest one-make championship

Mono Cup marks BAC’s first-ever entry into the dynamic world of motorsports The sensational announcement, which has been kept top secret, is the result of…

March 06, 2024
INEOS Automotive Introduces The INEOS Fusilier – One Vehicle, Two Powertrains

INEOS Automotive has unveiled its third model line – the INEOS Fusilier. The new 4X4 will offer two powertrain options to meet global consumer needs:…

February 23, 2024

EMAIL SIGN UP

Get the latest driving and racing news straight to your inbox.

no thanks

Begin typing your search above and press return to search.