POWER FLEXING
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Thu, Jul 30, 2009
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
POWER FLEXING
I'm beginning to think Ford does have a better idea. Take a sleek, distinctive
crossover vehicle like Ford Flex, give it a V-6 engine that delivers V-8 power
with the fuel economy of a V-6 and you have the technologically advanced 2010
Ford Flex with EcoBoost.
Introduced just one year ago, the original Flex was, according to some, long on
eye appeal and features but short on power for a vehicle its size. Ford seems to
have solved the problem and will undoubtedly satisfy those power-hungry critics
with the twin-turbocharged all aluminum 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine. The
direct injection of highly pressurized fuel into the combustion chamber of each
cylinder results in increased performance and fuel efficiency.
Ford tells me that the best place to test the capabilities of this vehicle is in
the mountains so, following a two-hour flight from Los Angeles, I am in the
Colorado Rockies ready not only to experience some of the most beautiful scenery
in the country, but also to see if this vehicle lives up to Ford's claims as it
is put it to the test under a variety of conditions.
The start point for our road test is the luxurious St. Julien Hotel & Spa in
Boulder, Colorado. The front of the hotel now resembles a Ford dealership, with
shiny new Flex vehicles lined up and ready for enthusiastic automotive
journalists from throughout the U.S. and Canada. From Boulder, we will take a
fifty-mile drive to Estes Park.
The interior of the vehicle is both stylish and quite comfortable. As I turn the
key, I hear an engine that is quiet, yet confident. Pulling out of the driveway,
I can feel the power of the big 355 horsepower engine. Making my way through the
mountains, the sporty side of me takes over as I switch from the 6-speed
automatic transmission to conveniently positioned paddle shifters on the
steering wheel. Paddles facilitate precise shifting while keeping both hands
securely on the wheel.
Upon arriving at our destination in Estes Park, there are two demonstrations
highlighting the vehicle's capabilities. The first being a towing demonstration
to prove Ford's claims that Flex can effortlessly tow up to 4,500 pounds. Flex's
towing package features Trailer Sway Control Technology. The system can
determine if the trailer starts to sway, then takes immediate corrective
measures, such as precise braking or reducing engine torque.
The second demonstration allows me to test the Active Park Assist self-parking
feature. As you are driving, the system can actually locate an available parking
space along the curb then, at the push of a button and with my hands off the
steering wheel, the vehicle parallel parks itself perfectly along the curb. As
one who has tested other vehicles with self-parking technology, I find the
Active Park Assist on Flex to be more efficient and the positioning of the
vehicle more precise.
Making my way back to Boulder, I continue to be impressed with the way in which
the vehicle handles. All-wheel drive and sport tuned suspension make the vehicle
fun to drive, and a feature called Pull-Drift Compensation helps the vehicle
maintain its path even in windy conditions or on uneven roads.
From a safety standpoint, I give Flex a 'thumbs up' for a couple of valuable
features. Ford SYNC, available on certain Flex models, is a software program
that allows you to operate digital music players and Bluetooth phones using
voice commands or with controls on the steering wheel. SYNC can actually convert
text messages to audio and read them out loud. Another new technology is MyKey,
which allows owners to designate keys (to teenage drivers, for example) that can
limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume.
Ford Flex with EcoBoost may be a wise choice for consumers who wish to downsize
from a full-size SUV to a slightly smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle. With
the exception of a voice-interactive navigation system that didn't seem to
recognize every voice command, I am highly impressed with the improvements in
Flex for 2010, particularly the powerful and efficient EcoBoost engine.
EcoBoost is part of Ford's ongoing effort to create fuel-efficient powertrain
systems with the power and performance of larger engines. Ford estimates that by
2013, more than 90 percent of their vehicles in North America will be available
with EcoBoost.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
It's Dearborn's first crossover muscle car with green credentials.
For more information about Ford products:
www.ford.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Name of vehicle:
2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost
Price: TBA
EPA mileage estimates (city/highway):
16/22 miles per gallon
Engine type:
3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6
Horsepower:
355 @ 5,700 rpm
Torque:
350 @ 1,500 to 5,250 rpm
Drive configuration:
All Wheel Drive
Transmission type:
6-speed automatic overdrive
Steering:
Electric power assist steering
Suspension:
Front: Gas pressurized MacPherson strut; stabilizer bar
Rear: Multi-link, fully-independent suspension; stabilizer bar
Brakes:
4-wheel ABS AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
Overall length:
201.8 inches
Overall width:
88.8 inches
Overall height:
68.0 inches
Curb weight (lbs.):
4,839 lbs.
Performance
0-60: 7 seconds