The upgraded 2013 Ford Flex isn’t set to officially debut until November 16 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but here’s your first look at the new crossover, which gets a fresh look and loads of technology!
Among the changes to the seven-passenger, three-row Flex is a new base engine, a 3.5-liter V6, which makes 285 horsepower (that’s about 20 more horses than the previous engine) and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. EPA estimates should come in around 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. If you’ve been lusting after the EcoBoost®, no worries, that 3.5-liter V6 is still available, bringing home 355 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Both of these engines are hooked to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic® transmission, giving you the option of fully automatic operation or manual control. The EcoBoost Flex has paddle shifters integrated into the steering wheel spokes.
Another biggie in terms of changes has to do with the look of the Flex. You probably spotted the new front end, which includes the removal of the Ford blue oval from the front; now it sports a Flex badge. Out back, there’s standard dual exhaust and an available rear appliqué. The inside got a redo too: new clusters, steering wheel, electronic finish panels, and seat trim and foam. There’s also a new Appearance Package for the Limited and SEL models, which nets you a two-tone roof and mirrors, 20-inch machined-aluminum wheels, leather seats, special door trim panels, and other interior improvements to classy up the joint even further. And a class exclusive is an available second-row refrigerated console. That right there is a great conversation-starter.
Three new exterior colors are available for the Flex, bringing the grand total to nine. The new faces are Ruby Red, Deep Impact Blue and Kodiak Brown.
Technology is another biggie for the Flex. For starters, SYNC®, is available with the new-generation of MyFord Touch®, with improvements customers specifically asked for, making it faster, easier to use, and with a cleaner display. Safety technology is also on tap, with the Flex gaining the availability of auto world’s first production inflatable seat belts for rear-seat passengers. There’s also an 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 with avoiding potential accidents, using radar to detect the relative position of other vehicles and warn the driver with a combination of visual and audio alerts.