Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2013 Ford Flex gets funkier with new nose, updated power and tech

Ford is certainly embracing the weirdness of its Flex crossover – at least, in terms of design – for its 2013 model year refresh. Set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, the 2013 Flex features a restyled front fascia that strikes us as flashier and somehow more robotic than the current model. We've seen it in person, and if we're honest, we're not sure we love it.

Ford understands the fact that not all shoppers love the Flex's exterior as a whole, but the automaker maintains that prospective buyers will like the sort of retro-modern look to the new front end. As for the rest of the Flex's design, things haven't changed too much, save the addition of some new paint colors and wheel choices, as well as the now-standard Flex badging above the grille – something previously reserved exclusively for the Titanium trim. We'll have to see what future sales numbers look like before deciding if this new schnoz is a hit or a miss, though.

Behind that new front end, the Flex receives a powertrain update: the base 3.5-liter V6 now packs 20 more horsepower – 285 versus 265 – and even with that extra grunt, fine-tuning to the powerplant has yielded one extra mile per gallon in both city and highway driving modes (18/25 mpg). Of course, customers will still be able to outfit the Flex with Ford's 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, which carries over unchanged.

Inside, the 2013 Flex receives a refreshed dashboard and instrument cluster that incorporates the latest version of MyFord Touch. Other interior enhancements include pushbutton start, rain sensing wipers and the addition of more safety features including optional rear inflatable seatbelts and a host of collision-avoidance technologies.

We'll have more on the 2013 Flex live from Los Angeles next week.

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-...photo-4589623/

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/08/2...-angeles-show/

Fizzboy7

Chevy called earlier. They want their bar in the middle of grille back. Great Scott! That is one gawd awful grille.
I thought Ford was moving in the right direction, but it looks like not everything is on the ball with them. A huge thumb down.

Blackraven

Ha, for a moment there, I thought I was looking at a Land Rover

caddyowner

The Flex is a very practical vehicle, but Ford seems to be continuing to take styling cues from the "successful" Honda/Acura school of design.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Flop......

Mr Johnson

IMO went from quirky but reasonable looking to something I can't imagine driving. :-(

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Might be better if grill gets darker...

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Yeah.... I don't think so. Still very stupid looking! The shapes are all wrong, not so much the colors.

ABC

That grill is awful. And no ecoboost 2.5? No thanks. This should improve Ford edge sales though, lol.

RXSF

very futuristic. overly so for us conservative americans

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

Really?

To me it looks like it could have been designed (with ease) in the early 80's.

The only thing relatively futuristic (exterior design-wise) are the modern headlamps (not in shape but in lighting technology).

RXSF

Yeah I can see it has some muscle car or specifically Ford Cobra look to it, but there is something about it also that screams future to me, at least. I dont know why, it was my first instinct

caddyowner

With those big slab sides, I'm still waiting for Ford to slap on some woodgrain and call it the Country Squire.

LexFather

Kinda Tronish to me...I like it sorta....but I always liked the Flex....

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

For some reason, I always like the Flex. It looks like a big 1gen xB. Too bad the van doesn't sell well.