Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford, Lifestyle
SEMA 2007: Funkmaster Flex goes flossin' with his friends in the Flex2
UPDATE: Woops. We switched the Foose Flex with the Funkmaster Flex2. The post has been updated to show the correct vehicle.
click above image for high-res pics of the FF Flex2
Funkmaster Flex made his debut last year at SEMA with a customized Expedition, and he's bringing what Ford calls "urban luxury" to the show again with the Flex2. In an awkward mix of hip hop culture and pr market lingo, the Master of Funk states that "I know what this vehicle is going to be in the urban market: It's going to be killer! Whether you're flossin' with your friends, going to the club or riding around with your girl, the Ford Flex is the next urban street vehicle, and Flex2 is my interpretation of the ultimate in street luxury."
The Flex actually has a pretty clean design, with a two-tone paint scheme and faux-brushed aluminum roof. Fender vents, grilles and a spoiler that comes from 3d Carbon. The Flex2 is lowered one inch from the standard car's height and rides on 22-inch forged rims. Inside are custom seats with Katzkin seat covers and stainless steel color stitching. DVD systems are also mounted in the headrests in the first and second rows. Click on the photo or the thumbnails below to view live shots from the show.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TriShield 5:34PM (10/30/2007)
It's hard to believe Ford would bank the future of the company on this car.
The Flex looks like something you'd see at the circus. Driving out into the main ring stuffed with clowns, horn beeping away, painted some bright color with polka dots.
How many mediocre people haulers does Ford need?
When will Mullaly make Ford's US lineup mirror that of Europe or Australia?
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Random Task 5:37PM (10/30/2007)
I really like it... but I like the box on wheels look.
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Aki 5:42PM (10/30/2007)
Kinda looks like a poor man's Range Rover up front.
That said, it's another useless offering from Ford. Why would somebody who skipped over the Taurus X, Edge want this car? I hope they're not banking on the hip-hop community to keep this four-wheeled deadweight afloat.
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k.w.a 8:46AM (10/31/2007)
Woow, poor Ford.
I hope this doesn't go down the, dare I say, Aztek route. Last time they showed this car EVERYBODY praised it( to my surprise I must admit), and now that they're seriously producing it now everyone wants to trash it.
When they said their target audience was the urban customer, I immediatley thought of the 300C. Then I figured, urban people wouldn't buy this because it doesn't LOOK like a more expensive vehicle (like the 300C, dubbed "the Baby Bentley")
but as Aki said, it looks like a poor man's range rover so maybe the flex has a chance. IMO they should have heightened it and labeled it the new Ford Explorer...it would DEFINITELY then look like a poor man's Range Rover and probably sell well.
Igor Holas 5:43PM (10/30/2007)
the car on the pics is the FooseFlex by Chip Foose - not the Flex2 by Funkmaster Flex
Igor
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SherbornSean 6:32PM (10/30/2007)
I don't think Funkmaster jives well with the intended audience: soccer moms.
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Eric 7:06PM (10/30/2007)
What?
Station wagons be PIMP, yo! LOL
why not the LS2LS7? 7:52PM (10/30/2007)
Is that a 2nd generation xB?
And that's a condemnation of the Flex and the new xB.
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alexer 12:30AM (10/31/2007)
no!.. this looks better!!! its not a scion for sure! -sarcasm-
John P. 9:39PM (10/30/2007)
hmmm, I really like this thing for some reason. It looks like something I'd actually buy. I'm sure the standard Flex won't look this good, but still,....
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Me 9:56PM (10/30/2007)
Street luxury my ass. It is as much street luxury as Ford 500/Taurus was full-size luxury - POS with hideous design.
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500 10:22PM (10/30/2007)
We all knew this was coming. And it doesn't look nearly as bad as I thought it would; I actually kind of like it. The F O R D lettering on the front edge of the hood looks old-school cool.
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Derek 10:40PM (10/30/2007)
Has no one else noticed that the front tire is almost FLAT???
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stephen 11:05PM (10/30/2007)
What an ugly and yet again pointless car.
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Slag 11:13PM (10/30/2007)
I think it looks pretty good actually - and even if you don't like it, at least it's different from all the other interchangeably-styled peoplemovers.
I applaud Ford for making an attempt at something interesting - I hope it doesn't fall as flat as that front tyre.
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alexer 12:42AM (10/31/2007)
looks old school!! looks great makes me remenber movies from the 70s. i like it.
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Mattias 1:47AM (10/31/2007)
I kinda like it. Stuff in the gorgeous Volvo sourced I5 turbo with six speed manual available in the Galaxy and the S-Max and bring this car to Europe.
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PJ 2:22AM (10/31/2007)
I like this thing. Have any of you seen pics of the interior yet? It uses some of Ford's best-quality materials yet (er... maybe I should say, some of the best materials in its segment).
*Someone* has to be trying new takes on the family wagon, now that SUVs are every bit the "mom-mobile" that minivans are. I'm frankly impressed Ford was so willing to go out on a limb with this one.
Of course, this does give Ford a total of FOUR three-row SUV-things in its lineup. Plus the two-row Edge and Escape. Ever heard of "streamlining," Ford? Considering the Flex's looks, maybe not.
Incidentally, I think I died a little inside reading Funkmaster Flex's "urban" PR shill. I can only imagine how it felt for him...
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Mirko 8:26AM (10/31/2007)
Funkmaster Flex Flex... nice, but is it flex-fuel?
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Nellydesign 9:03AM (10/31/2007)
Damn you Mirko you stole my line!