Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford
Ford shoots for 100,000 Flex sales a year
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Flex.
The SUV exodus means Ford's Flex has the potential to be a hit and it's gearing up for an onslaught of orders when sales begin this summer. Ford's group veep of marketing and communications, Jim Farley, told Automotive News that consumers leaving the full-size SUV fold and others who haven't considered putting a Blue Oval badge in their garage might be ready to give something like the Flex a chance. CUV sales have been strong over the last year, and Ford and Farley believe that the Flex could rack up 100,000 sales annually if the trend continues.
Gallery: 2009 Ford Flex
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Flashpoint 12:40PM (4/11/2008)
it looks like a cross between a Range Rover and a Freestyle but I'm sure that if it comes to the market fully ready, people will opt for it over the Expedition and the Edge if they have a 4 person family and are being hurt by gas prices.
I'd pay a maximum of $28,000 for one
$30K with Navigation + heated/cooled seats.
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geo.stewart 1:07PM (4/11/2008)
better chance than if they went with a me too design.
could be the next 300.
I like it but I like the GM's better, if I needed such a beast or thought a minivan didnt do a better job.
Rocketboy 12:43PM (4/11/2008)
MINI called, they wanted their floating roof look back.
And in other comments...
Ford shoots for 100,000 a year, and it's..... FAIL.
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Dave 7:43AM (4/12/2008)
I support and have confidence in Ford based on my large shares of Ford stock, but I don't see this model selling that well based on its looks. 100,000 selling in one year is to far fetched. They should have been more conservative with around 60,000. Did their marketing department think if they said 100,000 than people would think its something special and all of the sudden drop their other buying aspirations and go for this?
rafisha 12:48PM (4/11/2008)
It looks like a clubman MINI, but bigger
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Jons 12:50PM (4/11/2008)
This screams Range Rover / Mini Clubman.
Doesnt look too bad, but i highly doubt theyll sell 100k
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Ligor 12:50PM (4/11/2008)
so a minivan trying to hide it's a minivan
it's not bad compared to the Sienna's of the market right now
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DesiAuto 12:52PM (4/11/2008)
what are plus points of these cars? why would ford meet the target selling of 100,000 flex a year?
simply because more ppl are buying cuv does not mean they will sell 100,000 flex. there has to be something great and unique about this vehicle that will at least bring more people to showroom.
----
As soon as you look at this type of vehicle, you know it's not a hit, you know it will be difficult to sell 100,000/year.
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Judy Zik 4:56PM (4/11/2008)
How about a fridge built into the second row and huge skylights/sunroof. Then add in completely different styling. This thing doesn't look anything like any other CUV or Minivan out there. Like it or not Ford is offering something different that is miles ahead of the Freestar it replaces. I think it will do quite well. Either way they are producing it at the same plant as the Edge/mkwhatever and the future MK version of it. Between the 4 products they should have more than enough sales to keep that plant running very profitably.
Greg 12:53PM (4/11/2008)
I didn't realize so many people had such different tastes from my own. I would be very surprised if they could hit that number without a fantastic looking vehicle, which I don't believe this is. Especially when you consider that we're entering a recession and this will be marketed towards the people hardest hit by one... I just don't see it happening.
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fm 4:49PM (4/11/2008)
Well I don't think it's bad looking, since I like the floating roof types like the mini and the FJ Cruiser. But I do agree with you about the fact that this will not sell 100000 cars because they're targeting a segment of the population that is weary of the future of the economy. Not to mention the price of this thing is too high. I should top out at $28000 and not start at that. If that were the case then maybe, just maybe, they'd reach the 100000 mark
Dude 12:56PM (4/11/2008)
100,000? Really? I highly doubt it.
This thing looks like it was designed for grandparents that have outgrown their xB and Elements. A group that gets smaller every day.
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BobinCobb 12:58PM (4/11/2008)
Ford exec's are smokin' weed again!
They couldn't unload a 100,000 of these Dumpster look-a-likes if they offered to throw in free vaccinations against death.
Is Billy back in charge?
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Nick 1:18PM (4/11/2008)
That is exactly my thoughts; what are they smoking and where can I get some?
100,000 is simply dillusional. The economy is looking down, your company's sales have been awful as of late, and you design a CUV to compete with in the 'ugly people mover class' (ala Scion, Element)....wtf!?
John 6:13PM (4/11/2008)
Same old crap from the same old autobloggers that show their hate for everything. Go back and check your forecasts for the 08 Focus then tell me how you got that so wrong too.
Dave 7:50AM (4/12/2008)
Actually if they were smoking weed they would know what the consumer wants because its well known that weed smokers (musicians, scientists, others) are more creative with their thoughts when doing a little toking. With this they must have been drunk.
Allan 12:59PM (4/11/2008)
I hope I'm not the only one that thinks this thing looks god-awful. I mean, I know there will people that buy it (the Aztec somehow managed to sell more than zero)... but bleh.
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Disgruntled Goat 1:37PM (4/11/2008)
You're not the only one. I saw one at the autoshow last week and they look even worse in person. Just awful. The fact that Ford green-lighted this dung pile makes me seriously question their judgement. If they sell 100k before scrapping it I'd be shocked. Well, maybe once the $8000 rebates kick in they'll move a few but beyond that, no way.
mike 1:01PM (4/11/2008)
The people who are buying this SUV will be the very same people who will vote in November agains republicans because they feel like Republicans are not doing enough to ease the pain they are feeling because of high gas prices.
Not once will they question if they really need a huge SUV....it's much easier to blame some one else.
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Corey W. 2:22PM (4/11/2008)
Get a life!! There are more than enough political forums on the net for you to spout that garbage....