Autoblog

Officially Official: Ford Flex gets new top-shelf Titanium model

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:10:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Ford, Design/Style

2011 Ford Flex Titanium - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this month, Editor Paukert spied a caravan of Ford Flex prototypes sporting new trim pieces that indicated a higher-level trim model is in the works. A source within Ford confirmed that our assumptions were correct, and now the automaker has released the full raft of details about its new model, Flex Titanium, which should hit showrooms later this year. Expect to see more Titanium-badged products making their way down the pipeline, too. This trim level is already well-received in Europe, and we'll be seeing a Titanium version of the 2012 Focus when it goes on sale next year, as well.

Back to the Flex. Available in both naturally aspirated and EcoBoost variants, the Titanium model adds extra appearance goodies like blacked-out headlamps and taillamps, a two-tone Tuxedo Black roof, 20-inch alloys with an aluminum finish and a black badgeless chrome grille with F-L-E-X text on the edge of the hood. Inside, the charcoal black leather-trimmed seats feature gray Alcantara inserts, the center stack is painted in a new metallic alloy finish, a perforated leather steering wheel falls to hand, and illuminated scuff plates light the entryway.

The Titanium will be available in four colors: White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat, Red Candy Metallic, Ingot Silver Metallic and Tuxedo Black Metallic. We find the Red Candy to be particularly tasty - you can check it out on Ford's already launched configurator here.

Even though the new Titanium models are pricy ($40,340 for a Duratec-powered front-drive model and $45,185 for an EcoBoost'd all-wheel drive - sans $775 in delivery fees) the Blue Oval may be right for thinking they can expand the model upwards - it says that the current top trim (Limited) accounts for 40 percent of overall Flex sales, and that as much as 60 percent of these vehicles are equipped with add-ons like the panoramic sunroof and rear refrigerator. Hit the jump to read the full details in Ford's press release.

Gallery: Ford Flex Titanium

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: Ford Flex gets new top-shelf Titanium model

Officially Official: Ford Flex gets new top-shelf Titanium model originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost delivers more than just a better engine

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Ford, First Drives

2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just a year after the Ford Flex first appeared, the Blue Oval has revamped its lineup in ways that make the 2010 model quite different from its forebearer. First among the changes is the Blue Oval's EcoBoost engine, which packs 3.5 liters of displacement and a duo of turbochargers to produce V8 power with V6 fuel economy. Autoblog went to the Colorado hinterlands to spend some with with the Flex and its new powerplant, and as we found out, there's more to Ford's boxy crossover than boosted performance and fuel economy.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost delivers more than just a better engine

First Drive: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost delivers more than just a better engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Racing a Lincoln MKS EcoBoost at Milan Dragway [w/VIDEO]

Chris Shunk — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Crossover

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost - Click above for high-res image gallery from Milan Dragway

When the 2009 Lincoln MKS entered production, it arrived to market with a 273 horsepower, 3.7-liter V6. This made the new luxurious Lincoln a large, loaded, heavy vehicle with the power of a Nissan Altima. When we reviewed the MKS, we liked the newest Lincoln's interior, loved its in-car technology, and found the package itself acceptable to drive, but we were left longing for Ford's seemingly far off twin-turbocharged, direct-inject 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine. A vehicle as big as the MKS deserves the extra pop, we figured.

It took a year, but it's finally turbo time at the top of Lincoln's lineup. We already had the pleasure of a first drive with the force-fed MKS, and we found the 4,300-lb all-wheel-drive sedan to be quick and nimble for its size with fuel economy that handily bests its V8-powered competition. But we drove the EcoBoost MKS in the controlled environment of Ford's Romeo Proving Grounds. This time, we were given the chance to drive the EcoBoost MKS at a place where few Lincolns roam: the drag strip. Hit the jump to see how Ford's new hot rod Lincoln handled itself on the track. We have performance numbers and video waiting for you, as well as video and stats for the EcoBoost Ford Flex.

Gallery: 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost at Milan Dragway

Continue reading Racing a Lincoln MKS EcoBoost at Milan Dragway [w/VIDEO]

Racing a Lincoln MKS EcoBoost at Milan Dragway [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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