Autoblog

Click above high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Flex

Ford has been banking on strong sales of its crossover vehicles to help counter the sinking ship that is its line of SUVs. While the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, along with the brand new Ford Flex and revised Escape, have sold well enough to post a meager 2.8-percent gain in overall sales so far this year, that number apparently isn't high enough to warrant a third shift at Ford's Oakville, Ontario plant that the automaker was hoping would be necessary. Unfortunately, this shift cancelation means that 350 workers who had planned on showing up for their first day next Monday are now left jobless.

While there are certainly buyers out there who require the capability to haul around their entire families and their associated gear, all large passenger vehicles -- crossovers like the new Flex included -- face an uphill battle now to overcome current market conditions, as this latest announcement once again proves.


[Source: Courier-Journal]

In an interview with Ward's Auto, Ford's chief creative officer (CCO?) and VP of design, J Mays explains that the similarities between the concept and the production versions of the Fairlane are profound. So much so, that some employees at FoMoCo can't tell the difference between the two.

The Fairlane seeks to bring an air of luxurious practicality to the people mover segment and considering the amount of growth Ford sees in the CUV segment, hopefully it fill the niche comprised of ex-SUVers and minivan refugees.

As we've already reported, Fairlane badging will not make it to production, instead, a yet-to-be-disclosed name will likely be announced in the next few months. Ford's newer crossover-van thingy will be built at the automaker's plant in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, along with a rebadged Lincoln version.

[Source: Byron Pope/Ward's Auto]

Ford Motor Company is cutting the cord at its Oakville assembly plant. No, the site isn't the latest casualty of The Way Forward-- quite the opposite. As part of a $1 billion dollar investment, the automaker is taking the 486,000 square-meter site wireless.

The facility will feature a transponder lane for trucks called 'Fast Gate,' that will automatically open the main gate and record the time/location/cargo of vehicles entering the site. The entire factory, which is set to produce the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers will have wireless internet access, thanks to 65 antennas placed throughout the complex. 

The technology infusion will reportedly help the plant's 'just in time' production methods, as well as increase flexibility and efficiency.

 [Source: The Canadian Press via CanadianBusiness.com]