Five more 2010 Ford Motor Company vehicles – Ford Flex, Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ,
Lincoln MKT and Mercury Milan – have earned Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS). The rating also applies to the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid.

Flex, Fusion, MKZ, MKT and Milan previously earned top possible scores for occupant protection in
IIHS’s front, side and rear tests, but had to pass IIHS’s new roof strength test to maintain the rating.
Vehicles also must offer electronic stability control to be eligible for a Top Safety Pick.

With each new model year, Ford keeps raising the bar on vehicle safety!

When it comes to redefining the crossover market, it’s hard to find a better example of the future of this segment than the 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost. The largest crossover vehicle in the Ford lineup, the Flex is a triumph of style, engineering and practicality that aims to offer those buyers considering a minivan or SUV a sportier and more attractive alternative.

With a design that brings to mind a combination of the woody wagons and panel delivery vans that plied America’s roads in the 1950s and 60s, the Flex stands out from the crowd of visually bland crossovers and ties in with Ford’s strong styling heritage.

One of the characteristics that make the 2010 Flex even more compelling is the availability of Ford’s new EcoBoost drivetrain. More than just marketing hype, the EcoBoost engine represents a serious leap forward in terms of both power and efficiency. The initial idea from Ford behind the EcoBoost concept was to create an engine that would offer a level of power equivalent to a V8, yet at the same time, consume only as much fuel as a V6. While at first this might have seemed like an impossible task, Ford engineers realized that the answer to their problem lay in the field of turbocharging. At its core, a turbocharger allows a smaller displacement engine to produce significant power by cramming as much air into it as possible. This extra air allows for more efficient use of fuel and by extension, better horsepower at a reduced rate of gas consumption.

The 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost makes use of two turbochargers feeding a 3.5-liter V6. Thanks to the extra grunt afforded by the turbos, the engine is capable of producing 355 hp and 350 lb/ft of torque. When combined with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, the hefty Flex can launch itself to 60 mph in around seven seconds, which is impressive for a vehicle of this size. Fuel mileage for this powerful crossover is rated at 16 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg during highway cruising, which is head and shoulders above full-size SUV’s such as the Chevrolet Suburban and the Dodge Durango.

Buyers concerned about the potential for turbo lag to intrude on their spirited driving have no need for concern. The Flex boost kicks in at a relatively low 1,500 rpm, and the transmission features paddleshifters mounted on the steering wheel for greater control over the powerband. The Flex with EcoBoost is also capable of towing up to 4,500 pounds and is equipped with a trailer sway control system for additional peace of mind when handling a heavy load. This places it in another league entirely when compared against even the most popular minivans currently available.

The 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost doesn’t just come out on top in terms of power, fuel efficiency and towing. It is also a very comfortable and capable people mover. The Flex can seat up to seven passengers with access to the rear-most seats facilitated by a power folding second row that moves out of the way at the touch of a button. With both sets of rear seats out of the picture, the Flex’s interior reveals its cavernous cargo capacity with room for 83.2 cubic feet of gear in total.

The EcoBoost drivetrain can be ordered with either the SEL or Limited editions of the Flex. The SEL’s passenger compartment is well equipped with dual-zone air conditioning, leather heated seats, wood trim and an MP3-capable stereo system. Stepping up to the Flex Limited throws in such luxuries as a power liftgate, footrests for second-row passengers, perforated leather hides for first- and second-row seats and Ford’s exclusive SYNC entertainment and communications system. HID headlights and puddle lamps attached to the doors round out the list of standard features on the Limited. Optional equipment includes a refrigerated second-row center console, a full Towing Package, Ford’s multi-panel glass Vista roof and a DVD entertainment center.

The 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost is at the forefront of a new breed of crossover vehicles, a vehicle that offers many of the capabilities found in large SUVs, yet doesn’t penalize drivers with the handling and fuel mileage deficiencies associated with truck-based platforms. The Flex manages to combine great performance, unique styling and unmatched practicality into one very efficient and technologically advanced package. One test drive is sure to convince you.

Don’t be surprised if, while looking closely at the Ford Flex, you catch a glimpse of something beyond a uniquely styled, highly versatile crossover. You just might be looking through a window back in time.

Ford’s leadership as a family vehicle innovator has touched many lives over the years. The Flex continues that tradition for a new generation. This time, you and your passengers will benefit from safety, comfort and onboard entertainment not possible in decades past.

If you grew up in the 1980s or before, chances are pretty good that the family vehicle you remember was a station wagon. There’s one wagon name that likely springs to mind before others: Country Squire. That was the full-size Ford, the big, roomy wagon with the faux wood trim outside and space for the whole family inside.

If yours was not a “Ford family,” maybe you had a friend with a Country Squire and rode in it from time to time. Ford offered “Squire” versions of all its wagon models, from compact to full-size. The “Squire” badge meant more than the faux wood paneling; it also brought a feeling of value, style and comfort.

High tech? For the times, yes. Ford revolutionized wagon versatility in 1966 with the Magic Door Tailgate. With innovative side and bottom hinges, it could be lowered like a conventional tailgate or opened like a door. Nobody else offered it, and it was still on the last Country Squire in 1991.

If you were a child in the 60s or 70s, you might today look enviously at the onboard entertainment features available in the Flex. In a Country Squire, the side-facing third-row seats were a favorite with kids, but entertainment was the magnetic checkerboard set that Ford offered for the fold-down table between them.

Who would have dreamed of watching movies in the car back then? Today, the Flex offers two different DVD entertainment systems.

You were lucky if your old family wagon had an AM/FM stereo or a “tape deck.” The Flex offers a Sony premium audio system that rocks out with 390 watts playing through 10 speakers, plus an in-dash six-disc CD changer, MP3 capability, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio with a complimentary six-month subscription.

Don’t forget SYNC®, Ford’s in-car voice-activated communications system that allows you to operate most popular MP3 players, Bluetooth-enabled phones and flash drives by using simple voice commands. Now SYNC includes 911 Assist™ and a Vehicle Health Report feature.

Some old wagons did have an in-car voice-activated communications system – a dad assuring the kids that, yes, “We’re almost there.” Maybe he wasn’t always inclined to want to pull over and ask for directions. In the Flex, the available navigation system takes care of that.

The family wagon might not have been the car you wanted to cruise around in when you first got your driver’s license, but it did take you on all those family vacations. Maybe it hauled a dorm room’s worth of your “stuff” to college.

The Flex continues that tradition with ample room and comfort for seven and, with the second and third seat rows folded, up to 83 cubic feet of cargo space. That old Country Squire was big, but the Flex offers more flexibility…and more luxury.

Heading out for any destination is more convenient with the Flex’s available class-exclusive fridge, which cools and freezes; and SIRIUS Travel Link™, which among other things allows you to get real-time traffic and weather and check gas prices at 120,000 gas stations across the country. Now that’s a feature the old Country Squire could have really used! Achieving the Flex’s 24 mpg highway fuel economy was simply not possible in one of the classic wagons.

With standard Advance Trac® traction control or available all-wheel drive, Flex keeps going in weather that might have sidelined the old wagon. Plus, with a smooth V6, six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel independent suspension, it’s far much more enjoyable to drive. That’s one reason the Flex landed on Automobile magazine’s 2009 All-Stars list.

So, go ahead, take a long look at the Flex. You just might catch a glimpse of some great memories – including those yet to come.