Click Here to Comment at The Motor Portal Blog!!       FLEX QUALITY STARTS AT BUFFALO STAMPING PLANT   New state-of-the-art measuring machines use lasers and sensors to ensure world-class fit and finish in the 2009 Ford Flex.   The distinctive styling and quiet ride of the 2009 Ford Flex begins with the sheet metal from Buffalo (N.Y.) Stamping Plant. Buffalo Stamping supplies 80 percent of the sheet metal for Flex, equaling 32,250 tons of steel annually. New state-of-the-art measuring machines use lasers and sensors to ensure world-class fit and finish. BUFFALO, N.Y., May 28, 2008 – When the 2009 Ford Flex arrives in dealership showrooms this summer, customers will enjoy a quiet, yet dynamic ride in one of the most stylish vehicles on the road today – thanks in large part to Ford’s Buffalo Stamping Plant. “Our stamping operations play a key role in delivering the exceptional level of quality customers will find in the Ford Flex,” said Paul Kosaian, director, Ford Stamping Business Unit Operations. “The sheet metal sets the stage for the smooth styling, a dynamic ride and an incredibly quiet interior in this beautiful new vehicle.” The sheet metal plays a major role in the vehicle’s world-class fit and finish, which contributes to the quiet ride by eliminating wind noise and squeaks and rattles. And at Buffalo Stamping, that sheet metal is nothing if not precise. For Ford Flex, Buffalo stamps 37 parts, equaling 32,250 tons of steel annually. The parts include roof, hood, doors, fenders, liftgate and many other structural underbody components that create the vehicle’s body shell. The parts are shipped to Oakville (Ontario) Assembly Plant where the vehicle is assembled, along with Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. According to a recent quality survey, Ford Edge ranked best in the medium crossover segment against the competition for having the fewest sheet metal concerns such as door opening/closing efforts, fit and finish issues and dings and dents. The April survey, called U.S. Global Quality Research Study, was conducted by RDA Group for Ford. “We do in-station quality checks where we’re constantly monitoring the surface of the outer skin,” said Plant Manager Dave Buzo. “We’re also gathering dimensional data on an on-going basis.” The goal is to produce consistent panels with no variability. If the data indicate variability in the stamped panels, operators and engineers make necessary adjustments to eliminate it. Flex’s distinctive styling, namely the signature door grooves, offered the plant an interesting challenge, Buzo said. “The grooves, or character lines, made it critical for every door panel to be dimensionally perfect because the customer’s eyes will detect an inconsistency,” he said. “The more that Ford moves to vehicle designs that have lines and features going from panel to panel, the more it emphasizes the importance of how well our stamping plants need to execute.” The advanced technology at Buffalo also contributes to the plant’s productivity improvement. Two years ago, Ford invested $214 million in Buffalo, installing a 4,000-ton Schuler press and 120 dies and 10 subassembly lines. The new press, one of the largest in the industry, stamps parts at 16 strokes per minute versus 10 with a conventional press. Buffalo Stamping Plant opened in 1950 and employs approximately 850 hourly employees and 103 salaried employees. While stamping for the Ford Flex will not result in new hires, some overtime is expected throughout the summer. In addition to supporting the Oakville Assembly Plant, Buffalo stamps parts for the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis at St. Thomas (Ontario) Assembly Plant, Ford Ranger at Twin Cities Assembly Plant, and the F-250 at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.         2009 FORD FLEX: BUILT IN CANADA CROSSOVER REDEFINES TRAVEL FOR MODERN NORTH AMERICAN FAMILIES Contact(s):     On Sale:  The 2009 Ford Flex goes on sale this summer.  It will be manufactured at Ford's Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada.   Crossover Leadership:  From its bold design and striking interior to its segment-exclusive features, Ford Flex builds on the success of the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, also built at the Oakville Assembly Complex.   Cool Features, Built Right In:  A class-exclusive refrigerated 2nd row centre console, capless fuel system and available Multi-Panel Vista RoofTM are three more reasons Flex stands out in the crowd of crossovers.   Leading Technology:  Voice recognition, a 23,000-song personal juke box and programmable ambient lighting become realities with Flex's suite of innovations, including Ford SyncTM, the exclusive hands-free, in-car communications and entertainment system.    Safe and Secure: Standard front-and-side-seat air bags, a three-row Safety Canopy® side air curtain, Advance Trac® with RSC (Roll Stability Control) and an availablerear back-up camera offer security customers desire.   Versatility Defined:Strong engineering – including a proven 3.5-litre V-6, a fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission, available intelligent all-wheel-drive and uncompromising road manners – power the new Flex. Ford Motor Company redefines the modern North American family journey with the 2009 Ford Flex, a new full-size crossover that sets a new standard for style, features, functionality and comfort in the industry's hottest segment. The Ford Flex will give customers the family-vehicle alternative they've long wanted but couldn't find in showrooms.  The Ford Flex's cutting-edge technology, segment-exclusive features and distinctive design underscore Ford's leadership in a fastest growing segment that's redefining family mobility. On sale this summer, Flex is arriving as crossovers continue to outpace even the remarkable growth of SUVs during the 1990s.  The success of our all-new Edge indicates the strong demand consumers have expressed for crossovers. Ford is well-positioned to offer customers what they want with the freshest crossover line-up in the industry. The Ford Flex simply builds on that, providing customers even more choices of distinct, expressive crossovers. Redefining the Modern Family Journey Bold, expressive design and exclusive innovations provide Flex the features and character that signal a new direction for modern crossovers. The Ford Flex has the power to move people emotionally as well as physically. This crossover has been created for people who know it's the journey – not the destination – that matters most.  Its upright, upscale design, versatility and clever touches allow Ford Flex to stand out in an increasingly crowded sea of crossovers. The Ford Flex brings to production the Ford Fairlane concept vehicle that turned heads at the 2005 North American International Auto Show with its distinctive profile, purposeful stance and machined character lines, running the length of the side panels and contrasting white roof. Flex signature exterior design touches include: Ford's signature chrome horizontal three-bar grille, which builds on the family "face" that makes Ford Edge and Taurus X crossovers stand out on the road.  The grille is encapsulated into a single graphic element that also includes a step-up headlamp design with available HID headlamps. This front-end graphic wraps around the sides of the vehicle, accentuating Flex's width and solid stance.   An all-black greenhouse – a Ford first – that visually integrates the body with the available two-tone roof.  Customers can pair a White Suede or Silver roof option with one of Flex's 10 available exterior colours – or choose a body-colour roof.   Standard 18-inch or available 19-inch bright aluminum wheels that plant the crossover firmly on the road.   Flex's solid stance helps make it surefooted on the road, while entry and exit is easy for passengers.  That's also owing to Flex's integrated rocker panel design, which eliminates the need for customers to step over the rocker panel when getting in and out of the vehicle.   Edge-inspired tail lamps, outlined in chrome.  Limited models have LED tail lamps and a brushed satin finish metal appliqué spanning the centre of the liftgate. Raising the Bar on Interior Quality Ford Flex also delivers textures, features and functionality – including segment exclusives – that create an ideal atmosphere for discerning customers.  Flex's interior provides a level of craftsmanship inspired by fashion and furniture design, with modern materials and soft touch points.  Customers will appreciate accents including tweed-like fabric used for the base-level SE's seats, with inserts delivered in a miniature hounds tooth.  Meanwhile, the SEL series features a soft insert with a more pronounced grain on the seat bolsters, while the Limited features unique diamond-pattern perforations on the leather seat inserts, resembling fine, hand-tooling.  Contrast stitching is available on leather seats and the beautifully finished, more ergonomic centre console. Cool Features, Built Right In Flex's interior also is set apart from other crossovers, thanks to clever touches including: An available class-exclusive refrigerator, mounted between the second-row Captain's chairs.  Unlike competitors' systems that merely keep cold beverages cool, the Flex's compressor-driven refrigerator can cool up to seven 12-oz. cans, four half-litre bottles or two 20-oz bottles from room temperature to 41 degrees in just over two-and-a-half hours. That's 40 percent faster than a standard home refrigerator.   A Multi-Panel Vista RoofTM.  It not only brightens the interior, it gives Flex occupants seated in each row their own special skylight. The front panel is the size of a traditional power moon roof, while the rear is divided into three specific areas – two openings over the second row seats and one large opening over the third row.  Each "skylight" is recessed into the headliner and comes with a manual sunshade.   Second-row best-in-class legroom that includes comforts such as class-exclusive adjustable and removable footrests. The Flex's second-row seats also fold and tumble to provide access to the third-row and fold flat into the floor for added cargo space. An available one-touch system folds and tumbles the second row.   Seven-colour programmable ambient lighting.  Flex owners can choose interior lighting to fit their mood with this unique feature.  With a flip of a dashboard switch, colour lighting can be selected for two LEDs mounted on the front console and two mounted to flood the footwells.  Two additional LEDS light up the rings around the Flex's cupholders.   Capless fuel filler system, another segment exclusive.  This feature not only eliminates the likelihood of forgetting to put the gas cap back on after fueling, it also saves time by doing away with unscrewing and replacing a fuel filler cap.  Flex owners also will like its environmental benefits, as the capless fuel filler provides a much better seal than a cap, cutting down the emissions of smog-forming vapors. Sophistication through Innovation The Flex's sophistication also extends to its innovative technology, with features such as: Ford SyncTM, the industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system.  This available system fully-integrates mobile phones and digital media players into the vehicle. The Sync in-car communications system was developed in collaboration with Microsoft and is offered exclusively on Ford, and Lincoln products.   Ford's next-generation navigation system, featuring voice recognition technology and more than 150 hours of music storage.  Users can browse the music jukebox via touch-screen or by using voice recognition.  They can also create custom play lists and burn CDs for storage on the system's hard drive.  The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, eight-inch touch-screen display.  Premium AM/FM/MP3 audio systems also are available with a six-CD changer, auxiliary jack to accommodate MP3 players and the latest generation DVD entertainment system with a large eight-inch, drop-down screen.   Ford's exclusive second-generation door-entry keypad.  Housed within the vehicle's black B pillars, the flat-panel, backlit keypad eliminates the need for door-mounted buttons and gives customers the ability to unlock doors, disarm the alarm system and disable the auto-lock function by entering a five-digit code. Quiet, Confident Ride without Sacrificing Capability The Ford Flex's chassis was designed to provide a spectrum of capabilities, including more than 1814 kg (4,000 pounds) of towing capacity, while still delivering the quiet, confident ride that crossover customers demand. This included a new independent rear suspension (IRS) with unique geometry that allows for better tuning to deliver a broad range of capabilities without compromising the interior package. Interior noise was minimized by using sound deadening materials in the dash panel, headliner and under the carpeting. A six-millimeter thick windshield helps reduce wind and powertrain noise, and specially selected tires make road noise nearly unnoticeable. Powerful V-6 and the confidence of AWD Flex is powered by Ford's 3.5-litre V-6, and is mated to a fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission. The powertrain is expected to deliver more than 260 horsepower, 240 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel economy numbers on par with other full-size crossovers. Engineers tweaked the sound induction system to deliver a refined yet powerful engine note. Flex's available intelligent all-wheel-drive system is tuned to provide confident driving in all-weather conditions. Intelligent AWD uses an active, on-demand electronic centre coupler to allocate a precise amount of torque from front to rear, up to 100 percent to either axle.  This system can also anticipate wheel slip before it happens.   Safety Features Customers Desire In addition to a body structure that has been optimized for safety with side intrusion beams in the doors, strategic use of high-strength boron steel and specially designed, energy-absorbing interior door trim, the Flex also comes equipped with safety features that reflect our focus on the customer.    They include: AdvanceTrac® with RSCTM (Roll Stability Control). This system can predict a vehicle's path, using a sensor to measure oversteer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle's speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses wheel slip or the loss of traction, the system applies braking where needed to keep the car safely on its intended path.   Ford's Personal Safety System. This suite of safety features includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, thorax side air bags for the front seat occupants, safety belt pretensioners, seat weight sensing system for the passenger seat and crash severity sensing.   Ford's exclusive Safety Canopy® side curtain air bag. Designed for all three rows, this feature utilizes roll-fold technology to efficiently deploy the air bag when an occupant's head is resting against the side glass. In the event of a crash, the roll-fold bag will deploy between the occupants head and the side of the vehicle.   Ford's BeltMinderTM safety belt reminder for driver and front passenger. In addition, Flex comes equipped with standard features, such as child safety locks on the rear doors, the trunk LATCH system and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.   Available rear back-up camera. Mounted in the bottom of Flex's liftgate badge, the camera is activated when the vehicle is shifted in reverse, giving the driver a view of what's behind the vehicle. The system works in conjunction with the vehicle's reverse sensing system and uses the navigation screen as a display.       PROVOCATIVE FORD FLEX DARES TO BE DIFFERENT   The distinctive design of the new 2009 Ford Flex provokes and polarizes opinions. With its signature side grooves, all-black greenhouse and distinct roof, it is like no other vehicle on the road. Surprising space and comfort, upscale details and features, and clever flexibility combine to give Flex a contemporary interior environment under the available multi-panel Vista Roof™. Flex is full of class-leading technologies, including the latest Ford SYNC™, voice-activated navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™, new premium sound from Sony and innovative, surprise-and-delight features like EasyFuel™ capless refueling and an exclusive refrigerated console. Flex will be available at Ford dealers this summer. NEW YORK, March 19, 2008 – Now it’s safe to add daring and intriguing to your list of adjectives describing Ford vehicles – the new Flex is here. Flex is a vehicle that dares to be different. Its contemporary design provokes strong opinions. Its new technologies are intelligent and engaging. All in all, Ford Flex is like no other vehicle on the road today, and that may mean it’s not for everyone. “Flex is provocative, no doubt about it,” said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. “The Flex is like nothing else on the road, and it defies being categorized. I have a feeling that Flex is going to appeal to a group of customers who feel absolutely the same way about themselves.” Ford is not predicting sales or trying to define a profile for the Flex target buyer but is confident that this “white space” vehicle’s distinctiveness will have strong allure. Marketing efforts will focus on the fascination of a stylish vehicle that communicates more intrigue than definition.     Flexing its Character From its planted stance and broad shoulders – flanked by signature side grooves – to its all-black greenhouse and distinctive multi-panel Vista Roof, Ford designers have created a provocative vehicle. In a world of automobiles that are easy to categorize, Flex is difficult to define and polarizing. Embracing that enigmatic nature was the key breakthrough in the design process, according to Peter Horbury, executive director, Design, The Americas. “Flex is a radical departure,” Horbury says. “At first we were uncomfortable with the way Flex could polarize, but its ability to compel an opinion, good or bad, was fascinating. It inspired us forward with courage to create a breakthrough design.” Flex’s prominent stance is a key design element setting it apart from all other vehicles. Park Ford Flex next to an SUV or a typical crossover. The proportions are immediately surprising. Capping the horizontal design cues in bold contrast is the unique roof of the new Ford Flex. Available in two colors, White Suede or Brilliant Silver, the roof contrasts stylishly with the Flex exterior paint palette. “The all-black greenhouse allowed us to do the complementing color roof,” said Flex Designer Rich Gressens. “If we had body colored pillars and clear glass, it would have been difficult to do, but it all ties in together.” The Flex’s multi-panel Vista Roof adds even more distinction. Available on Flex SEL and Flex Limited models as an option, the Vista Roof has four glass panels to provide abundant natural light to occupants of all three rows of passengers. The forward panel is a moonroof that opens to let in fresh air. ,. Style, Luxury and Space for Individuality The exterior design of the Flex creates interest, but it’s the surprising space and comfort for seven, the elegant, upscale style and clever flexibility of the interior that will magnetically keep people in the new Flex. “We wanted the interior to be a place of contemporary, relaxed style – somewhere you could feel very comfortable, yet involved and connected,” said Anthony Prozzi, chief interior designer. “The interior presents an environment that is radically different,” he added. “You’ll notice the improvement in materials, the appointments and the general appearance of the car. Even the way you interact with the car will be different because of all the new technology we’re introducing.” Smart Features for the Demanding Lifestyle Flex is packed with innovative, class-leading technology solutions that seek to empower, not overpower the driver. Ford SYNC™, a Ford-exclusive, voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system offers even more functionality for the 2009 model year, with 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Reports. SIRIUS Travel Link that when combined with voice activated navigation will provide users with a suite of data services including real-time traffic, coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations. Voice-activated navigation that integrates several functions, including destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use system with information displayed on a 8-inch touch-screen display. Sony audio system that features 700 watts of power, 5.1 surround sound and 10 speakers is certified by Sony to deliver a unique, rich listening experience. EasyFuel™ capless fuel filler. This exclusive feature saves time by replacing a fuel-filler cap and provides a better seal, reducing the release of smog-forming vapors. Class-exclusive refrigerated console. Mounted between the second-row captain’s chairs, the available compressor-driven refrigerator can cool up to seven 12-ounce cans, four half-liter bottles or two 20-ounce bottles from room temperature to 41 degrees in a little more than two-and-a-half hours – 40 percent faster than a standard home refrigerator. Ambient Lighting. Flex owners can program any of seven different interior lighting colors to fit their mood. With this feature, customers can change the lighting on two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the front console, footwells and around the two front cupholders. Reverse camera system. Available as an option, this system displays the area behind the vehicle on the navigation system screen when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. The camera is mounted in the bottom of Flex’s liftgate badge. Flex is powered by Ford’s award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering 262 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, mated to a fuel-efficient, advanced 6-speed automatic transmission that uses a wide 6.04:1 gear ratio to deliver good fuel economy and performance. Flex’s available intelligent all-wheel-drive system is tuned to provide confident driving in all weather conditions. By constantly monitoring and predicting traction, the system can deliver torque to all four wheels, even before the wheels begin to slip. An active, on-demand electronic center coupler can allocate a precise amount of torque from front to rear – up to 100 percent to either axle. Paired with standard Advance Trac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control), intelligent AWD can transfer torque front to rear and side to side. Manufactured to the highest quality standards at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, Flex will be available at dealers this summer.