By DUB Magazine

DUB Magazine

When Mike West of Eclipse Car Audio was deciding on what vehicle they would use to showcase their newest multi-media products at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, they once again turned to Rick Bottom Designs (Mendota, Illinois).

Eclipse created and introduced the concept of an integrated navigation and mobile entertainment product at CES in 2004, and they have continued to innovate this category, which is why they wanted a vehicle as innovative in their booth. Bottom was quick to suggest using the hot, new 2009 Ford Flex and West agreed. Continue reading at DUB Magazine

This was one of the most brutal beatdowns in recent memory. The Flex murdered the Pilot by a 5-to-1 ratio in last week’s Showroom Showdown. Ouch!  

Want a spacious, AWD family hauler and have a bit over $30k to spend? Well, here are two great options. Which would you choose?

The silent auction will be benefiting a terrific cause—scholarships for young people pursuing automotive careers—but it’s kind of too bad that bidding is only open to show attendees. Besides this awesomely tricked-out Flex, other up-for-auction grabbables include a package trip to next February’s NASCAR race in Fontana, and reserved seating at the Jay Leno show. Details at the SEMA site.

"Do not paint or modify the vehicle," the letter from Ford admonished. Pity, because if I was keeping this Flex, I’d be going to town on it. Ford lent me the Flex for a week so I could get a solid feel for the car that I think is going to be the next big thing in the modification scene. It got a ton of attention on the road everywhere I took it, and quite a few people wanted to see the inside. My verdict: I love it! My Flex had the cool parts of a big luxury SUV, like every option imaginable (skip the fridge, don’t skip the well-integrated navi) and tons of space to stretch out in. The low-slung chassis gives the Flex the good manners of a highway cruiser and the low stepout height I crave. I also got 17.1mpg city and 23.4mpg highway over almost 1000 logged miles, versus the EPA rating of 16/22. Since I can’t play with the real thing, I’ll be doing a virtual trick-out of the Ford Flex over the next couple of weeks via Photoshop and some cool details I’ve picked up from Ford’s EcoBoost engine team. But first, read more about my week with the Flex after the jump.

Continue reading "Flex Time" »

Unlike those beverage-cooling cupholders that run off the a/c system, Ford’s new in-car fridge has its own compressor and claims to be able to lower the temperature of foods and beverages up to 41 degrees. Though it’s got a pretty small capacity, it’ll at least be able to keep those summer popsicles from turning to goo on the drive home, and to chill that first six-pack during the long, creeping line into the NASCAR infield. Problem is, you may have to buy a Flex to get one. I’m not the most gadgety person, so I’m not sure how Ford’s integrated fridge stacks up against those thermo-electric aftermarket units that plug into the cigarette lighter. Anybody tried one?