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!  

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.

As I exited the giant hydraulic egg, Mike Blommer of Ford’s safety simulation team was shaking his head. "No one’s ever done that before. No one’s ever kept reading the numbers while braking." I had just successfully avoided a collision while reading flashing numbers off a screen mounted near the shifter of the TaurusX that serves as the cockpit of the only motion-equipped driving simulator in the US. The VIRtual Test Track EXperience (VIRTTEX) is a test lab and proving ground for development of Ford’s driver interaction systems used for active safety. One of the outcomes of Ford’s research into drowsy and distracted drivers is the haptic seat in the simulator—haptic is the Greek root for touch. I liked the seatbelt tugs and steering wheel vibration that mimics rumble strips. However, the vibrating seat cushion (happy seat?) was not my cup of tea. Check out the video of my simulator experience. And see more pics and technical details after the jump.

Continue reading "Ford VIRTTEX Driving Simulator" »

"Red Light!" The Ford Flex yelled at me as I pushed it toward the intersection of Village and Military Streets, right in the heart of the Ford Research and Engineering complex in Dearborn, MI. I was deliberately charging the light to see how the car, equipped with a Smart Intersection receiver, would react. I got the verbal assault, got the point, and did my best imitation of a panic stop. The intersection of the future is here, and it talks to cars that know how to listen. My Flex listened up good, getting the yellow light timing information that warned of an imminent red, and my lane position from the adaptive GPS. Kind of scary in a big brother way, but pretty damn cool when you think about it. The off-the-shelf GPS systems used by this technology may pave the way to self-updating navi systems, and the infrastructure-to-car Wi-Fi will make for serious mobile networking. More details after the jump.

Continue reading "The Intersection Of The Future Is Here" »

Since its introduction as the Fairlane concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, I’ve been in love with the Ford Flex. And my impressions were reinforced this past January when I got some quality, stationary seat time at the Consumer Electronics Show auditioning its Sony 7.1 Surround Sound 7.1 audio system. I came away impressed by the quality of materials in the cabin and how big it felt. I felt that Ford, once known as the "Wagonmaster"—because after all, that’s what the Flex is, a traditional station wagon updated for duty in the 21st Century—had an absolute home run on their hands.

Continue reading "2009 Ford Flex: Crossover, Minivan, SUV, Station Wagon, or All Four?" »