Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

VEHICLE PREVIEW 2009 Ford Flex
by Joe LaMuraglia, gaywheels.com
2008-07-23

This article shared 4935 times since Wed Jul 23, 2008
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Ford set out to re-create the family vehicle and, from a design point of view, they've certainly done their homework. This vehicle is totally unique in a sea of 'me-too' crossover vehicles. The two-box shape and unique exterior design details give us a modern interpretation of the classic 'woody' wagon. The availability of a contrasting roof color allows you to create your own color combination similar to MINI and the chrome treatment of the grill and tailgate further differentiate it from anything else on the road.

While the exterior gets your attention and makes the Flex easy to find in a parking lot,it is the interior that will please both your eyes and derriére'.

Visually, the instrument panel, center console and materials used are easily the best Ford has ever created. The interior themes were inspired by the fashion background of former clothing designer Anthony Prozzi, who was recently featured on GayWheels.com . The base seat fabric looks like it came from Brooks Brothers and the upgraded leather would look at home on the runways of Paris and Milan. And this from Ford!

Speaking of the seat fabric; those fashionable coverings surround some of the most generous and comfortable perches in autodom. It is one thing to look gorgeous but it is rare to have both eye and butt appeal in one package. Ford has figured it out.

Need to get a way from the hustle and bustle of the city? Spending time in the new 2009 Ford Flex will make you realize how much noise you've put up with in the past. If you've ever used the Bose noise-cancellation headphones, the experience is similar. Extensive use of sound-deadening materials, acoustic glass and attention paid to the 'noise points' around the vehicle make a very quiet vehicle.

We get it, it's pretty. But how does it drive?

There is nothing more disappointing than a good-looking package that lets you down when you open it up. Think about the last person you met online and you know what I am taking about. Luckily the Ford Flex won't remind you of all those dating disasters. It drives and performs as good as it looks. The ride is controlled and 'European' in feel and the 3.5-liter V6 provides spirited, if noisy, performance. In a trip from New York City to Westchester County, NY, the Flex handled the challenging Saw Mill Parkway with ease. Inherent to its boxy design is excellent visibility and its wide stance and long wheelbase deliver a solid, comfortable ride.

Front-wheel drive models are expected to get 17 MPG in the city and 24 on the highway which is about on par with the best in this class. Ford promises a more refined and efficient 'Eco-Boost' turbo engine in the near future which should increase efficiency and rid the Flex from the rough noises at full throttle.

What else can it do?

Two things that differentiate cars in today's market are design and technology. Clearly Ford went a different route with the appearance and they continued that theme with the technology available in the Flex. For starters, you can get the Ford-exclusive SYNC™—a voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows you to control your phone and music. Then there is the available SIRIUS Travel Link that when combined with voice activated navigation displays real-time traffic, weather, fuel price information, sports scores and even movie times for your local theater!

The available technology is not limited to information and entertainment. Ford has done their part to make your life a little easier as well. There is an available refrigerated console between the second row seats that can cool up to seven 12-ounce cans to 41 degrees 40 percent faster than your home fridge. Last but not least, the Flex is equipped with an EasyFuel™ capless fuel filler. This feature replaces a fuel-filler cap and provides a better seal, reducing the release of smog-forming vapors.

Does he have a brother?

So it looks good, knows the importance of quiet time; is a spirited performer and has all the latest gadgets. Sounds like the perfect partner, right? Well, while we know 'he or she' doesn't exist outside of the cineplex, the Ford Flex comes close to a perfect companion in vehicular form.

Does that mean that the Flex is perfect for everyone? Far from it. Similar to our quest for a partner, everyone has different tastes. For example, as good as the Flex is, it can't provide top-down driving for two. However, for those of you that are looking for a six-to-seven-passenger vehicle that has a very distinct look, doesn't feel to need to dress like all the other crossovers and is versatile in its approach to life, you should check out the new Ford Flex.

Visit www.GayWheels.com .


This article shared 4935 times since Wed Jul 23, 2008
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released 2024-03-27
- The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

Charles Busch dishes on life as a storyteller 2023-11-09
- Performer/writer Charles Busch, who recently penned his autobiography, Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy, said that collecting his most precious and salient memories in a book felt "inevitable." "Storytelling is such an essential ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Tyler Perry, marriages and splits, Beyonce, strikes, Sinead tribute 2023-08-04
Videos below - Tyler Perry has offered $100,000 to anyone with information that leads to a conviction in the murder of 24-year-old Black queer musician Josiah "Jonty" Robinson, according to Out. An autopsy concluded that the cause of Robinson's ...


Gay News

Artist Isabella Mellado illuminates the masks within community 2023-06-15
By Jess Savage - Chicago-based artist Isabella Mellado's paintings and sculptures are vibrant, colorful and larger than life. Her work represents autobiographical and allegorical scenes, nearly all of it featuring characters inspired by the ...


Gay News

Board of Commissioners unanimously passes Bodily Autonomy Ordinance Amendment with support of Equality Illinois, ACLU Illinois 2023-05-25
--From a press release - Chicago, Ill. — May 25th 2023 — Today, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed an amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance ensuring the protection of all individual's right to their own bodily autonomy. The ...


Gay News

AUTOS 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz answers the right questions 2022-05-11
- You may think the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz answers questions nobody asked, but if that's true, somebody should have asked. A car-based pickup is not a new idea. Chevrolet and Ford offered the El Camino and ...


Gay News

Cook County state's attorney expunges 15,000+ cannabis convictions 2022-04-20
-- From a press release - CHICAGO - On Friday, April 22, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) will present 214 additional cannabis cases to be automatically expunged, bringing the total to 15,191. The Cannabis Expungement Project nears an end following ...


Gay News

Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place 2022-02-11
- The Chicago Auto Show is back. Following a very scaled-down version that took place last year, the event has returned—although it's not quite as large as the event was before the COVID pandemic. The Chicago Auto ...


Gay News

Chicago Auto Show to take place Feb. 12-21 2022-01-10
- The Chicago Auto Show is slated to return to its traditional February dates: Feb. 12-21 at McCormick Place. The show is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, except for the final day (Presidents Day), ...


Gay News

Now, only five of Chicago's 50 aldermen reject automatic pay raises 2021-09-16
- Forty-five out of 50 Chicago aldermen have opted to accept a 5.5% pay increase in 2022 that will push the highest paid among them to an annual salary of more than $130,000, according to The Chicago Tribune. ...


Gay News

AUTOS 2021 BMW 430i: Hard Top or Soft? 2021-08-06
- This year's BMW 430i xDrive really is the classic sportscar. You can get it as a coupe or as a convertible, the only two trims available. Basically, it's just two doors and you can have it with a year-round hard top ...


Gay News

Chicago Auto Show taking place July 15-19 2021-07-14
- An abridged version of the annual Chicago Auto Show will take place July 15-19 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Dr. The auto show will be one of McCormick Place's first live, in-person events since the ...


Gay News

Pritzker announces $10M vaccination lottery 2021-06-18
- As Illinois continues to lead the Midwest in vaccinating our residents, Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new $10 million "All In for the Win" promotion that will reward vaccinated Illinoisans by automatically entering them into a ...


Gay News

Chicago Auto Show to return to McCormick Place in July 2021-05-04
- On May 4, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined elected officials, tourism backers and labor leaders to announce the return of the annual Chicago Auto Show. The event—the nation's largest and ...


Gay News

THEATER 'A Portrait of My Mother' to start streaming May 9 2021-04-08
- Jarrott Productions will present the world premiere of A Portrait of My Mother, written and performed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia and directed by David R. Jarrott. The autobiographical tribute to Garcia's mother, Maria, begins streaming on ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.