Ford’s goal: to produce a family hauler that won’t look and feel as such.
To carry out the goal, the Dearborn-based automaker is overhauling its haulers to make them too cool and hip as well as to make aficionados hesitant to call them ordinary.
While the FooseFlex and the Flex² are the customized versions of the Ford Flex crossover. They are equipped with Katzkin leather seats, 22-inch wheels, brandywine paint and spoilers, and other striking auto accessories and amenities. The customized family haulers made their world debut this morning in Las Vegas at the annual Specialty Manufacturers Market Associations show, reported The Detroit News.
According to the automaker, the FooseFlex was designed by hot rod king Chip Foose. The Flex² showcases the talents of rap artist and car enthusiast Funkmaster Flex. It was further divulged that both crossovers reach out to diverse American lifestyles: one suburban and the other city.
A buzz has surrounded the Ford Flex since a production model debuted at the New York auto show in April. “Since (Foose and Flex) saw (the Ford Flex) at the New York auto show, they’ve been hounding us to have a chance to work on them,” said Kate Pearce, Flex brand plan manager.
“This vehicle really resonates with people,” said Pearce, adding that Ford wanted to keep that buzz alive by showing customized versions of the Flex at the SEMA event, which begins today and runs through Friday.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to be a part it; it’s going to be a killer,” said Flex, who created a street cruiser with a luxurious interior. “This thing is going to be a hit.”
Design time reduced
Realizing a designer’s vision in weeks rather than months could have been a challenge. Foose and Flex had about six weeks to work on handmade prototypes, unlike the six months some customizers get to spend on production models for SEMA, said Melvin Betancourt, Ford’s design manager for trucks.
It proved to be more than enough time for Flex. “I didn’t need that much; I had the photograph of the vehicle in my mind,” Flex said. “I already knew what I wanted to do.”
The urban Flex
What he did was transform a chic family hauler into a low-riding modern street cruiser. Flex said he thought about how people in the city would want to use it in the urban setting, prompting him to lower the vehicle and pay special attention to the interior. “Nothing is over the top,” Flex added.
vMany of the parts Flex used in the vehicle are already in stock at Ford or at aftermarket companies. The interior of the vehicle features alligator print seat covers by Katzkin, Invision DVD headrests and Funkmaster Flex floor mats. The brandywine-colored body and silver roof add to the modern look of the Flex².
The suburbia Foose
Foose, on the other hand, took a different strategy. The FooseFlex exudes a more suburban feel, designed as something a family might take to the Hamptons for the weekend. The vehicle boasts of a sporty look and chrome accents to add sparkle to its hot rod roots.
“I think each vehicle brings a life of its own,” Betancourt said. “Both of these guys are very passionate about vehicles, and that passion really comes through.”
The Flex could help Ford grab a bigger chunk of the growing crossover market, said Erich Merkle, an analyst at the Grand Rapids-based consulting firm IRN Inc. “Leaving the minivan segment may turn out to be a good move by Ford,” he added. “The crossover segment is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. Building the Flex² and FooseFlex also is a good way to attract younger buyers who are less likely to opt for the utility of a minivan. This is a good way to attract the aftermarket companies to build for the Flex.”
Both vehicles won’t hit dealerships until next summer.
