Over the last few weeks, I was able to get into two crossovers with upgraded engines. While both offered more horsepower, I wasn’t completely floored by either, and it begs the question of whether they’re worth the additional cost compared to their basic offerings.
In this week’s podcast, editors Joe Wiesenfelder and Kelsey Mays are joined again by Ask.cars.com’s Joe Bruzek. They talk about the V-6 Chevy Camaro and how the less powerful version of the muscle car handles itself. Ford’s family-friendly Flex has a new twin-turbo V-6 with a lot more power, which also makes it more driver-friendly. Finally, the three discuss a question from Ask.cars.com.
Download the podcast via iTunes here or listen in a browser here.
Forty years ago, in what arguably remains mankind’s most significant technological achievement since the invention of the car engine, Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface. Ever since then we’ve pondered other not-so-significant challenges with the question: If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we … ? As in, if we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we keep our cereal from getting soggy? Or, if we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we buy a family-hauler that both mom and dad can enjoy driving?
Ford has just answered that last question.
I was reading one of my favorite blogs — GeekDad — the other day and saw a post by the editor talking about the new car he’d just bought, which has Ford’s Sync system, and how he was testing it out. Of course, being all geek-focused, editor Ken Denmead didn’t even mention which Ford he had just bought. I contacted him and asked if he wanted to share his experience. The 40-year-old father of two from Fremont, Calif., was happy to oblige.
KickingTires: Why did you decide to buy a car in this down economy? Needed a replacement? Needed to upsize?
Ken: My wife's car — an '02 Saturn Vue, which was her commute car and the de facto family car — had suffered through the first seven years of both our boys' lives, plus acted as transportation for two dogs who steadfastly refused to stay behind any kind of pet barrier. With 110K miles and an interior that looked like the inside of a concert hall after a Gallagher show, it was no longer in a respectable state. We came into a little surprise money at the right time and went looking for deals.
I've been a fan of the Flex ever since it won top honors on our
Vacation Blogging trip last summer. My family and I found it roomy,
nicely appointed and filled with lots of tech features to make long
drives more than bearable. That drove my interest in the Lincoln MKT,
and I have to say that, for two cars that share the same platform, they
sure look very different from each other.
Ford will show the 2010 Taurus for the first time this morning, but it has already dropped the veil on one of the most anticipated engines in years. Seriously. The new 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6, called EcoBoost, will be used in cars, crossovers and, in the future, even trucks. Power numbers for the first application of the engine, in the Ford Flex, are 355 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.
Mileage is estimated at 19/24 mpg city/highway. That’s pretty amazing when you consider that that surpasses every standard V-6 in the segment — see chart below — in terms of fuel efficiency, adding nearly 80 hp. Wow. Not only that, the EcoBoost only comes in Flexes equipped with all-wheel drive. We still have to confirm that these mileage numbers are for an all-wheel drive Flex, which would make the mileage numbers simply astounding. And yes, it uses regular gas. Not premium.
The Ecoboost V-6 will be available in the 2010 Ford Flex first, going on sale mid-year, followed by the 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover to be revealed tomorrow. The Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS will also receive the engine.
While GM’s financing offers were given a nice boost by a federal bailout of GMAC, Ford — which didn’t get any federal funds — is left to offer more cash-back incentives on its products. The company is extending its Employee Pricing Plus sale through Jan. 12, one week longer than it had originally planned.
Offers include a $3,377 discount on the new Ford Flex crossover, and $2,735 on a 2009 Focus, which makes its starting price less than $13,000. Lincoln and Mercury models are also included in the sale.
According to Ford’s consumer website, its latest incentives are good only through Nov. 17 or 18, depending on the region. This is an unusual amount of time for rebates to run, so we’d expect bigger discounts or a specific themed sale later in the month that will last through the holidays. For the next two weeks, though, there are some decent savings on 2009 and 2008 models. The new 2009 Ford Flex is still carrying $2,500 cash back. A new 2009 Ford Fusion — you can read about the upcoming 2010 Fusion here — has up to $3,500 cash back depending on your region. We list the top cash-back deals below. Check out Ford’s site to see the latest deals in your area.
Ford’s stylish new crossover, the Flex, has received its fair share of buzz from the automotive press, and its fair share of praise (and some criticism) from our reviewers. However, sales so far have not been stellar. Projected annual sales are slated at under 30,000 units, rather than the 70,000-100,000 units predicted by Ford — though that prediction came before the economy fell apart. That bit of bad news has led to the Flex receiving a significant $2,500 incentive in most regions.
Using Ford’s regional special offers search, we were able to find $2,500 cash back on the Ford Flex in the Midwest, the South, the Northeast and Southern California. In Texas, Ford is offering $2,000 cash back. We found some areas in the Pacific Northwest that qualified for the $2,500 offer and others that did not. To see if the Flex offer applies to you, check out your zip code at Ford’s site.
The Flex starts at $28,295. So, $2,500 off? Not too shabby.
2009 Lincoln MKS: The all-new sedan’s styling is a hit, and the MKS delivers on its good looks with a lot of value for its $37,655 starting price tag, reviewer David Thomas says.
2009 Hyundai Genesis: Hyundai does the impossible, wowing senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder with its first foray into the “luxury” car market.
2009 Ford Flex: The large crossover offers lots of legroom in its spacious cabin, but Joe says the Flex is missing some key interior features.
View and share all of Cars.com’s videos via YouTube.
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!