The 2013 Ford Flex Gets Even More Monolithic Front

The Ford Flex was already an imposing vehicle. It is a seven-passenger SUV that looks modern by being so old fashioned. The truck is slab sided and does not really even look like a traditional SUV. It is more similar to a station wagon from the 60s that has been plumped up a and lifted up. Kind of like the average American, I suppose. For 2013, Ford has updated the car's front end to make it even more monolithic. 

The front now is highlighted by two chrome horizontal lines. The lower line is made up of three chrome, horizontal strips in the lower airdam with the foglights like brackets on each side. The larger line is the chrome grill, which is also three chrome strips, but the center strip is an imposing chrome bar that looks like a battering ram. Similar to the foglights, the headlights literally look like brackets on either side of this bar. 

The 2013 Flex is powered by the same engines as last year a 3.5 liter V6 in either turbocharged or naturally aspirated forms. The normally aspirated 3.5 liter V6 has been upgraded for 2013. It produces 285hp, 23 more than last year, and 255 lb-ft of torque, a 7 lb-ft improvement. Fuel economy figures have improved 1mpg to 18mpg city and 25mpg highway. The turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 remains exactly the same for 2013.

All Flex models for 2013 get electric power steering, which gives a 4% improvement on emissions. 

The interior of the Flex also gets some small upgrades for 2013. First, there is the newest version of Ford's MyFord Touch system that is meant to make it easier to use. The system includes two 4.2in screens in the instrument cluster and an 8in screen on the center stack. 

Ford did not announce if the 2013 Flex would have any change in price compared to the 2012 model. It will be available later in 2012.