| A new crossover is on its way, although this may | | | | Mazda truck parts and Mazda truck accessories |
| no longer be surprising since it seems like every | | | | as a subsidiary, said that the sales of crossovers |
| other automaker has a new crossover to present | | | | in the US market are expected to reach three |
| but according to San Antonio Express News this | | | | million units annually by the end of the decade. |
| crossover is quite different. | | | | According to Mark Fields, Ford's President for the |
| The crossover that the San Antonio Express | | | | Americas at the New York introduction, "Flex is |
| News is referring to is none other than the 2009 | | | | another example of Ford creating more of the |
| Ford Flex which was introduced as the first | | | | products that our customers really want. Ford |
| full-size crossover utility vehicle at the New York | | | | intends to define crossover vehicles this decade |
| Auto Show ---and this exactly what makes this | | | | just as we did SUVs in the 1990s." |
| crossover distinct from the rest of its | | | | Last March Ford's crossover sales in the US rose |
| competitors. | | | | to more than 40 percent compared to the same |
| Until today, crossovers have ranged from the | | | | period last year according to the automaker. Ford |
| original mini-sized models such as all-new Ford | | | | also confirms that the production of the |
| Edge, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, Mazda | | | | Expedition will continue even after the Flex arrives. |
| CX-7 and CX-9, and the Suzuki XL-7. For this | | | | However if gasoline prices continuous to increase |
| year the full-size SUVs that are available on the | | | | and consumers would abandon the traditional |
| market are all truck-based models like the | | | | truck style SUVs in favor of crossovers then the |
| Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, | | | | production of the Expedition would then be |
| Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia. | | | | reconsidered. |
| The Flex will help expand Ford's already good | | | | Ford spokesman Harold Allen said, "Expedition |
| selection of crossovers comprising of the | | | | sales actually have been growing the past four |
| compact Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner---both | | | | months. The people who need the Expedition are |
| of which also come in gasoline-electric hybrid | | | | still out there and are still buying it. One reason is |
| versions. Moreover, Ford sells the Edge, based on | | | | the great towing capacity of the Expedition." |
| the chassis of the Fusion midsize sedan, while the | | | | Despite the fact that both Flex and the Expedition |
| Freestyle was based on the chassis of the larger | | | | can accommodate seven people, the Expedition |
| Five Hundred sedan. For 2008 Ford will rename | | | | can actually pull trailers weighing up to 9,000 lbs |
| the Five Hundred to become the new Taurus, and | | | | while the Flex is limited to hauling 4,000 lbs only. |
| the Freestyle to become the Taurus X. | | | | The Expedition appeal to people with bigger |
| Last year, crossover shows a strong sales return | | | | trailers while those people who are interested in |
| as compared to the traditional SUVs and most | | | | plain transport would prefer the Flex. |
| auto analysts believes that such trend will continue | | | | As of now the Flex remains to the only full-size |
| for this year. Also, for this year it is observed | | | | crossover utility vehicle but since it would be |
| that the truck-based SUVs are somewhat going | | | | made available in summer of 2008 it is not |
| out of style similar to the way when minivans lost | | | | impossible that other automakers can have the |
| their market dominance. | | | | same big crossover launched a little earlier and |
| Ford, which is also has Mazda, maker of quality | | | | that would be not be good for the Flex. |