Ford Flex EcoBoost ..............................................

2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost

Unlike turbocharged engines, naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engines lose three per cent of their power for every 330 metres of elevation, so driving the EcoBoost Flex into the mountains and then comparing its towing, passing, and climbing ability against competitors powered by naturally aspirated engines is bound to make a point.
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With 355 horsepower developed at 5,700 rpm, and 350 lb.-ft torque available at 1,500-5,250 r.p.m., Ford's EcoBoost engine (recently premiering in its 2010 Ford Taurus SHO) transforms the Flex into something of a road rocket. Mated to a dedicated six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, this engine propels the Flex from zero to 100 km/h in just over seven seconds. Perhaps more important than quick starts from a standstill, the EcoBoost engine enables Flex to return the same fuel economy of 13.1/9.2 L/100 km, city/highway as the 262-hp Duratec V6 found in non-EcoBoost AWD models (premium fuel is recommended; regular is acceptable).

Ford believes that this additional power and fuel economy will suit people downsizing from V8-powered SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban and Dodge Durango, and also people looking for more seating capacity, greater cargo room and more power than most family cars, compact crossovers and minivans (and distinctive styling, we should probably add).

  






        
 While the EcoBoost engine is definitely big news for the 2010 Flex, there are some other notable enhancements that really elevate the status of this vehicle. Chief among them is Active Park Assist ($700) which will automatically parallel park your Flex.

                 

Ford's Active Park Assist is truly an impressive technology; certainly the best available on the market today. Press a button on the centre console, drive beside a row of parked cars and the Flex alerts you when it finds a space large enough for a parallel parking manoeuvre. Stop the vehicle, put it in reverse, take your hands off the steering wheel and the Flex backs by itself into the parking spot, coming to a halt five centimetres from the curb, at a position equidistant from the vehicle in front of, and behind it. The system is remarkable in its simplicity of operation and effectiveness. It's available only on the Flex with EcoBoost.

Additional enhancements include tilt and telescoping steering wheel which is now standard for all Flex models, as is Ford's MyKey and AutoFold 60/40 bench seat with side power release. An available dual headrest DVD entertainment system will keep rear passengers entertained, and the Class III trailer tow package now includes Trailer Sway Control, a safety technology that helps control lateral movement of trailers due to uneven roads or loads.

Available options include 20-inch alloy wheels ($600), rear console refrigeration system ($650), navigation system with rear backup camera ($2,500) and Vista Roof ($1,750).

On the road, the driving dynamics of the Flex AWD with EcoBoost are sharper than the Duratec-powered models. It's got, as we say, both “show” and “go”. Throttle response is pretty much instant with no turbo-lag evident, and electric power assist steering (EPAS) which is specific to the EcoBoost Flex, offers a more immediate feel than the hydraulic system fitted to other Flex models. The EPAS also enables the fitment of Pull-Drift Compensation, a software-based technology that acts somewhat like active steering in that it offsets vehicle pulling or drifting that can occur in steady crosswinds, on uneven roads or crowned road surfaces (the road is higher in the middle).

Compared with Duratec-powered Flex models, the EcoBoost Flex's uprated suspension provides a slightly firmer ride, with less body roll when cornering (Roll Stability Control is standard). Shifts from the transmission are quicker and smarter (the transmission will hold gears when cornering, match engine speed when downshifting). The exhaust note has a little more snap under acceleration, but is certainly not intrusive.

The driving experience is not comparable to the Taurus SHO, however, which has a more obvious performance orientation, and a generally muscular feel to it. In contrast, the Flex retains its family-friendliness with seven passenger configuration and more compliant (but not soft) ride.

With a trailer in tow, the EcoBoost powered Flex Package is very impressive. Pulling a 1,000-kilogram trailer up and down steep hills, and along the mountain roads in the Estes Park area, the Flex on-road behaviour was so smooth that one could easily forget a trailer was attached. Mind you, this was not a particularly heavy load and the high altitude just about neutered the Jeep's Hemi V8, for example. Additionally, the anti-sway feature which is now part of the Class III trailer package is very effective at containing lateral motion of the trailer; its tendency to push or pull under braking and acceleration, or when cresting a hill, is all but eliminated. As I say, it's like the trailer's not there.

However, here's an important point: the EcoBoost engine doesn't increase the towing capacity of the Flex. Both the Duratec and EcoBoost-powered vehicles can tow 4,500 pounds with the Class III trailer tow package. What the EcoBoost-powered vehicles will do is tow with less effort, more smoothly, and more fuel efficiently.

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