So Detroit sent a Ford Flex down for us to take a look at yesterday. I wasn’t let down at all. It’s got a nice amount of amenities such as up-to-date information from your navigation system (weather, traffic, sports scores), a refrigerated center console on the second row, sun roofs all the way to the third row, and a 110V power inverter (auxiliary power outlet). The woodgrain is everywhere. It’s not a tacky thin-plastic looking woodgrain either. All the gauges are a soft blue and in the center of the console is an analogue clock. The leather is perforated with a really cool pattern with white stitching around the sides.

Some awesome styling cues are the white roof (ok, so some people think it’s hideous, but I think it’s bold and stands-out as different and unique), HID headlamps, 19″ chrome wheels, the three-bar Ford grille, horizontal grooves down the sides of the door panels and across the back of the silver rear panel. On that silver rear panel is a large Ford emblem with an integrated rear-view camera.

As far as functionality goes the navigation is top-notch. There’s not much this thing doesn’t do. With Sirius Travel Link you get real-time traffic updates (every 2.5minutes), real-time weather updates (every 30 minutes), and fuel pricing for over 120,000 gas stations. Want sports scores or movie listings? Yeah it does that too… Need to see what’s behind you? The nav will display that too via the camera integrated into the Ford oval on the rear liftgate. You can watch DVD videos while the vehicle is in park (I’m thinking hack!!) or upload photos and music (and store up to 2300 songs). Get turn by turn voice directions or directions to the nearest emergency facility. A rear seat DVD player makes this one hella cool package. In the middle of the dash is a speaker and in the nav menu is an option to set the sound to “Stereo” and “Surround Sound” which leads me to believe it’s fitted with 5.1 Surround Sound.

The second row seats do away with clumsy difficult handles and incorporates a “auto-fold” button into the C-pillar below the seat belt retractor. A press of this button folds the seat and flips it forward to allow easy access to the rear.

One of the coolest features (no pun intended) is the inclusion of the refrigerator or cooler into the second row console. This little fridge can hold up to 7 cans and can freeze or cool anything inside it (selectable via a tiny little button with blue LED’s on it). Oh did we mention like most other Ford vehicles that this one has Sync?

Moonroofs? This thing’s got plenty of them… it’s got one over the third row seat and two smaller ones over the second row seats. The second row sunroofs are equipped with a retractable shade to help block out some of the sun.

Need power for your laptop? Never fear the Flex comes with a 110V power inverter (auxiliary power outlet). Need a place to store that laptop charger when you’re done? Never fear, there’s a place for that too because they’re storage coming out of the ears in the Flex.

The keyless entry number pad has been integrated into the black paneling on the drivers side door. a quick touch of the black panel (located between the drivers window and second row window) reveals red numbers that you touch to unlock the vehicle if you choose not to use your remote.

All in all the Ford Flex is a new unique and outrageously attractive car. Prices are still up in the air I believe (correct me if I’m wrong).