Need a large, well-endowed 7-passenger crossover for the daily commute or those trips to the mall? Kick the tires on a 2012 Ford Flex Titanium. Pre-loaded with plenty of elbow room, 3 rows of seating and 83.2 cubic feet of total cargo area, this flagship Flex trim also packs all the bells and whistles expected of a high-end quasi-ute, including an available turbocharged V6 and available all-wheel drive (AWD).
Outside, look for upgraded exterior trim, 20-inch polished alloy wheels, a power liftgate and heated power-adjustable mirrors. Inside, expect to find perforated alcantara-trimmed leather upholstery (vinyl on third-row seats) and upgraded simulated wood, leather, chrome and simulated alloy cabin accents. Height-adjustable and heated power front seats, of course, come standard, as do driver memory settings, a fold-flat front passenger seat, rear flip-out armrest with storage (new for 2012) and power door locks and windows, as well as power-folding third-row seatbacks. The there’s stuff like standard cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, rear parking sensors, a universal remote garage door opener and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror to take care of convenience needs, all of it embraced by tri-zone climate control.
Notable standard techno-goodies, finally, include Ford’s popular SYNC voice-activated audio and communications system with turn-by-turn driving directions, as well as Bluetooth hands-free calling and Sony premium audio pumping out 390 watts through an MP3-capable single-CD player toting 12 speakers, satellite radio and a USB port.
Though it comes pretty much loaded, the 2012 Flex Titanium trim still remains eligible for the available hard-drive navigation suite with integrated rear-view camera, as well as Active Parking Assist for the parallel-parking-challenged. Remote start is also an option, as are a Class III tow hitch, rear-seat DVD entertainment and a refrigerated second-row console. Finally, for 2012, optional roof side rails can be mounted astride the available Vista Roof power glass sunroof.
Standard power for the 2012 Flex Titanium in either standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) or available AWD garb is the ubiquitous 3.5-liter normally aspirated V6 engine that allows this high-end crossover to pull up to 4,500 pounds of trailer when properly equipped. Managed by the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission, the six-banger throws out 262 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque, while variable valve timing (VVT) helps maintain estimated mileage at 17 mpg city/24 highway in FWD editions and 16/23 in AWD trims.
Ford’s Active AWD system, meanwhile, allows this hefty ute to cruise in FWD over dry roads while instigating instant torque split from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip when the going gets sloppy.
For some added oomph, Ford’s touted EcoBoost twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 can be delivered in Titanium trim with active AWD capability. Managed by the 6-speed shiftable automatic that can be controlled via standard steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, this blown V6 will put out 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Again, look for 4,500 pounds of trailer-towing capability with the proper equipment, while VVT helps maintain mileage at 16/22.
Safety-wise, look for the top-shelf 2012 Flex Titanium to carry 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and 3-row head airbags. Also helping to keep this sizeable crossover in one piece are front fog/driving lights and xenon high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights. The standard post-collision safety system and remote antitheft alarm, meantime, are bolstered by Ford’s unique MyKey owner-controllable speed and audio volume programming that allows the (properly licensed) kids to take the Flex out for the evening with a bit less parental angst.
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