Flex Design is Fuel Conscious
Flex’s more square-shaped design cues surprisingly improve Flex’s aerodynamic performance, which translates to better fuel economy. To maintain 55 mph, the Flex needs only 8.90 horsepower while the nearest competitors in the full-size crossover segment – the GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander – require more than 9.30 horsepower. Moreover, the Flex’s coefficient of drag is significantly better than all of its Asian competitors. Flex tests at 0.355 coefficient of drag while the competitors are at 0.375.
The Flex’s standout aerodynamics equates to one mile per gallon improvement in fuel economy. Overall, the Flex achieves 24 miles per gallon on the highway and 17 miles per gallon in city driving.
Some of the features that contribute to Flex’s aero advantage:
- The more square-shaped design of the front bumper sweep and headlamps
- Flex’s wide low-riding stance, which gave engineers the ability to reduce ride height by almost an inch for a ground clearance of 130 millimeters – the standard for most Ford cars.
Quote: “The overall design of the Flex, from its low-riding stance to its box-like body shape has actually worked to our aero advantage. Its low coefficient of drag amounts to significant gains in fuel economy.” Wayne Koester, Ford aerodynamic engineer.
