[silvrsvt]

igor, on Mar 22 2007, 03:10 PM, said:

au contraire I really believe it is easier to load and unload the precious cargo with rear-hinged doors than front-hinged ones ... remember this is crossover - not minivan ..

we will have to wait 2 weeks and see, but I think this setup will have definite advantages in access to the sedond or even third row of seats ..

Igor

I have to agree...people still stick their kids in the back of SUV's every day..and they dont have sliding doors. If there is a will, there is a way. I never heard anyone who got a minivan get it because it had a sliding door on it. Plus if you have the room, access to both the front and rear of the passenger compartment might be totally unimpeded if they dont have a b-pillar, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

[NickF1011]

NLPRacing, on Mar 22 2007, 03:02 PM, said:

I'm having a hard time believing that it will have full size rear suicide doors.

While not quite as large as this vehicle, the Honda Element makes due rather effectively with full-size suicide doors. Hopefully it will be an "open" design like the Element also, without the use of a fixed B-pillar between the doors. That would likely cut down a bit on the required size of the door opening in the rear.

I wouldn't get too excited about it though. The reference to the suicide doors may have just been a little journalistic creativity on the part of the writer, basing his conclusion on the Fairlane concept.

I suppose naming this thing Flex puts to rest any hope of a Reflex, eh?

This post has been edited by NickF1011: 22 March 2007 - 02:20 PM

[Intrepidatious]

I'm honestly not too crazy about the name. Sounds a bit juvenile for a people hauler. But, then again...there are some silly names out there.

Looking forward to seeing it though.

[Swizco]

igor, on Mar 22 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

Job One is September 15th ... per TCC who read the whole article from WSJ/DowJones.

Igor

I'll say again: it's not coming out this September. Take that to the bank.

It might come out September 15th, but it won't be THIS September 15th.

Swizco

[Deanh]

question a lack of B-pillar...especially on a vehicle of this size...can we say...FLEX-y

[Mark B. Morrow]

As long as they don't call them "French Doors". :stirpot:

[Swizco]

NLPRacing, on Mar 22 2007, 12:02 PM, said:

I'm having a hard time believing that it will have full size rear suicide doors.

it doesn't / wont. This article is full of crap.

Swizco

[J-150]

DCK, on Mar 22 2007, 02:31 PM, said:

Anyword on the Lincoln Variant?

the MKQ?

[igor]

Swizco, on Mar 22 2007, 04:09 PM, said:

I'll say again: it's not coming out this September. Take that to the bank.

It might come out September 15th, but it won't be THIS September 15th.

Swizco

ok ... I guess I should listen better ..

Igor

[NickF1011]

Deanh, on Mar 22 2007, 04:10 PM, said:

question a lack of B-pillar...especially on a vehicle of this size...can we say...FLEX-y

well, in the case of the Element, the B-pillar is kind of built into the rear door. When it is closed, it forms a pretty sturdy side structure element. I suppose it might be an issue if you make a habit of driving with your doors open though. :)

[dave9991]

I can confirm what swisco is saying, there will not be "suicide doors".

[RichardJensen]

Swizco, on Mar 22 2007, 08:09 PM, said:

I'll say again: it's not coming out this September. Take that to the bank.

It might come out September 15th, but it won't be THIS September 15th.

Swizco

We all ought to know by now that Ford Job 1 dates are not even remotely connected to vehicle launch dates.

Even if the Sept. 15 launch date was accurate, you can bet they wouldn't arrive in any kind of volume until November at the earliest.

[NickF1011]

dave9991, on Mar 22 2007, 04:25 PM, said:

I can confirm what swisco is saying, there will not be "suicide doors".

What a pisser.

[sierraman]

I'm thinking when the article says "french doors" that perhaps the rear seat door will open in two halves like french doors while the front door remains standard? since its confirmed thats its not truly suicide doors...could that be what the writer meant? i guess we'll soon find out..

This post has been edited by sierraman: 22 March 2007 - 03:41 PM

[NickF1011]

sierraman, on Mar 22 2007, 04:38 PM, said:

I'm thinking when the article says "french doors" that perhaps the rear seat door will open in two halves like french doors while the front door remains standard? since its confirmed thats its not truly suicide doors...could that be what the writer meant? i guess we'll soon find out..

I doubt that's the case, but I think your concept would be VERY cool if done correctly:

If both halves of the "french door" were linked by a hydraulic or gear linkage so both halves opened by pulling on one handle, I think that would be really cool. It would elimate the sliding door while also making swing-out distance much smaller compared to a fullsize door. I think it would HAVE to be a one-pull operation though since very few consumers would want to have to pull both sides shut or open individually.

Several fullsize vans used to (some still do maybe?) have a side door arrangement similar to this, but each side of the door had to be operated independently, which is what I think led to their demise.

[Deanh]

NickF1011, on Mar 22 2007, 03:25 PM, said:

well, in the case of the Element, the B-pillar is kind of built into the rear door. When it is closed, it forms a pretty sturdy side structure element. I suppose it might be an issue if you make a habit of driving with your doors open though. :)

yeah the suicdide door would be a doozie wind brake....that said i think I would prefer a B pillar, just for the sake of comfortable seatbelts, more overall rigidity and less likelihood for squeaks and rattles down the road....but keep the suicide door for sure...anything different is great word of mouth free advertising....get people talking...somehow i doubt it though...

[igor]

CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK .. I have it out of my system .. so no suicide doors, no 9/15/07 job one ...

OK!!! ..

well I will still go see it in New York ..

any of you insiders have any idea what is it that article calls "French Doors"? or did they pull that one out of their behind as well?

Igor

[AH-HA]

Wrong on two fronts. Production doesn't start until March 2008 and it does not, repeat does not, have suicide doors like the concept.

[fordmatt21]

flex???? come on ford. you've been talking name recognition ever since you brought the taurus back out and now you change the fairlane, which i believe would have a good amount of recognition, to the flex which has no recognition at all. who is running this company?

suicide doors have not yet been confirmed according to autoblog although they are a possibility...

[Deanh]

fordmatt21, on Mar 22 2007, 04:12 PM, said:

flex???? come on ford. you've been talking name recognition ever since you brought the taurus back out and now you change the fairlane, which i believe would have a good amount of recognition, to the flex which has no recognition at all. who is running this company?

suicide doors have not yet been confirmed according to autoblog although they are a possibility...

could be worse..they could pull a Chevy and name it something like "Impact"....WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??????