Ford Freestyle
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| Ford Freestyle<tr><td colspan=2></tr> | |
| Manufacturer: | Ford Motor Company<tr><th>Production:<td>2005—present</tr><tr><th>Assembly:<td>Chicago, Illinois<tr><th>Class:<td>Mid-size crossover SUV / station wagon</tr><tr><th>Body style:<td>5-door SUV</tr><tr><th>Layout:<td>Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive</tr><tr><th>Platform:<td>Ford D3 platform</tr><tr><th>Engine:<td>3.0 L 203 hp V6</tr><tr><th>Wheelbase:<td>2870 mm (112.90 in.)</tr><tr><th>Length:<td>5075 mm (199.80 in.)</tr><tr><th>Width:<td>1890 mm (74.40 in.)</tr><tr><th>Height:<td>1670 mm (65.90 in.)</tr><tr><th>Fuel capacity:<td>19 gal.</tr><tr><th>Related:<td>Ford Five Hundred Mercury Montego Volvo S60 Volvo S80 Volvo XC90</tr><tr><th>Similar:<td>Chrysler Pacifica GMC Acadia Honda Pilot</tr> |
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- For minivan, see Ford Freestar.
The Ford Freestyle (code name D219) is a crossover SUV / station wagon, introduced for the 2005 model year by the Ford Motor Company to compete primarily with mid-size rivals such as the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano and Mitsubishi Endeavor, as well as other station wagons like the Subaru Legacy and Outback models. In Ford's lineup, it replaced the Ford Taurus station wagon, and currently slots between the compact Escape and the mid-size Explorer. It is only sold in the United States and Canada.
The vehicle uses the Ford D3 platform, which it shares with the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and various Volvos including the XC90. The Freestyle is assembled in Chicago, Illinois. Although it shares its platform with the XC90, the two vehicles are significantly different. The Freestyle has three rows of seats with seating for seven, like many larger SUVs (e.g. Ford Explorer) and minivans.
Ford's post-Bronco sport utility vehicle names have begun with the letter "E" (eg: Ecosport, Escape, Explorer, Expedition, and Excursion). Ford has also been using the letter "F" for passenger cars and minivans (eg: Focus, Freestar, Five Hundred, and Fusion) while Mercury uses "M" (e.g. Montego, Milan, Mountaineer, Monterey and Mariner).
The Freestyle, along with its sibling the Five Hundred and the Ford Escape Hybrid, are the first American Ford vehicles to use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). To Ford's surprise, 55% of buyers are selecting the Haldex-equipped all-wheel drive model rather than the expected 40%. However, overall Freestyle sales are below Ford's original projections (though sales have been increasing every month). Some buyers are selecting the Freestyle as an alternative to the best selling Ford Explorer. The Freestyle also occupies a niche once dominated by the Ford Country Squire, the 3+ row family station wagon, though there is no known conversion of a Freestyle to fake wood paneling.
Although the Freestyle resembles the larger Australian Ford Territory crossover SUV, that model is based on the different rear-wheel drive EA169 platform, used by the Ford Falcon. The resemblance causes many forums to identify them as the same car, however the engineering differences are almost total.
The Freestyle was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2005 (second behind Escape Hybrid).
[edit] 2007
For 2007, the Freestyle has been updated to include standard side-impact air bags and curtains, 18" wheels on some models, and optional SIRIUS Satellite Radio and DVD GPS Navigation systems. [1]
[edit] 2008
At one point, Ford was reported to be considering ceasing production of the current D3 platform Freestyle after only a couple of model years, due to initially slow sales, and replacing it with the Mazda-engineered 2007 (CD3 platform) Ford Edge crossover SUV A 2008 model year Mercury crossover SUV was considered to continue on the D3 platform, essentially taking on the general body styling of the Freestyle, with Mercury-style front and rear fascias, interior, and badging. However, AutoWeek reported [2] on January 24, 2006 that suppliers have been notified that the Freestyle will continue in production through 2008 with a major facelift, along with a Mercury version. Ford's President of the Americas, Mark Fields, has since confirmed that the Freestyle will be continued. There are also indications that Ford may be developing a new crossover vehicle based on the Ford Fairlane concept SUV, as originally revealed during the 2005 auto show circuit. The Fairlane concept is now under development, and slated to be added to the Ford crossover lineup, but is expected to replace the Ford Freestar minivan, not the Freestyle crossover. [3].
[edit] External links
| Ford light truck timeline, North American market, 1980s-present - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Compact SUV | Bronco II | Escape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size SUV | Explorer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Edge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size SUV | Bronco | Expedition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Excursion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Aerostar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Windstar | Freestar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup | F-Series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courier | Ranger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | E-Series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
