The SUV exodus means Ford’s Flex has the potential to be a hit and it’s gearing up for an onslaught of orders when sales begin this summer. Ford’s group veep of marketing and communications, Jim Farley, told Automotive News that consumers leaving the full-size SUV fold and others who haven’t considered putting a Blue Oval badge in their garage might be ready to give something like the Flex a chance. CUV sales have been strong over the last year, and Ford and Farley believe that the Flex could rack up 100,000 sales annually if the trend continues.

(source: Automotivenews)

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Lexus Australia’s chief executive, John Roca, gave up a number of product details to The Australian in an interview this past weekend, including the addition of an “F” variant of the GS sedan and possibly a full-size LS limo. Both models are aimed to attack luxury stalwarts Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by offering a number of high-performance variants and also developing a new model that would slot in below the IS sedan to take on the BMW 1-series and the Audi A3. That model is still a few years away, but it will be an integral part of Lexus’ commitment to reach one million global sales in the next two to three years.

The other element includes offering hybrid versions of every vehicle it sells, plus the introduction of a hybrid-only model that will be unveiled in concept form this January at the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota’s luxury arm plans to release a redesigned five-seater RX next year, based off the LF-Xh concept that bowed in Tokyo, although there’s no word on the rumored seven-seat variant due out before the end of the decade.

Naturally, no conversation about Lexus would be complete without some mention of a two-door, coupe/convertible version of the IS, a model that’s been sorely lacking from the Lexus lineup, plus, the LF-A supercar, which should finally come to market in 2011, but may only be available in left-hand drive.

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When Ford previewed the 2009 Ford F-150 ahead of the Detroit Auto Show, it was non-committal when asked how the new top shelf Platinum edition would affect the Lincoln Mark LT luxury pickup. While the Mark LT proved to be more commercially successful than the previous Blackwood, the concept of a Lincoln-branded luxury pickup appears destined for the scrap heap once again. Ford’s premium brand will instead expand its crossover lineup by adding the Lincoln MKT that debuted as a concept in Detroit. The full-size MKT is based on the same platform as the Ford Flex, but features all of Lincoln’s new design language from the split grille to the belt-line chamfer. While the concept had a four-seat layout, the production version will almost certainly have a third row, as well. Ford is currently finalizing the design with consumer clinics and Job 1 should happen sometime in spring 2009.

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