The Outrage

So, now when some clown slams their door into your car they won't damage their own door. Wonderful.

Why does it matter if the dash layout is similar to the Edge and Explorer? It's not as though the majority of Flex owners also own an Edge and Explorer as well. I would choose an Explorer over a Flex right now based specifically on the Flex's older, inferior quality, interior. The same was true of the Edge's 2011 interior updates. I hadn't considered the 2010 and earlier Edge specifically because of its lackluster interior. I think the Flex's interior update, which mimics Ford's current across-the-board improvements, can only help the vehicle's sales.

That was my take as well.

Why not certify the vehicle with the "track" tune and make the "street" detuning optional? Isn't this akin to BMW's M5 engine calibration? It makes 400 or 500 horsepower depending on the mode it is in.

I think it has primarily been the industry insiders which have had a problem with this advertisement. That is to say, those who have a vested interest in brushing aside the financial failures of Chrysler and General Motors. I haven't heard anything negative concerning this ad from anyone else. The fact that Ford pulled the spot seems fairly spineless. Given the fact that all of the previous "Drive One" commercials have saturated the television channels for long periods of time I'm not buying their latest narrative that this commercial's cycle has naturally come to an end. Like it or not, the politics of the Chrysler and General Motors bailout has, and will continue to, affect consumer buying habits. Despite this, it seems as though the topic is considered taboo within the industry.

Selective memory?

The EPA changed their testing methodology for the 2008 model year. http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/420f06069.htm

You mean like using a first to fourth skip shift feature on the manual Mustang GT and Camaro SS to avoid the Gas Guzzler Tax?

The Ford Focus is sold with a 2.0 liter gasoline engine in the United States. The Hyundai Elantra is sold with a 1.8 liter gasoline engine in the United States. Those engines do not correspond to any results you have listed.

Your claimed average of 30 MPG precisely matches the EPA combined fuel mileage estimate for a manual Focus SE.

That only proves that the Focus is more fuel efficient at a steady-state 45 MPH. If Ford contends that the EPA figures are useless, so is a steady-state 45 MPH rating derived on a racetrack.

People who actually buy cars.

The additional 46 horsepower of the 6.2 liter should not be discounted. It still provides the highest output figures and the most linear power delivery. That's why it is still equipped as standard equipment on all of the top F-150 trim levels. The Raptor is a premium trim level and should be equipped with the engine which provides the highest output levels. The 3.5 liter Ecoboost is currently marketed as a fuel economy option. The Raptor is hardly the right F-150 to purchase if fuel economy is a concern.

Concept cars are used to gauge public reaction to a design.

The Nissan Frontier has a more powerful V6 than the Toyota Tacoma. It also has a full-length boxed ladder frame and four wheel disc brakes on every single trim level.

In my mind, this is akin to asking why the Mustang Shelby GT500 can't be had with the 3.7 liter V6.

How is it better for Ford to produce a car they hope will find buyer instead of a car which they know will have a buyer?

The American automotive industry needs this sort of passion. The "it's good enough" and "don't rock the boat" philosophies almost led the industry to extinction. Competition builds better products, which is great for all consumers.

You were specifically looking for a low speed rating?

The pricing has been released. I just placed an order for a 2012 Edge.

I agree. Sales numbers matter, internet rumblings do not. According to the sales figures found from this page, the top selling Lexus models are the FWD ES and FWD/AWD RX: http://lexusenthusiast.com/2011/07/01/lexus-june-2011-sales-report/ Also, bear in mind, the RWD IS is available with AWD, which certainly helps to increase its overall sales. The vast majority of BMWs and Mercedes Benz models I see in my region are AWD variants. There's a huge disconnect between automotive journalists (who do not buy the cars they drive), internet posters (who do not buy the cars they demand), and the general public.

I think the MKT looks great. I don't worry about what the "Internet Collective" has to say when it comes to automotive styling.

Edge SEL (AWD): 4,265 lbs. Similar-sized V6 models: Highlander Base (AWD): 4,266 lbs. Murano S (AWD): 4,025 lbs. Sorento LX (AWD): 4,131 lbs. Pilot LX (AWD): 4,506 lbs. MDX (AWD): 4,627 lbs. Similar-sized I4 / I4T models: CX-7 (AWD): 4,001 lbs. Equinox (AWD): 3,786 lbs. Smaller-sized I4T model: RDX (AWD): 3,942 lbs.

I'm still waiting for Ford to release the pricing information to the dealers.

Compared to an older body-on-frame Explorer, the uni-body MKX has better controlled body motions. There are some individuals which believe exaggerated wallow is the "correct" way to tune a suspension. If someone has a background in luxury-oriented domestic brands from the last few decades, this style will seem completely natural (think 80's and 90's Buicks, Cadillacs, and Lincolns). Personally, I wouldn't consider an Edge or MKX if it had an even softer suspension. A comprehensive test drive should be enough to confirm whether the suspension suits your expectations.