Ford Freestyle

The Ford Freestyle (code D219 ) was a large crossover SUV that was introduced in the 2005 model year of the Ford Motor Company to protect against competing models like the Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot, the Nissan Murano and the Mitsubishi Endeavor and wagon models such as the Subaru Legacy and compete the Outback. In the Ford line- he replaced the Taurus station wagon and was positioned from the 2007 model year between Edge and Explorer. It was offered in the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. The Freestyle was introduced in 2003 at the Detroit Auto Show as a concept car. Due to poor sales production in the summer of 2007 has been set. Was succeeded by the end of 2007 the Taurus X.

The vehicle built like the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and the various Volvo models, such as the XC90, on the Ford D3 platform. The Freestyle was assembled in Ford's Chicago Assembly. With the same platform, Volvo XC90 and Freestyle differ but clear. The Freestyle has like many other SUVs and vans over three rows of seats with room for seven passengers and offers, as well as the successor to the Taurus X, a higher seating position.

Since the setting of all Ford Bronco SUV get name labels that begin with the letter E ( as the EcoSport, Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Edge and Excursion ). Ford used briefly by the letter F for cars ( eg, Focus, Freestar, Five Hundred and Fusion ), while the Mercury brand set now used model names with an M at the beginning ( such as Montego, Milan, Mountaineer, Monterey and Mariner ).

The Freestyle was, together with his former sister model Five Hundred and the Escape Hybrid to the first U.S. vehicles in which a CVT transmission was used. To the astonishment at Ford, 55% of buyers opted for the equipped with a Haldex coupling model versions with all-wheel drive. It was initially assumed that a sales share of 40 %. The total sales figures were still, however, below forecasts for Ford, although these increased monthly. Some buyers instead chose the Ford Explorer, the best-selling freestyle. Many buyers but criticized its high fuel consumption.

The freestyle competition was 2005 Car of the Year in the U.S. second behind the Escape Hybrid.

Renaming of the Freestyle

→ Main article: Ford Taurus X

When Ford was thought due to the initially poor sales because after only two model years based on the set of the D3 platform Freestyle again. A Mercury with the internal name meta -One on the same platform and a similar styling from 2008 should replace the original model. The plans for the Mercury Meta One but were dropped back, and at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2007 instead of a revised Freestyle was introduced. This had a new grille, had a new drive - and a new name: Ford Taurus X.

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