2009 Ford Flex - Optical Illusion - Tech

In the last three issues, we've shown you how to completely transform Ford's latest crossover venture, the '09 Ford Flex. Inside the spacious cabin, the seats, dash, and video headrests were easily upgraded. Now it's time to show the amazing body and paint work that went into this project dubbed "ReFlex".

Casey and Ron Scranton at CGS Motorsports in Pomona, California, worked with rendering artist sensation, Sean Smith, of SS Designs in San Diego. Sean's task was to design a seamless and smooth, low-profile exterior of the Flex. When creating a custom exterior, the five most important factors of the equation are body, paint, wheels, tires, and stance. Sean used the horizontal body panel grooves to carry out the Flex theme. He then modified the factory stance by extending the body's lower extremities, creating a lowered illusion. Sean sketched a smoother, cleaner, leading edge that would be lowered four inches with a radiused chin and larger lower center opening with a pair of air ducts. The rear bumper was sectioned two inches with a center exhaust notch for the CGS 18-inch oval exhaust tip.

The factory front fascia was modified by cutting the bottom portion off and prepping it for some modifications. Styrene pieces were then rough-cut and applied with 3M adhesive. The rough-cut pieces were shaped and shaved before covering with modeling clay. Chavant modeling clay was then shaped and smoothed by using an arsenal of special sculpting tools. A pair of steel side skirts were cut and formed by Jerry Johns at JJ Metal Werks in Garden Grove, California. The formed side skirts were welded to the existing Flex rocker panels, linking the lowered front fascia to the lowered rear bumper, giving the illusion the top was chopped four inches. Each of the four door handles were removed and they were then shaved smooth.