Flex = New Explorer?

A few days ago I read an article about Ford's new Flex,
which I have yet to see but I'm told it is in dealerships
now. (I have two Explorers ('99, '00) and have been driving
Explorers for about a decade.) My first thought on reading
the article, and seeing a photo, was that "Oh, this is
Ford's next Explorer makeover."

Are the two models going to exist side-by-side, or is the
Explorer being phased out and replaced by the Flex.
Functionally they seem about the same - I don't care whether
a vehicle is called a station wagon, an SUV, or a sedan -
and I wonder what the significant differences are, if any.

Comments and comparisons solicited.

Thanks.

--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.

On Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:39:37 -0700, "CWLee"
<cdubyalee DeleteThis @post.harvard.edu> wrote:

>
>A few days ago I read an article about Ford's new Flex,
>which I have yet to see but I'm told it is in dealerships
>now. (I have two Explorers ('99, '00) and have been driving
>Explorers for about a decade.) My first thought on reading
>the article, and seeing a photo, was that "Oh, this is
>Ford's next Explorer makeover."
>
>Are the two models going to exist side-by-side, or is the
>Explorer being phased out and replaced by the Flex.
>Functionally they seem about the same - I don't care whether
>a vehicle is called a station wagon, an SUV, or a sedan -
>and I wonder what the significant differences are, if any.
>
>Comments and comparisons solicited.
>
>Thanks.

Articles I have read said that a new Explorer is in the works and will
feature much better fuel economy using new Econoboost engine designs.
Of course, the market is changing so fast now that those plans may
change too.