The Ford Freestyle (code name D219) is a crossover SUV, introduced in late 2004 as a 2005 model. The vehicle uses the Ford CD3 platform, shared with the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and various Volvos including the XC90, and is assembled in Chicago, Illinois. Although it shares its platform with the XC90, the Freestyle is quite different from that SUV. It will have three rows of seats, with seating for seven, like many larger SUVs and minivans.

The Freestyle, its sibling the Five Hundred, and the Ford Escape Hybrid, are the first American Ford vehicles to use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Sales of Freestyles, especially the all wheel drive model, have been brisk. To Ford's surprise, 55% of buyers are selecting the Haldex -equipped AWD model rather than the exptected 40%.

Although the Freestyle resembles the larger Australian Ford Territory crossover SUV, that model is based on the different EA169 platform.

The Freestyle was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2005.

External link

• Official site