The Ford Flex is regarded by many as just an ordinary people-mover. However, there are a few people out there who are aware of the performance gains to be had from its twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. David Dekard, is one of them, and we get to see his stock-looking Flex keep pace with the mighty Ram 1500 TRX in a drag race.
Through some digging, Autoevolution was able to get some more info on Dekard’s Flex, and what they found was impressive. In stock form, a 2010 Flex like Dekard’s would have made 355 hp (360 PS / 265 kW) and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque to the crank. Accounting for a roughly 20% drivetrain loss with AWD, that comes out to about 284 hp (288 PS / 212 kW) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) to the wheels.
See Also: Ram 1500 TRX And Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Hit The Drag Strip, Care To Place A Little Bet?
However, with Dekard’s modifications, which include an upgraded intake and exhaust, upgraded turbos, a methanol injection system, and a tune, those numbers rise to 397 hp (403 PS / 296 kW) and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque to the wheels. For comparison, the TRX makes 702 hp (711 PS / 523 kW) and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm) of torque to the crank, or around 561 hp (568 PS / 418 kW) and 520 lb-ft (705 Nm) of torque to the wheels using the same calculations. Keep in mind, though, that the Ram weighs over 1,500 lbs (680 kg) more.
Watch: Can The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Take On A Legit Off-Road Racer?
On to the actual race, Dekard in the Flex got the jump on the TRX’s driver, which is likely the result of better reaction time rather than a false start. He pulled on the TRX, and managed to hold onto that lead for the whole race. Had both drivers gotten a similar start, it still seems like the Flex would’ve still been at least neck and neck with the TRX, which is extremely impressive. You can check out the race for yourself in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCR7bW5wvBI