Ford representative Said Deep said the company has no intention of putting either the Flex or the MKT out to pasture after 2013, as the Automotive News article suggests.

“Speculative reports are incorrect,” Deep said. “These full size crossovers are vital to each brand. The MKT is one of the newest vehicles in the showroom and one of the most differentiated crossovers on the road today. Flex is one of Ford's highest-scoring vehicles in customer satisfaction, and continues to build a strong following."

Deep has a point with just how new the MKT is. Lincoln’s luxury crossover hit the market this year, and it would make little sense for Ford to pull the plug after just three years of production. By most accounts, MKT and Flex models aren’t exactly flying off dealer lots, but sales are far from abysmal.

But that doesn’t mean that the two models couldn’t use a little separation. In many ways, the Flex is a superior vehicle to the MKT thanks to its larger interior volume, and the two vehicles’ prices are remarkably similar. While Ford has made it clear that it won’t pull the plug on either crossover any time soon, something will need to be done to differentiate the crossovers.

Interestingly enough, Automotive News recently reported on Ford's plans for the Flex in a separate article. That article pointed to a mild refresh for the big crossover in 2013 -- not outright discontinuation.