Ford's made entirely clear its intention to abandon the minivan game in favor of crossover SUVs like the upcoming Edge, as well as engage in left-field thinking about the genre, like the iffy Freestyle wagonover (or whatever). Now, according to AutoWeek, the company announced it will build the blocky Fairlane, which it showed off last year in concept form. Conceived as a kind of picnic vehicle for families too cool for vans shaped like panty-hose dispensers, the Fairlane (or whatever it will be called) appears to split the difference between the Land Rover LR3 and the Ford Explorer. A Lincoln version is planned as well. Both will be built at the company's Oakville, Ontario works.

Fairlane will Fly [AutoWeek]

Related:
Apres Minivan: Ford's New Crossover SUVs [internal]

Contact information for this author is not available.