Ford unveiled the new Flex, ahead of its Los Angeles debut next week, with a new face. It still looks weird.

The 2013 Flex gets a new front fascia with a bold and nicely designed grille and spaceship-like headlights. The rest of the car is pretty much the same as the old one.

It gets two-tone roof and mirrors, 20-inch machined aluminum wheels in six different designs and comes in nine exterior colors, including three new colors for the 2013 model year: Ruby Red, Deep Impact Blue and Kodiak Brown. Customers also can choose from body-color roofs, or two-tone with white, gray or black available on the Appearance Package.

Engine-wise you get the upgraded 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine with 285 horsepower and projected fuel economy of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 which is the better option with 355 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines are mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission.

Ford has packed the new seven-seat crossover with high-tech features to make it more appealing to tech-savvy dudes who are most likely to consider buying a car this weird different. It comes with MyFord Touch, rear inflatable belts, collision-avoidance technologies, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, first-row heated and cooled seats, power-fold mirrors and an optional new Appearance Package.

Ford Flex is a nice car. It seems like a lot of fun. But it’s not a car for everyone, or every occasion.