A near-production test-mule of Ford’s upcoming Flex crossover has been spotted testing, which reveals that designers have created an almost exact copy of the concept car (pictured), which appeared at April’s New York Auto Show. The only major difference will be a slight alteration to the positioning of some badges.

The car in these pictures also lacks the concept’s color-coded bumpers, chrome trim and projector-beam headlights. Late last year, Ford’s head designer J. Mays said the production version of the Flex will be almost identical to the concept car, and these latest images certainly indicate that he wasn’t exaggerating.

Scheduled to go on sale late next year as a 2009 model, the new Flex will be able to seat up to seven passengers and will feature a 3.5L V6 powerplant mated to a six-speed auto. Click here to see spy shots of the test car out on public roads.