2007 Lincoln MKZ
Friday, January 5th, 2007
After the Lincoln Zephyr was on the market for just one year, the company is putting the nameplate back on the shelf, next to Versailles. From here on, brand new Lincolns will wear the letters MK, and a third letter, let it be an X, an S, or in this case, a Z it will denote the model. Unlike the Mark LT pickup, the MK isn’t short for “mark” but is pronounced by the letters themselves, as in “M K.”
The change from Zephyr to MKZ is a bit more involved than simply slapping a different chromed badge onto the Lincoln’s rump. Several real alterations, from chassis tweaks to powertrain improvements, make the ’07 MKZ more than just a marketing experiment. Ford’s new 263-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 now resides under the hood of Lincoln’s more plebeian brethren, the Mercury Milan and the Ford Fusion, will have to wait at least until 2008 to get the larger engine. Our MKZ also came with newly available all-wheel drive, which put the power down easily and added $1875 to the sticker.
At the track, the MKZ’s extra 42 ponies didn’t make it any faster than the Zephyr. Quarter-mile and 0-to-60 times were identical to those of a front-wheel-drive Zephyr that was tested in April 2006. The MKZ has 267 more pounds to carry than did the Zephyr (due primarily to the AWD system), but its 14.5-pounds-per-horsepower power-to-weight ratio is still better than the Zephyr’s 16.0 pounds per horsepower.
Behind the wheel, the MKZ feels more sure-footed and engaging than the Zephyr. Lincoln seems to have taken a defibrillator to the Zephyr’s otherwise lifeless chassis. Stiffer springs and dampers and thicker anti-roll bars, coupled with revised steering, awaken the MKZ’s handling. It’s firmer than before, but not harsh enough to dissuade Lincoln loyalists.
The rest of the MKZ carries over largely unchanged from the Zephyr.
Our loaded MKZ wore a price of $35,445, thousands less than a comparably equipped Lexus ES350. The MKZ is a more entertaining car to drive than the ES350, but this is like choosing your mother over your grandmother in a wet-T-shirt contest neither is really suited for the pursuit. In this price range, driving enthusiasts would be looking at an Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Cadillac CTS, or Infiniti G35, whereas luxury seekers would be smart to consider the ES350. Somewhere in the middle lies the jack of sedans, the MKZ.
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