It is in keeping with a strategic plan going forward to place more emphasis on the Lincoln premium brand.. At the recent L.A. auto show, Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas, said Lincoln will take over as the volume piece of the Lincoln Mercury franchise. “We won’t walk away from Mercury,” Fields said, but “we have higher aspirations for Lincoln.” He notes November retail sales for the brand were up for the 14th consecutive month.

Lincoln has its new flagship MKS sedan set to go on sale next fall with Ford’s new 270-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 under the hood. The Lincoln will be the first to offer the automaker’s new direct-injection technology when a turbocharged V-6 is added to the MKS for 2010 to provide the power of a V-8 without the corresponding fuel-economy penalty.

Meanwhile, the name Flex will stick for the Ford version, Fields insists, saying it “researched well.” Our vote is to return to the Fairlane name that graced the original concept.

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The MKS concept was first shown at the Detroit auto show in January 2006. The production-ready car has clearly been influenced by the popular MKR concept, which debuted at the 2007 show a year later.
Compared to the concept, the taillights appear to have become slightly taller and narrower. The headlights end at a less sharp point than on the concept, but remain true to the design language set out by the show car.

Some detailing has changed since they created the concept car, but the overall appearance has not been changed too much. The MKS will share Ford’s Volvo-derived D3 architecture with the Taurus and Sable. We expect to see this production MKS go public next January at the 2008 NAIAS. Rather than offering a V8 version of the MKS, Ford is expected to offer a TwinForce turbocharged V6 with as much as 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque.

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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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The outline of the Lincoln badge can also be found designed into the distinctive brake and gas pedals. What design chief Peter Horbury calls the “ultimate” Lincoln would go to rear-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, something that would make for a much more competitive entry. Under the hood of the show car is one of the most over-the-top engine layouts seen since the era of the muscle car.

The prototype features a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, the new Ford TwinForce, which makes 415 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The TwinForce, Ford promises, will deliver V-8 power with markedly better fuel economy. Overall, the look displays Lincoln ’s new design theme.

It’s notably more curvaceous than the slab-sided theme the brand was experimenting with in recent years, but it also harkens back to some distinctive Lincoln heritage cues, such as the double-wing grille and high beltline. The MKR sits on a 112.9-inch wheelbase and, at least in show car trim, is shod in 21-inch wheels and tires, with well-displayed Brembo brakes. Don’t be surprised to see a production version of this sedan hit Lincoln showrooms for the 2009 model-year.

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They all use a 239-hp V8 and 4-speed automatic transmission. ABS, traction control, and front side airbags are standard, but no antiskid system is available. Neither are rear airbags nor curtain side airbags. Standard features include power-adjustable pedals, dual-zone climate control, front bench seat, and leather upholstery. Among the few options are xenon headlamps and a navigation system.

Ford Motor Company now says Town Car will hang on through 2009 and possibly beyond. Expect few changes along the way. Town Car would have died with a 2007 plant closure, one of many cutbacks under Ford’s “Way Forward” recovery plan. Instead, the company decided to move production to the Canadian plant that builds the related Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis.

Meantime, a new midsize Lincoln sedan is due for 2009 on the Volvo-originated D3 platform of the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego sedans. Styling and name are taken from the recent MKS concept. A 3.7-liter V6 being developed exclusively for Lincoln will probably be the sole engine and should team with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

MKS takes over from the old rear-drive Lincoln LS, but will offer front drive and optional all-wheel drive. And once Town Car dies, it will be Lincoln’s flagship car, as a planned larger version fell victim to Ford’s mounting money losses.[ConsumerGuide]

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The earlier faux hauler was an uneasy amalgam of a couple of Ford F-Series pickups and the Lincoln Navigator, which itself was a direct knock-off of the Ford Expedition. This true hauler, however, is in fact a rhinoplasticized and slightly beefier version of nothing less, or more, than the Ford F-150 crew cab pickup. That bodes both good and bad for 10,000 people a year Lincoln hopes will buy the second truck ever to wear the Lincoln brand. Seeing as how Lincoln sold less than 4,000 Blackwoods over two model years, that’d be a bullet on the company’s sales charts.

The good news is buyers will get a thoroughly polished, well-trimmed, four-door vehicle that can transport four people in comfort, five people in a pinch, handle a payload of more than a ton and a half, and tow up to 8900 pounds. It’s available in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, which is unique to the class. The latest in engine technology delivers best-in-class fuel economy. An audio/video system is available to entertain rear-seat passengers, and satellite radio is available.

The 2006 Lincoln Mark LT comes in one body style but with a choice of two drivetrains. It’s a full-size, four-door, crew cab-style pickup with an abbreviated bed and offered with either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The engine is a 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V8. The transmission is a four-speed, overdrive automatic. The four wheel-drive’s transfer case is a two-speed unit with a 2.64:1 low gear ratio.

Lincoln has trimmed the Mark LT with most of the features expected in a luxury-class vehicle, be it a car, a truck or whatever. Automatic air conditioning is standard, of course, as are cruise control and power windows and heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals.

There’s wood applique on the dash and the inside door handles. The front seats are heated, leather-surfaced and have power adjustments for all but lumbar and seatback recline, which are manual. Two drivers get memory privileges for the driver’s seat and outside mirror settings.

In the back is a 60/40-split, flip-up seat upholstered in leather look-alike with a fold-down center armrest. Leather-covered, tilt steering wheel is standard, too, as are central locking with remote key fob, on-board computer and Ford’s power-rail, overhead console hardware.

The stereo provides AM, FM and MP3 output, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, speed-compensated volume and seven, acoustically positioned speakers augmented by a subwoofer with separate amplifier. Also standard are a universal programmable remote garage opener, carpeted floor mats and polished-metal door scuff plates.

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Why so much? Because they’re 2005 models! The third vehicle on the list, however, is the most appealing to us. Saab wants to get rid of the last remaining 9-2X models and is offering $5,000 off of the car’s base MSRP, which amounts to a substantial 21.75% discount on what is essentially a more luxurious Subaru WRX. The rest of the list is as follows.

• 2005 Kia Sorento – $5,000 (26.32%) exp. 1/2/07
• 2005 Kia Sedona – $5,000 (23.87%) exp. 1/2/07
• 2006 Saab 9-2X – $5,000 (21.75%) exp. 10/2/06
• 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab – $4,500 (21.31%) exp. 10/2/06
• 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab (excl. SRT10) – $4,500 (21.28%) exp. 10/2/06
• 2006 Ford Freestar – $5,000 (21.14%) exp. 10/2/06
• 2006 Lincoln LS – $8,000 (20.36%) exp. 10/2/06
• 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis – $5,000 (20.18%) exp. 10/2/06
• 2005 Kia Spectra – $2,500 (19.46%) exp. 1/2/07
• 2006 Ford F-150 SuperCab – $4,500 (18.66%) exp. 10/2/06

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Lincoln’s first Aviator, a fancified Ford Explorer, never got off the ground, so the 2007 Lincoln Aviator, or MKX (whatever their calling it now) model takes a different tack: unibody architecture (from the Mazda 6), front- or all-wheel drive, and a 3.5-liter V-6. New styling junks the baby Navigator look. Takeoff is next fall.

Lincoln is hoping that, together with the new Zephyr sedan, the MKX will entice younger and hipper buyers into its showrooms, which have been lacking anything youthful or stylish for quite some time. Based on Mazda 6 architecture, the MKX uses the same 3.5 V-6 and front- or all-wheel drive components as the similar Ford Edge, but offers swiveling headlights and other luxuries not available on the Ford.

When it goes on sale in the fall of 2006 as a 2007 model, this handsome crossover will be the first production model to follow Lincoln’s new naming convention, which ditches familiar names like Aviator and Continental in favor of generic letter combinations. Hey, didn’t every other luxury brand start doing that last decade?

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The 2006 Lincoln Navigator delivers luxury and prestige in a full-size SUV. The Navigator can carry up to eight passengers, haul 105 cubic feet of gear, and tow up to 8600 pounds of trailer. It offers a smooth, luxurious ride and is surprisingly nimble given its size. Its independent rear suspension is unusual in this class, shared only with the Ford Expedition.

A moderate facelift for 2005 gave the Navigator a kinder and gentler appearance, more like a luxury vehicle, less like a truck. At the same time, the Navigator got a small boost in power from a new 5.4-liter, single-overhead-cam V8 with three valves per cylinder and variable valve timing. It’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that responds to varying driving situations and contributes to a satisfying driving experience. This combination yielded lower emissions as well. There are no major changes for 2006.

Safety features include canopy-style air bags, designed to offer head protection in a side impact or rollover, and a sonar-based Reverse Sensing System that can help warn drivers of an object (or a child on a tricycle) immediately behind the vehicle whenever shifting into reverse. AdvanceTrac stability control with Roll Stability Control, which comes standard, can help the driver maintain control in an emergency handling situation.

Navigator’s cabin is attractive and comfortable. Even the third-row seats are relatively comfortable for adults. When it’s time to haul cargo, simply press a button on the keyless remote and the power liftgate raises, then walk up to the rear of the vehicle and press a pair of buttons and the third-row seats glide down to reveal a perfectly flat cargo area.

New for 2006, the Elite Package adds 18-inch chrome wheels, THX-certified audio with navigation system, HID headlamps, rear-seat DVD entertainment, power-retractable running boards and heavy-duty towing. The Elite Package is available only with the Ultimate Preferred Equipment Package.

Stand-alone options include a 300-watt, nine-speaker THX audio system with voice-activated DVD navigation ($2,995), power retractable running boards ($1,095), rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($1,415), HID headlamps ($495), Class III/IV trailer tow package ($350), chrome wheels ($695), sunroof ($1,595), and a monochrome appearance package ($995).

The popular Ultimate Preferred Equipment Package ($3,100) adds a power glass sunroof, power liftgate, heated and cooled front seats, and a power folding function for the third-row seat. To achieve eight-passenger seating, a 40/20/40 split bench second-row seat is offered in place of the standard second-row bucket seats at no charge.

The Lincoln Navigator combines the towing and hauling capabilities you’d expect from a full-size SUV with the smooth and pleasant driving experience you’d want in a luxury sedan. Its interior is modern and stylish and it has comfortable third-row seating space. That should make Navigator exactly the right choice for a large number of buyers.

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The Zephyr sedan, introduced last fall for the 2006 model year, will be rechristened MKZ for the 2007 model year. Lincoln says the new name should be pronounced “Mark Z.”
The MKn theme will continue to be rolled out when the recently introduced Zephyr receives some major revisions for the 2008 model including a more powerful 3.5L engine, all-wheel-drive and significant sheetmetal changes up front. When this happens, you can expect the Zephyr nameplate to be once again filed away in the dead badge cabinet for another decade or two and the entry model to wear some manner of MK moniker (MKZ?) on its trunklid. With the Zephyr on sale for a scant two model years, the rebadging is unlikely to cause any significant hiccoughs beyond some incremental marketing costs to establish the car’s new handle.

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