Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged Lincoln
North American International Auto Show 2012
Jan 16th
It’s practically a tradition that the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is accompanied by the worst weather of the season. The second week in January in Detroit is rarely a pleasant place, but this year’s show was preceded by unseasonably warm and sunny weather. All thoughts of global warming aside, it seemed to indicate a subtle change in the climate of the automotive industry as well. No-shows included Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Jaguar/Land Rover, but all of the major industry players were present.
Several years of economic hardship (and more than a few casualties) have left the auto industry cautious; the wild abandon that characterized auto shows past is long gone. In its place, there’s a pragmatic realism–but for 2012, that realistic outlook is also optimistic. In addition to the upcoming products that are useful refinements of existing vehicles, Detroit also saw the debut of some honest-to-goodness concept cars, showing that the industry may have scaled back on the wildest flights of fancy, but it hasn’t forgotten how to dream. More >
2004 Lincoln LS V8
May 5th
Semi-annual drive events are a good opportunity for auto writers to drive a number of new cars back to back. They’re also not unlike high school dances, as everyone scrambles for a chance at the latest Mercedes, Maserati, or Jaguar. At a recent such event, I decided to take a break from elbowing my way into the line for the debutantes, and found a 2004 Lincoln LS siting practically forgotten at the back of the lot. No one had driven it all day.
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2010 Lincoln MKT
Mar 26th
The SUV backlash that everyone predicted is in full swing. Customers are deserting truck-based sport-utility vehicles in droves, and a growing number of multi-purpose crossover vehicles are taking their place, at both the low and high ends of the market. The marketing folks will talk about how it’s an opportunity to serve customers as never before; what they really mean is, “What do luxury buyers want these days?” The market’s changed, and that’s why we’re looking down the split-grilled barrel of a great big Lincoln station wagon.
Okay, it’s not technically a “station wagon.” The all-new MKT is Lincoln’s full-size luxury crossover vehicle. It’s a mega-wagon that features three rows of seating, a wide range of safety technologies, Ford’s new EcoBoost engine which provides V8-like horsepower with V6 fuel economy, and of course Lincoln’s brand of American luxury. Show-car styling and a generous girth give the MKT an impressive bearing on the road, and a newfound sense of luxury makes it a comfortable place to be, as well. Of course, that pesky question still remains: is it what luxury buyers want? More >