Automotive Reviews
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2009 Lincoln MKS
Nov 5th
Surely you’ve noticed that Lincoln’s flagship sedan doesn’t seem to have kept up with the times. The Town Car has been redesigned several times over the years, but it’s clear that the biggest Lincoln harkens from an era long gone past. That’s fine for a rapidly decreasing number of buyers who want old-school luxury, but there’s not much future in building cars for old men in this business. Fear not, Lincoln fans; the Detroit luxury brand is going uptown and joining the 21st century for 2009, with the introduction of the all-new MKS full-size sedan.
Lincoln’s new flagship definitely looks the part. During my test drive, it was mistaken for a Lexus no fewer than four times. This is a big, substantial car with room for four, but a V6 engine that’s relatively fuel-efficient. Handling and body control are also world-class. Could Lincoln’s full-size sedans finally be stepping out of the disco age?
The styling takes the brand’s current look to a bolder place, with a massive toothy split grille, contoured hood and side sculpting that are muscle-car dramatic. The MKS has tall sills and a powerful stance. High-intensity discharge headlamps are standard equipment. A choice of eighteen or twenty-inch wheels gives the MKS a sporty, ready-for-action look, and help to disguise this car’s size; when parked next to smaller vehicles it looks almost as big as an SUV. At the rear, a high tail is reminiscent of classic Lincolns, and the new taillamp treatment is unique and good looking. Bold Lincoln jewelry adorns the front fenders and rear deck. The MKS looks equal parts sports sedan and luxury car.
The cabin is equally modern; the uniquely sculpted instrument panel doesn’t rely on fake wood to draw the eye, but rather handsome curves and satin-finish trim. Lincoln’s trademark star is hinted at by the placement of the THX sound system’s center speaker, and the console is clean and unadorned. The seats are upholstered in soft Bridge of Weir leather (the company is known for providing hides to the Concorde and Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner). Heated rear seats are standard, and the MKS can be had with a two-panel skylight roof for an open-air experience. Keeping the luxury quotient high, Lincoln includes the SYNC voice-activated accessory interface system, THX audio, a pushbutton start, adaptive headlamps, Sirius satellite radio with real-time traffic updates, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, a backup camera and a voice-activated navigation system. A keypad that allows the doors to be unlocked with a unique user code is a Lincoln tradition that has been carried over to the MKS and updated with heat-sensing illumination and a smart key fob that allows one-touch entry and keyless starting. The MKS is even environmentally responsible; the available Ebony wood trim is actually made from reclaimed material.
What’s under the hood is unexpected; the MKS is powered by a new 3.7 liter V6 engine. What’s that? No V8? In these times of high fuel costs, Lincoln has chosen to give the MKS a smaller powerplant. Have no fear though, the MKS’ 24-valve all-aluminum V6 uses an all-new direct-injection fueling system that’s good for 270 horsepower. All-wheel drive is also available, and AdvanceTrac stability control is standard. The two-ton MKS moves out quickly. The V6 occasionally sounds overworked and offers a sour engine note, but it never feels like the car’s weight is too much for it, even with the added weight of all-wheel drive. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, but slowly; its responses are geared toward seamless gearchanges rather than enthusiast-pleasing ones.
Suspension-wise, the MKS is ready to play thanks to a fully independent suspension. The big Lincoln has borrowed a page from just about every other luxury manufacturer’s playbook, and the MKS has more road feel and much better transitional response than the boat-like Continentals of yore. Buyers hoping for old-school squish will find the MKS a bit too taut for their liking. The available twenty-inch wheels are loud on grooved pavement as well, but a bit of tire noise isn’t likely to dissuade the modern luxury buyer. A car that can’t stop, on the other hand, will, so the MKS’ big antilock brakes are more than capable of bringing the car to a halt without protest.
It’s a compelling argument for a renaissance at Lincoln, if the company can maintain this momentum. MKS pricing starts at $37,655 and well-equipped models come in at well under $45,000, offering luxury to compete with Audi and Infiniti at a lower price.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
Length: 204.1 in.
Width: 75.9 in.
Height: 61.6 in.
Wheelbase: 112.9 in.
Curb weight: 4127-4276 lb.
Cargo space: 18.4 cu.ft.
Engine: 3.7 liter DOHC V6
Drivetrain: six-speed automatic transmission, front- or all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 270 @ 6250
Torque: 265 @ 4250
Fuel capacity: 19 gal. (AWD)
2008 Lincoln MKX
Aug 1st
It was a cold, rainy late-winter day, and I was not in the mood to travel. I always enjoy the New York Auto Show, but the dismal weather and a backlog of work to be done around the house meant that my desire to make the nine-hour drive to the Big Apple was at an all-time low. Nonetheless, duty called, so I saddled up and got on the road. Once I was there, the 2008 Lincoln MKX did an excellent job of improving my spirits.
The MKX is improving Lincoln’s spirits as well. At heart it’s a more luxurious version of the Ford Edge crossover, and whether the Lincoln stylings that have been added offer enough distinction for it to be considered a separate model is a matter for discussion. Whether it’s a unique vehicle or not, the MKX offers the Lincoln lineup a modern take on the do-anything crossover vehicles that are currently in fashion. Like Lexus’ RX and Cadillac’s SRX, the MKX is a leather-clad around-town family and cargo hauler that aims to be more parking-lot friendly than full-size sport utes without giving up the comfort and bad-weather stability that those vehicles provide.
It’s a very friendly vehicle, that much is for sure. The MKX took steps to improve my mood immediately, coddling me with standard front and rear heated seats and an easily navigated, well laid-out interior. The split dashboard is reminiscent of the rest of the Lincoln lineup, with white LED-lit gauges and nickel trim. Extensive sound deadening has been added to the structure, resulting in an exceptionally quiet ride. An iPod-friendly, 14-speaker THX sound system and Ford’s SYNC media-center system were also on board. Elegant piping on the seats and a pleasantly cavernous center console with a removable divider make the MKX an able road-tripper. Even the panoramic glass Vista Roof top allowed the daylight, such as it was, to shine in. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad trip after all.
Once on the road, the MKX quickly showed that it’s just as adept as any other Lincoln at eating up freeway miles. The brand’s natural habitat is the open road, and the MKX is no exception. The 3.5 liter DOHC V6 features variable intake cam timing and produces 265 horsepower. The six-speed automatic transmission shifted seamlessly, even when dealing with the hills of eastern Pennsylvania. Traveling along I-80, I joined a high-speed parade with a MINI Cooper, a modified Vollkswagen Golf, a VW New Beetle convertible, and a stablemate of the MKX’s, a brand-new Lincoln MKZ. The five of us made good time, and the MKX, though the largest member of the convoy by a significant margin, had no trouble keeping up. The MKX’ available all-wheel drive isn’t for going off-road, of course, but it keeps the handling confident when it’s raining.
It’s one thing to excel on the open road; it’s quite another to tackle the streets of Manhattan, of course. The MKX handled that challenge as well, its responsive V6 up to the task of drag-racing taxis. I had some concerns that the optional 20-inch wheels would suffer at the hands of Manhattan’s notorious potholes, but even the biggest bumps were absorbed without damage. The MacPherson struts up front are mounted on an isolated subframe for improved noise resistance, and the four-link rear suspension provides a sophisticated and stable ride. This tall vehicle doesn’t waddle like a minivan. The MKX is more car than truck, but the chassis distinction made no difference to the Manhattan parking garage attendants who took one look at the Lincoln’s girth and added the “oversize vehicle” surcharge reserved for vans and sport-utes.
In New York City, driving involves a lot of hard acceleration and hard braking. The MKX’s standard anti-locks provide confident handling in panic-braking situations, of which there were remarkably few thanks to the high seating position and great visibility.
In a landscape consisting mainly of yellow and black sedans, the MKX stands out. It’s got a tall body with short overhangs front and rear, a stubby hood and no trunk to speak of. A traditional Lincoln grille is pushed into a puglike face whose projector headlamps have Lincoln logos frosted into them, and tasteful chrome trim is used to accent the mirrors and high beltline. At the rear, the MKX shows off an panel of wall-to-wall red LEDs. Adaptive headlights turn with the front wheels and improve visibility both in the city and on curvy country roads.
Options like a standard reverse-sensing backup alarm, power-folding rear seats and an available power tailgate made loading and unloading in the Big Apple easier. With up to 68.7 cubic feet of cargo room, the MKX easily swallowed a week’s worth of luggage and sundries, with plenty of space left over. By the time I returned to Detroit, I was quite happy with the MKX and with the trip itself. The Motor City welcomed us home with a nasty snowstorm, which allowed the MKX’ all-wheel drive and bad-weather handling to shine. It may not be a truck, but this crossover has this aspect of the SUV skillset down.
MKX pricing starts at $37,170. After the THX audio, Vista Roof, heated rear seats and trailer towing package were added to my test car, the sticker was $44,900.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2008 Lincoln MKX.
Length: 186.5 in.
Width: 75.8 in.
Height: 67.3 in.
Wheelbase: 111.2 in.
Curb weight: 4400 lb.
Cargo space: 68.7 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price: $37,170
Price as tested: $44,900
Engine: 3.5 liter DOHC V6
Drivetrain: six-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 265 @ 6250
Torque: 250 @ 4500
Est. mileage: 15/22