[ausrutherford]

The third has been caught and...drum roll...looks like the renderings!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lincoln-mkz-future.html

 

[GMfan1111]

I betcha Brian Willams is getting a good sum for catching all three. Makes me want to go to MPG even more and try out the two new spots that i found

 

[johnstarnes]

Thanks for this....I will have a spazz if the MKT ends up looking like the concept! Plus it would be cool if they put the MKR concept into production as is.....a real stunner!

 

[emh]

Looks good. Really like the longer, narrower tail lights that look closer to the beautiful Zephyr concept from 2004 than the current MKZ.

Now, if only Lincoln can come up with a naming scheme where the fisrt two letters aren't the same for every vehicle... I mean if the "MK" is always there in every model, might as well drop that and call it the Lincoln Z.

 

[ChevroletRevived]

Nice! The new grille will good on the MKZ. I'm particularly interested on seeing what they do with the interior though....

 

[johnstarnes]

I am glad they are moving back to horizontal tail lamps after those oddly diagonal ones out now.

 

[Higher Rhymes]

I want this to look better than the 3-series so bad.. but I know it wont...........

extremely bland flat sides and fenders on a model that is supposed to be 30k...
overall cohesiveness ruined by those rims....needs shark fin antenna and breakaway mirrors...chrome accents are still tasteless........

the interior better be AMAZING

 

[mgescuro]

Now there's a ground breaking design for ya....

 

[mikmak]

Huh? What's so good about this design and considering that the face is the only real new design feature (which you can clearly see), what is the point of the camouflage?

So I'm sort of just starting to frequent this Ford discussion area, what is exciting about the new MKZ? What is it bringing to the line up, or is it just a refresh?

Re: Chuck a spaz. :laugh: Haven't heard that one for a while.

 

[Michael_S]

Now there's a ground breaking design for ya....

At least the grill is distinctive, and recognizable as Lincoln.

I know heritage and retro have been overdone, but I would prefer the resurrection of an old Lincoln name instead of all this MK_ nonsense.

But if the features are nice and the powertrain is good, I think it looks good enough.

 

[GMfan1111]

At least the grill is distinctive, and recognizable as Lincoln.

I know heritage and retro have been overdone, but I would prefer the resurrection of an old Lincoln name instead of all this MK_ nonsense.

But if the features are nice and the powertrain is good, I think it looks good enough.

I do too but fishing letters out of a bowl of alphabits and making a name out of them somehow is popular among most luxury car makers right now. Who knows though maybe when automakers finally run out of letter combinations that don't sound stupid they'll resurrect a classic nameplate

 

[escapen]

It will serve as excellent competiton to the almost bland FWD entry luxury segent. People dont always want or need a rwd car like the BMW 3 or G35. This class consisting of Lexus ES and maybe the next Lacrosse will give Lincoln a distinctive FWD/ AWD alternative.

This car should sell even better than the straight across grill from the Zephyer era. Suceed Lincoln!

 

[Carver]

I hope they improved the instrument cluster - that was retro taken too far.

 

[Michael_S]

I do too but fishing letters out of a bowl of alphabits and making a name out of them somehow is popular among most luxury car makers right now.

Yes.

But I think following the trend makes Lincoln and Cadillac look trashy and pathetic. When Lincoln and Cadillac really had prestige as luxury cars, they created the trend.

Quality is important, good service is important, luxury is important, and performance is important. Obviously Lincoln and Cadillac need to focus on all four, just like the German and Japanese luxury brands.

But I don't think Cadillac and Lincoln will ever again be the measuring stick by which other brands are measured if they're so clearly focused on measuring up to BMW and Mercedes! You can't set the trend when you're following it.

 

[wescoent]

Yes.

But I think following the trend makes Lincoln and Cadillac look trashy and pathetic. When Lincoln and Cadillac really had prestige as luxury cars, they created the trend.

Quality is important, good service is important, luxury is important, and performance is important. Obviously Lincoln and Cadillac need to focus on all four, just like the German and Japanese luxury brands.

But I don't think Cadillac and Lincoln will ever again be the measuring stick by which other brands are measured if they're so clearly focused on measuring up to BMW and Mercedes! You can't set the trend when you're following it.

I agree about the names. The only "designation" names that make sense are BMW, and MB. They denote vehicle type and engine type in a sensible manner (C, E, S, 3, 5, 7).

I've taken a look at Lincoln's marketing and brand approach, and frankly, I don't think they're benchmarking any brand specifically.

This is not to say they're not targeting individual vehicles, in cases. The Lincoln MKZ is aimed at a grey area where the Lexus ES350 ends and Acura TL begins. It's luxurious and roomy, but not spongy soft like the Lexus. It's relatively buttoned down and doesn't embarrass itself as a road car (especially with AWD), but it's just not as razor sharp as the Acura TL.

The Lincoln MKZ doesn't pretend to target the 3 or 5 Series, or C or E Class.

The MKZ can carry four people very comfortably, the trunk is cavernous, it has nice optional equipment, it drives nicely, it's been reliable as clockwork, and its price is very reasonable. To many people, that's a sale, and has Lincoln on the radar of people looking for an entry-level luxury car.

Now, for the mid-cycle enhancement. The point of this MCE is fairly routine and simple.

The exterior style is being updated both to address the giant tail-light assembly, and to bring both front and rear end in line with it's new Lincoln stablemates. The MKT, MKS, and likely MKX will adopt the bow-wave Baleen Whale Mouth grill.

The interior is ALL-NEW. Although the current interior is award-winning, the giant blocky dash and high cowl annoyed many prospective customers, so it is getting an MKS-style revamp.

Driving dynamics should be upgraded as well. Expect an overall better driving car (ride and handling), with better NVH characteristics. I am expecting the new 3.7L V6 under the hood to replace the 3.5L, making it a modestly lustier drive.

One thing to keep in mind is that this may be the last Lincoln MKZ ever. Circa 2012-2013, the Ford Fusion and Ford Mondeo will become one vehicle, and it will spawn an upgraded sister car, with meaningful mechanical and visual differences. I expect this car to be the Mercury Milan.

The MKZ will be replaced by the Lincoln MKR, which for lack of a better explanation, is the Lincoln CTS. Dramatic style, RWD/AWD, V6 engines, and a reasonable price tag. Architecture will be shared with the next-generation Ford Falcon on GRWD, which is currently being hammered out at Ford product development. It's still awhile off, so in the meantime, this MKZ will be Lincoln's entry-level vehicle.

 

[ausrutherford]

I agree about the names. The only "designation" names that make sense are BMW, and MB. They denote vehicle type and engine type in a sensible manner (C, E, S, 3, 5, 7).

I've taken a look at Lincoln's marketing and brand approach, and frankly, I don't think they're benchmarking any brand specifically.

This is not to say they're not targeting individual vehicles, in cases. The Lincoln MKZ is aimed at a grey area where the Lexus ES350 ends and Acura TL begins. It's luxurious and roomy, but not spongy soft like the Lexus. It's relatively buttoned down and doesn't embarrass itself as a road car (especially with AWD), but it's just not as razor sharp as the Acura TL.

The Lincoln MKZ doesn't pretend to target the 3 or 5 Series, or C or E Class.

The MKZ can carry four people very comfortably, the trunk is cavernous, it has nice optional equipment, it drives nicely, it's been reliable as clockwork, and its price is very reasonable. To many people, that's a sale, and has Lincoln on the radar of people looking for an entry-level luxury car.

Now, for the mid-cycle enhancement. The point of this MCE is fairly routine and simple.

The exterior style is being updated both to address the giant tail-light assembly, and to bring both front and rear end in line with it's new Lincoln stablemates. The MKT, MKS, and likely MKX will adopt the bow-wave Baleen Whale Mouth grill.

The interior is ALL-NEW. Although the current interior is award-winning, the giant blocky dash and high cowl annoyed many prospective customers, so it is getting an MKS-style revamp.

Driving dynamics should be upgraded as well. Expect an overall better driving car (ride and handling), with better NVH characteristics. I am expecting the new 3.7L V6 under the hood to replace the 3.5L, making it a modestly lustier drive.

One thing to keep in mind is that this may be the last Lincoln MKZ ever. Circa 2012-2013, the Ford Fusion and Ford Mondeo will become one vehicle, and it will spawn an upgraded sister car, with meaningful mechanical and visual differences. I expect this car to be the Mercury Milan.

The MKZ will be replaced by the Lincoln MKR, which for lack of a better explanation, is the Lincoln CTS. Dramatic style, RWD/AWD, V6 engines, and a reasonable price tag. Architecture will be shared with the next-generation Ford Falcon on GRWD, which is currently being hammered out at Ford product development. It's still awhile off, so in the meantime, this MKZ will be Lincoln's entry-level vehicle.

One thing is that, is the MkX getting the revamp for my10 like Ford said or did it move back so the MkZ could get its. It also would go against the every 3 years facelift Ford has now promised.

 

[Z0mg Seth]

Nice to see it'll have a rearview camera, but will the interior resemble the MKR/MKT-like interior?

 

[Ach]

Now there's a ground breaking design for ya....

Actually, adjustable rear headrests in all three spots is pretty freakin' groundbreaking for Ford...

The MKZ will be replaced by the Lincoln MKR, which for lack of a better explanation, is the Lincoln CTS. Dramatic style, RWD/AWD, V6 engines, and a reasonable price tag. Architecture will be shared with the next-generation Ford Falcon on GRWD, which is currently being hammered out at Ford product development. It's still awhile off, so in the meantime, this MKZ will be Lincoln's entry-level vehicle.

After Ford's recent announcement that GRWD is "under review," I wouldn't bank on there being any RWD Ford products ANYWHERE save the Mustang (excepting trucks of course). There is a good chance that Ford will scrap the program altogether and simply start importing FWD vehicles into Australia.

 

[escapen]

I agree about the names. The only "designation" names that make sense are BMW, and MB. They denote vehicle type and engine type in a sensible manner (C, E, S, 3, 5, 7).

I've taken a look at Lincoln's marketing and brand approach, and frankly, I don't think they're benchmarking any brand specifically.

This is not to say they're not targeting individual vehicles, in cases. The Lincoln MKZ is aimed at a grey area where the Lexus ES350 ends and Acura TL begins. It's luxurious and roomy, but not spongy soft like the Lexus. It's relatively buttoned down and doesn't embarrass itself as a road car (especially with AWD), but it's just not as razor sharp as the Acura TL.

The Lincoln MKZ doesn't pretend to target the 3 or 5 Series, or C or E Class.

The MKZ can carry four people very comfortably, the trunk is cavernous, it has nice optional equipment, it drives nicely, it's been reliable as clockwork, and its price is very reasonable. To many people, that's a sale, and has Lincoln on the radar of people looking for an entry-level luxury car.

Now, for the mid-cycle enhancement. The point of this MCE is fairly routine and simple.

The exterior style is being updated both to address the giant tail-light assembly, and to bring both front and rear end in line with it's new Lincoln stablemates. The MKT, MKS, and likely MKX will adopt the bow-wave Baleen Whale Mouth grill.

The interior is ALL-NEW. Although the current interior is award-winning, the giant blocky dash and high cowl annoyed many prospective customers, so it is getting an MKS-style revamp.

Driving dynamics should be upgraded as well. Expect an overall better driving car (ride and handling), with better NVH characteristics. I am expecting the new 3.7L V6 under the hood to replace the 3.5L, making it a modestly lustier drive.

One thing to keep in mind is that this may be the last Lincoln MKZ ever. Circa 2012-2013, the Ford Fusion and Ford Mondeo will become one vehicle, and it will spawn an upgraded sister car, with meaningful mechanical and visual differences. I expect this car to be the Mercury Milan.

The MKZ will be replaced by the Lincoln MKR, which for lack of a better explanation, is the Lincoln CTS. Dramatic style, RWD/AWD, V6 engines, and a reasonable price tag. Architecture will be shared with the next-generation Ford Falcon on GRWD, which is currently being hammered out at Ford product development. It's still awhile off, so in the meantime, this MKZ will be Lincoln's entry-level vehicle.

I guess the MkZ is most in the class with a TL although not as sporty and a bit smaller than ES right? Actually with offering AWD, it can go along with a 3.2 A4 because they make the same horsepower, just Audi has those awesome interiors.

I thought the MkR was the new flagship? The concept made over 400 hp in its ecoboost V6, and it looked visually larger and more of a 4-door coupe to its MkS sister. I thought we establised Lincoln and Cadillac has classes that were hard to define, the CTS is larger than all entry levels yet rwd, and the MkS is fwd but is priced like CTS but is larger.

Nice to see it'll have a rearview camera, but will the interior resemble the MKR/MKT-like interior?

I think they will drop the full on block slpit dash, but make it more elegant like the MkS and MkT, hopefully something more rounded out

MkS http://images.motortrend.com/featur...711_08z+2009_lincoln_mks+interior_closeup.jpg
MkR http://lh3.ggpht.com/_qrp48LAtUJo/Rb1LaiGzRyI/AAAAAAAAADY/uHfFVKLUu84/IMG_1331.JPG

 

[Carver]

I also hope they are getting rid of the prop rod for the hood. That was a way too cheap of them.