[Exploder]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/first-drive-2009-lincoln-mks-w-video/

 

[megeebee]

When the original MKS concept turned up in 2006, it was basically a slightly fancied up version of the then-new Ford Five Hundred, and it was not warmly received.

In a pleasant change of direction, Ford took the lukewarm reception for the concept to heart and by the time the production version of the MKS appeared at the LA Auto Show last November, it had been transformed

January 2006:

November 2007:

WHERE'S THE TRANSFORMATION??????? The headlamp units are a bit bigger, the lower body molding now has a strip of chrome on it, and the grille has a piece of painted metal running down the middle. OY! The people at Autoblog seem easy to impress (or fool).

The fact is that the car shown at Detroit in January 2006 was not a concept. It was just called one. The MKS would have been a 2008 model if the reaction at the Detroit show was at all positive. It was greeted with thunderous yawns, so Ford did what they could do to it and produced the production car in LA nearly 2 years later. Aside from the hood, which now incorporates the piece that divides the grille, none of the sheetmetal differs from the car shown in January of 2006.


EDIT: Found a better shot.

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[K-1]

That's a fine transformation, as in "affine" (reflection). I don't see anything different between those two cars, besides their orientation...

 

[minnfang]

Sounds like a good car - pretty much what the Lucerne SHOULD be. I thought the gauges look kind of cheap though - especially the fuel and temp gauges. What's with the big ugly lump below them? Doesn't look very well thought out. The 1980s Ranger gauge designer needs to be put out to pasture.

 

[Exploder]

I don't mind it, I would take it over a Lexus ES or any Acura. Even the present Buick sedans.

However, the big elephant in the room is the Hyundai Genesis...nuff said.

 

[Extreme4x4]

Are you really planning to walk into a Hyundai/Kia dealership............. squeeze your way through the Accents.............. to plunk down you $40K large???

How many people do you think, will???

I realize the base price is around $30K. However, decently equipped V6's will top out around $40K and V8's will go well into the 40's.

Buying a luxury car isn't just about price and features............ it is about the entire experience. The purchasing and servicing experience. This is how Lexus got to be where they are. Not because their first cars were so great.

It would be like Toyota trying to sell the LS400 in the Toyota dealership........... you know............ right next to a Corolla.

 

[AmericanRevolution]

Your transformation:

The nose went from Anycar brand to Lincoln exclusive. Profile isn't change different at all, though, true. But oh what a nose job can do for a car that wants to get a little extra flair.

 

[Bravada]

Nose went from passable to grotesque. Both are "anybrand".

This should've been Lincoln's nose:

 

[derrado]

It is nice but it is so very bland. People have said the new front grille treatment is distinctive but I just don't see it - it looks overchromed and the headlights are small and unexciting.

Lincoln's been doing some weird things lately. The retro gauges, too-big taillights (MKZ) and too-small taillights (Navigator), excessively chromed grilles (Navigator, MKS), name changes after a year (Zephyr/MKZ), neglect of good models (LS), maintaining old relics (Town Car), botching good designs (Navigator), alphabet-soup names (all).... the list goes on.

The MKS is nice but after all this nonsense, it does not stand out. If it takes some (or lots of) sales from the Lexus ES, though, I'll be happy. That dopey luxo-Camry deserves to fail.

I must say, though, the Mark X concept grille was very distinctive and it is nice to see it on the MKX. Also, I love the MKZ interior and the exterior isn't too bad. And the retro gauge idea is one I am a fan of.

 

[ksr]

Decent-looking car. Doubtful that it's any sort of game-changer for Lincoln though.

Looks like they altered the C pillar a bit from the concept, making a bit less round. Nice touch. It does differentiate it at least a bit from the Taurus/Sable.