MKS by 2008

[pro-five-oh]

From Jalopnik.com

Automotive News reports Ford will sell a version of the Shelby GT-H Mustang Rent-a-Racer at dealerships, confirming a longstanding rumor that's been exchanged among sauced journos since the rental was unveiled at the New York auto show last April. According to the paper, FoMoCo prez Mark Fields will outline the plan at this week's automotive management seminars in Traverse City, where GM's Rick Wagoner will announce the coming Camaro. The 325-hp horse will be a 2007 model, dubbed Shelby GT, available in white or black with silver stripes -- unlike the gold-on-black livery of the Hertz cars -- and will be finished at Carroll Shelby's Las Vegas shop, with volume in the few-thousand range, according to a source from Ford. The new model will be the subject of the next installment of Ford's "Bold Moves" documentary -- playing itself, natch. Ford execs also told dealers the company was building production versions of its Fairlane and Lincoln MKS concepts in 2008.

[pro-five-oh]

Here's the offical drawing of the MKS...the cliche fender grilles are gone, replaced by the Lincoln star flying solo. That's probably a good thing.

http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/1-2007-lincoln-mks-sketch.jpg

[Sysanalyst]

Looks good. Now let's see if they stick to the design. I like the five spoke wheels (with the five charcoal gray hidden spokes). The nose looks very "Acura" and the tail has a "Benz" flair. Good thing they kept the 4 pointed star so people will recognize it as Lincoln.

[pro-five-oh]

Good thing they kept the 4 pointed star so people will recognize it as Lincoln.

The star is good, that's the only not-generic styling statement on the side. I like the front however, its a nice modernization of the Mark VIII nose.

This one's got potential with its 4.4L V8 and AWD. Well see how serious they are in a few months.

[Nick]

Thank God there is no Bangle butt. Do I see weird flame surfacing? Anyone else see a double for a Hoffmeister kink? I hope the tail lights are in proportion to the rest of the car. They've been excessively large on the Zephyr and the concept of this car.

[Sysanalyst]

The "short glass" Nissan window effect is on full force. Kind of looks nice and gives it a chopped look. The roofline is nice also, but will cause reviewers to kick it in the butt for a big blind spot.

[GorgeZeph]

Nice overall.... Still would like suicide doors....... And where is the hood ornament??

[Shrewsbury]

Do I spy a stretched Mazda 6 with a Dodge Magnum mid-line and a Saturn tail? I bet those low profile rubber$ make the ride more like a Ticonderoga than a luxury car...will it sport air ride? The rear doors are of decent traditional Lincoln width for easy back seat access, so that's a big plus. Pro, what odds are you giving that this will come to fruition?

[AZLincolnMercury]

the cliche fender grilles are gone, replaced by the Lincoln star flying solo. That's probably a good thing.

yeah, we don’t want it to look like a new Escalade.

what odds are you giving that this will come to fruition?

I'd say 100%
"'Shelby GT', Ford Fairlane, Lincoln MKS get green light"
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/07/shelby-gt-ford-fairlane-lincoln-mks-get-green-light/

[Silver Cobra]

Looks like Lincoln is finally catching up to Asian styling. Styling that's been exercised years prior! :rolleyes:

[pro-five-oh]

Do I spy a stretched Mazda 6 with a Dodge Magnum mid-line and a Saturn tail? I bet those low profile rubber$ make the ride more like a Ticonderoga than a luxury car...will it sport air ride? The rear doors are of decent traditional Lincoln width for easy back seat access, so that's a big plus. Pro, what odds are you giving that this will come to fruition?

The tail is a lot like a Maserati Quattroporte, the rest is pretty much bland euro-asian influences with little Lincoln elsewhere. Nothing earth shattering, but it looks like it'll work fine.

The wheels will shrink a little bit for the production car. It will still be 18-inchers, I bet.

Air ride? Not a chance in hell, that's the old Lincoln era...when Lincoln had money to make Lincolns, not reskinned Volvos!

Its gonna come to fruition, unless Ford goes belly up before 2008. This is the Town Car/Continental replacement. If Ford dies and gets re-bought by other investors, kiss Lincoln and Mercury goodbye.

[pro-five-oh]

More pics of the MKS sedan are here, along with the MKX:

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/detroit/photo-dump-lincoln-mkx-mks-147779.php

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/images/lincoln_mks_2.jpg

It may not say "Lincoln" to us but it is a sharp car.

[Led Zephyrlin]

MKS does not appear to be a TC replacement. It is not even classed as a large size luxury car. I suspect this to be the LS (conti) replacement with a future TC in the works. If Lincoln tries passing off this (revamped 500?) as a TC the company deserves to be put out of it's misery.

I do like the MKS but combining the TC and LS both into one vehicle is corporate suicide.

[Silver Cobra]

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/images/lincoln_mks_3.jpg

I see Saturn Ion right there

[pro-five-oh]

There is no replacement for the TC coming anytime soon (this decade) so the MKS is basically the TC + LS + Conti. I'm sure it'll be a good car (the 500 chassis is a good foundation) but its got three real big pairs of shoes to fill. ;)

There is talk of an Australian Ford RWD sedan coming to replace the Crown Vic, and that would make a nice Lincoln too. We're not gonna see that for at least 5 years though.

My point: start lovin' the MKS as Lincoln's big sedan...its all we got!

[Led Zephyrlin]

I am not a large sedan person. TC is too big for me. Granted I love getting rides to and from the airport in a TC since the ride and comfort is impecable but I am talking about the utter abandonment of your large car lovers and livery business.

I can see Caddy picking up the Lincoln TC slack in this area very quickly. Superb business decision on the part of Ford, let's discontinue this vehicle, without replacement so our competitor can take our marketshare in that area.:rolleyes: What kind of backward thinking inbred yokels are running the show with that kind of thought? This goes back to the mentality of "who needs the mid-size family sedan market."

Mis-management is so rampant in american car companies that it is just tragic. For too long the Big 3 took an arrogant stance and now American autoworkers and stockholders are paying for it.

[Sysanalyst]

Bad news about Town Car going away; parts availability will become very slim and limited. Can't imagine an MKS Limo.... Stopping Town Car production is a downright basic bad Ford decision, another in a long line of basic bad decisions that has taken them to where they are today. Will be buying a new vehicle very soon, wanted it to be a Ford, purchased many Fords in the 1980's and 1990's, but am scared to purchase a Ford anymore after my experience with my 2001 Escape (POS) and since they may do an Oldsmobile and go belly up.

[Rhett]

Anybody found interior specs on head/leg/hip/shoulder room for the MKS? at 6' 8", I can barely fit into my TC! I like the looks of the "proposed" MKS, and would like to trade when they come out, but I'm really concerned about being cramped. Should I just go out and try a 500? Is that basically what we're gonna get, or are they adding more room, wheelbase, etc.?

[pro-five-oh]

Is that basically what we're gonna get, or are they adding more room, wheelbase, etc.?

Maybe a longer wheelbase and a little wider, but I doubt it. The 500 is a very large car, and its much-touted, SUV-like interior is definitely more suited to taller folks like yourself.

The TC is old-school longer/lower/wider with a big hood and trunk...like all modern cars, the MKS will do more with less real estate.

[LuxuryLiner]

But, there is just something about rolling up in a Town Car...even if people don't like them, they know them and respect the ride. IMHO

[AZLincolnMercury]

But, there is just something about rolling up in a Town Car...even if people don't like them, they know them and respect the ride. IMHO

Yeah…but pull up in a MKS and people will wonder if it’s a Lexus, Infiniti, etc…I am confident no one has ever mistaken a Town Car for anything else. It’s the kind of car you see coming from several blocks away and immediately know what it is.