MKS in the showroom

[pro-five-oh]

The Lincoln MKS arrived at my dealer today, but it wasn't a car the dealer owned/could let me test drive. It was a V6 AWD model, the turbo model is not available yet.

All in all, it has a lot of nice gadgets and the styling isn't too bad, just derivative and forgettable. The only beef is the mail slot sized trunk opening...typical of today's designs.

Sat in a Town Car after...Lincoln would have a HUGE hit if all the MKS's high tech features were in that chassis. There's no doubt as to who is still the King of that Castle.

[Cadavillac]

It wasn't this one was it?

http://jalopnik.com/374067/2009-lincoln-mks-already-busted-up :o

As much as I love my Town Car, as as much as I'm a nut over V8/RWD powertrains, I was a bit spooked at the $3.42/gal at my gas station last night. FWD/AWD with a V6 is looking better and better to me. No, the MKS will never be as regal as the Town Car—nothing with FWD proportions ever will be—but I think it is the right move for Lincoln right now.

Has anyone else seen the FoMoCo video where the boring guy drones on endlessly about fuel prices and MKS design and what not? Toward the end of the video there was a mule with the EcoBoost engine racing a BMW 3 series and an STS (though I could not tell if it was a V6 or V8 STS). Basically it was a Taurus body with the TTV6. Anyway. It hauls ass. Period. Even though the car is wrong wheel drive I think it's a better car overall than the aging Town Car.

The fact that Ford let the Town Car wither on the vine isn't the MKS' fault.


Matt

BTW, the mail-slot size trunk opening infuriates me, too.

[pro-five-oh]

As much as I love my Town Car, as as much as I'm a nut over V8/RWD powertrains, I was a bit spooked at the $3.42/gal at my gas station last night. FWD/AWD with a V6 is looking better and better to me. No, the MKS will never be as regal as the Town Car—nothing with FWD proportions ever will be—but I think it is the right move for Lincoln right now.


Its still the wrong move, because Lincoln doesn't need an Acura RL. What we have here is just as forgettable and regrettable as Acura's blunder. Not to mention the only fuel efficient one will be the non-turbo FWD model, which will please nobody but fleet buyers.

Anyway. It hauls ass. Period. Even though the car is wrong wheel drive I think it's a better car overall than the aging Town Car.

On premium fuel. No way it will be turbo'd and run on regular...and cost more to feed than a Town Car. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[Cadavillac]

Here's the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgilKUwMl2A

Edmunds (among other sources) states that the EcoBoost will run on regular. Of course, Edmunds has been wrong before. That said, I was previously unaware that forced induction engines could be run on regular grade, and I'll believe it when I see it. (Like you said, you can't have your cake and eat it, too).

Gas prices in my area tonight are 3.21 for regular and 3.43 for premium. For an 18 gallon fill up that's only an extra $3.60 per tank of gas. An extra $3.60 a couple of times a month won't break me... I can stand to pay that. Even if the MKS isn't exactly the new product everyone wanted to see in Lincoln showrooms at least it is a new product that took a little more effort than the Mark LT.

[pro-five-oh]

Well you can run a turbo motor on regular, but it kinda defeats the purpose of adding forced induction on an engine. Performance AND economy usually suffer. Ford did the same thing with the 1987-88 Turbo Coupe, and if you ran the 87-octane computer tune (via dash switch) it was an absolute dog.

Even if the MKS isn't exactly the new product everyone wanted to see in Lincoln showrooms at least it is a new product that took a little more effort than the Mark LT.

Faint praise, no? :) Maybe things will be different this time. And maybe the MKS will finally break the curse of this unloved D3 chassis. But, especially right now with no EcoBoost, I don't see the market moving very much in Lincoln's favor.

Sure, something is better than nothing.

[pro-five-oh]

After reading some trusted sources, it looks like Ecoboost will run on 87 octane. Good to hear, now let's see exactly how much power comes from the 3.7L version. It might be a nice improvement over its competition.

Too bad the MKS needs this motor right now, not next year.:(

[Nick]

Robert Cumberford had it right in his design review of the car in Automobile. The Lincoln MKS: What a luxury car shouldn't be.

Ford is finally admitting it though. Lincoln's targeted competition is Buick.

Perhaps Ford could have a renaissance like GM by importing stuff from Europe and Australia. I can even say I like a few Saturns. It's an amazing change.

[Cadavillac]

Mr. Cumberford also didn't care for the 2002's Continental Concept, either.

[mercury_1988]

Could you post pictures Pro-five-oh Please ?

[pro-five-oh]

Could you post pictures Pro-five-oh Please ?

No. If you don't know how to use Google to find pictures, that's not my problem. :) ;)

http://arisblogger.googlepages.com/lincoln-mks.JPG

[mercury_1988]

I meant the one at your dealer .

[pro-five-oh]

I meant the one at your dealer .

Didn't bring a camera. :)

[Philip]

Go to lincoln.com and click on future vehicles. Very tasty multimedia presentation. You can even design, build and pre-order your MKS online.