"Lincoln takes 8,600 orders for not yet launched MKS"

[AZLincolnMercury]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lincoln-takes-8600-orders-for-not-yet-launched-mks.html
June2

Despite the fact that Lincoln's first unique-looking car since the LS bowed for the 2000 model year isn’t due to arrive at dealerships until the end of the month, Lincoln dealers from across the country already pre-sold 8,600 MKS sedans. The new car is expected to be a make-it or break-it vehicle for the luxury brand, which recently only had what many see as dressed-up, more costly Ford products to sell.

"When you look at the Lincolns they have today and what this car represents, there's no question it's a game-changer," said analyst Erich Merkle of IRN Inc in a Detroit News report. Part of the reason the car is selling already has to do with Ford's marketing of the vehicle. At last November's Los Angeles auto show, the automaker laid out its cards on the table, announcing the cost of the base car, at about $38,000, and the pricing of its options. More recently, the MKS made stops at over 300 of the biggest Lincoln dealership to train sales staff and tantalize customers.

The new flagship will also have the difficult mission of attracting younger customers, with Ford hoping to lower the average age of the current flagship buyer, at 72 for the Town Car, to 45 for the MKS. Helping the cause is a high level of technology and content, including the Microsoft-developed Sync multimedia connectivity system, a keyless entry system, and available all-wheel drive system.

Based on the same platform as the Ford Taurus, the MKS will not bear any resemblance to other models in the Ford family. "Everything you can see, feel and touch is unique to Lincoln," said IRN Inc. analyst Erich Merkle.

The flagship will not offer a V8 engine, instead making do with a 3.7-liter V6 that also does duty in the Mazda CX-9 SUV, where it makes 273hp. Some time next year, a twin-turbo version of the engine dubbed Ecotec mated to an all-wheel drive system should provide as much as 400 horsepower.

[pro-five-oh]

ome time next year, a twin-turbo version of the engine dubbed Ecotec mated to an all-wheel drive system should provide as much as 400 horsepower.
The article is wrong: it will be a single turbo motor named Eco-boost. Ecotec is the name for GM 4-cylinder motors.

8600 is a lot for pre-orders, and that's cool. I'd be shocked if Lincoln can keep that pace...its just too bland of a vehicle to not be wearing a Lexus badge. :)

[Silver Cobra]

If it's true, then it deserves props considering it's Lincoln of all companies. I don't hate the vehicle, I just think it doesn't qualify as a Lincoln. A Mercury, yes but not a Lincoln.

[luxuryrules]

That actually is pretty impressive. Interesting to see if it continues to sell that well. Also interesting to see what happens when we get one of our own behind the wheel, because we can't rule out that they may very well have a classy car on their hands and we don't know it yet.

[LithiumCobalt]

I looked at the specs and the gas mileage is very disappointing. FWD gets 17/24 and AWD gets 16/23. That's piss poor for a V6 car. I'll stick with my tried and true V8.

[ImTheJoker4u2]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lincoln-takes-8600-orders-for-not-yet-launched-mks.html

dressed-up, more costly Ford products to sell

and then later in the artical it says "Based on the same platform as the Ford Taurus,"....umm so lemme get this straight....the dressed up more expensive ford taurus is an all new lincoln MKS that isnt a dressed up taurus??

[Philip]

I think it's the Taurus that just got dressed up recently, lol! If a vehicle platform is great, it is great. Platform sharing is very necessary for a manufacturer to make it in the world market. Badge-engineering is NOT. The Lincolns of recent past have been more derivitave of existing platforms than of being their own unique car. I'll even admit the car I drive and love is very derivitave of the Thunderbird. There is not $20K difference in the execution of materials, but it is still a pleasant drive.

The MKS does seem to be much more revolutionary than evolutionary to me. That the new Taurus shares it's basic architecture with it is not a problem to me at all.

[mark95man]

Am I expected to be happy over another FWD car that give less MPG than my Town Car? I do not like FWD, never owned one but drove some. Very tiring to drive. AWD? For me why? If required, I'll just rebuild my RWD cars! Remember when FWD was first offered? It would be cheaper and easier to build & maintain--wishful thinking. Kind of like the new sizes of Ice Cream---I called the manuafcturer to complain--they said it was easier to transport, less leftovers all at the same low price. Really? There's less and prices will increase just like FWD!:rolleyes:

[pro-five-oh]

I think it's the Taurus that just got dressed up recently, lol! If a vehicle platform is great, it is great.

The Taurus got new lights, fenders hood and a good engine. Not really dressed up, more like lipstick on a pig. And the sales numbers prove it. :)

Luckily the MKS shares little with the Taurus. Aside from the lack of a unique air suspension, the MKS is as well done as the original V6 Continental. Could be worse, could be better.

Problem is, the MKS is dull. Acura RL dull. The V6 Continental was a watershed design when it first came out, before Ford neglected it for the next four years. Where the Conti succeeded, the MKS will fail. The market was changing by 1992, the Japanese luxury automakers were making cars like the V6 Conti but doing it better.

The MKS still thinks its 1988. Its not. A Lincoln on a Taurus platform won't excite anyone except a few loyalists on this forum.

[Silver Cobra]

The MKS still thinks its 1988. Its not. A Lincoln on a Taurus platform won't excite anyone except a few loyalists on this forum.

I'm not one of them despite what I drive :).

If only the 95-02 Conti was RWD. It would've been what the Marauder became in 03. Waaay to late and even that car was a small wonder.

[xrcrx]

Sounds like it's a Mazda 6 platform. Not a bad deal necessarily. A friend has the Speed 6 and it's really nice and the interior rivals the German Lux makers.

[pro-five-oh]

Sounds like it's a Mazda 6 platform. Not a bad deal necessarily. A friend has the Speed 6 and it's really nice and the interior rivals the German Lux makers.

Its the Volvo S80...not the new one, the older one.

[skinhead]

Well, I was at my local Lincoln dealer ordering some parts today and as I was walking out, I saw it, yes, the new MKS!

Yes, it was beautiful, the pictures and videos just don't do it justice, it's a very big car, if it was parked next to a town car, I think they would be about the same length. The interior is very upscale, yet, content to the point where it doesn't go overboard. It definitely doesn't look like a rebadged anything, which made me very happy, so basically, I like it...:cool:

[Philip]

I want one, I really really do! Paying for one, that's my only obstacle, lol :)

[ricoba]

Well, I was at my local Lincoln dealer ordering some parts today and as I was walking out, I saw it, yes, the new MKS!

Yes, it was beautiful, the pictures and videos just don't do it justice, it's a very big car, if it was parked next to a town car, I think they would be about the same length. The interior is very upscale, yet, content to the point where it doesn't go overboard. It definitely doesn't look like a rebadged anything, which made me very happy, so basically, I like it...:cool:

Don't mean to be disagreeable, but I saw one recently at the dealership and I admit it's really a pretty car especially in red.

But, to me from the side, it did look very similar to the new Taurus/Sable. Not that that's a bad thing, I kind of like the shape. I had the new Sable Premier as a loaner from the dealer recently and it was a very nice car to drive and very spacious.