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View Full Version : The Lincoln MKT is on its way! (even if the Flex is failing)


pro-five-oh
August 17th, 2008, 06:53 PM
LINCOLN MKT PRODUCTION CONFIRMED; ALL-NEW THREE-ROW LUXURY CROSSOVER TO LAUNCH IN 2009
http://media.ford.com/images/large/concept/LincolnMKTConcept_02.jpg (http://media.ford.com/images/large/concept/LincolnMKTConcept_02.jpg)
Lincoln MKT Concept
Click image to download photos.


Lincoln continues to expand its portfolio of luxury vehicles with the all-new, three-row Lincoln MKT set to be introduced during calendar year 2009 and redesigned Lincoln MKZ sedan to be shown at 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show
Lincoln MKT to be available with Ford’s EcoBoost™ engine and fuel-efficient six-speed transmission, offering consumers a new way to tour in style
Based on the Lincoln MKT concept from the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the production version will feature the timeless elegance of Lincoln’s signature design cues, industry-leading comfort and convenience technologies like SYNC and comprehensive safety and security features
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Aug. 15, 2008 – Kicking off the weekend marking the celebrated Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Lincoln today confirms it will produce the Lincoln MKT, a premium, three-row luxury crossover based on a the well-received concept vehicle.

“The Lincoln MKT reinforces our commitment to further expand America’s fastest-growing luxury brand, providing an all-new vehicle to the showroom that’s been crafted and honed for a new kind of customer,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company’s president of The Americas.

“The MKT will offer the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a crossover and the performance of a sports sedan, courtesy of its EcoBoost engine,” he added. “At the same time, this perfect blend of performance and power is elegantly wrapped in the refined design cues that have become synonymous with modern Lincolns.”

The Lincoln MKT will build on a string of successful Lincoln products launched in recent years. The Lincoln MKX, a two-row crossover, and the Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan have earned high praise from consumers and continue to gain share in their respective segments.

The flagship Lincoln MKS luxury sedan, introduced earlier this summer, has seen strong early sales, as well. Dynamic and clean-lined, the Lincoln MKS is the first production vehicle to embrace the strong new Lincoln design DNA. New Lincoln products, including the new MKT crossover, will feature this distinctive new Lincoln design language as well as industry-leading technologies.

The Lincoln MKT crossover will join the Lincoln lineup in calendar year 2009, along with an upgraded Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan – plus an additional version of the flagship Lincoln MKS sedan powered by an EcoBoost engine.

In addition to a fuel-efficient 3.7-liter normally aspirated V-6 engine, the Lincoln MKT also will offer an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 engine that will deliver an estimated 340 horsepower and 340 lb.-ft. of torque.

The Lincoln MKT will join other vehicles early in the EcoBoost engine technology rollout, including the Lincoln MKS luxury sedan and Ford Flex.

EcoBoost engines feature turbocharged direct injection technology and deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent improved emissions than larger-displacement engines. In the Lincoln MKS and MKT, for instance, the EcoBoost engine delivers the fuel economy of a V-6 engine but the performance feel of a V-8.

Ford is making a significant commitment to EcoBoost engine technology. Within five years, the company plans to produce 750,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles annually – in vehicles ranging from small cars to full-size pickups in markets around the world.
“EcoBoost engine technology is another symbol of what luxury means today,” Fields said. “Lincolns should drive as beautifully as they look, delivering as much refinement on the road as their designs do even while standing perfectly still.”

Taking cues from its performance sedan sibling and the MKT concept vehicle first shown at the North American International Auto Show in January, the Lincoln MKT will feature the distinctive bow-wave, double-wing grille; clean, uncluttered surfaces; powerful, dynamic beltline; chamfered surface running parallel to the beltline; significant D-pillar that smoothly transitions into the cantilevered roof and a powerful roofrail.

“Embracing the same spirit as the concept, the Lincoln MKT’s design represents harmony in motion, balancing sculptured shapes and contours traditionally associated with beautiful cars on a crossover vehicle that offers the luxury of space and efficient, powerful performance,” said Peter Horbury, Ford’s executive director of Design for The Americas.

The MKT will provide seating for up to seven passengers and all the latest in-car connectivity technologies that customers have come to expect from Lincoln.

This includes a new version of SYNC, the company’s industry-leading connectivity technology that fully integrates customers’ Bluetooth technologies including mobile phones and MP3 players.

Plus, next-generation navigation system technology and new safety and security features will be available, including the new Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross Traffic Alert System.
Working in conjunction with the blind spot information system, Cross Traffic Alert warns the driver of impending traffic while backing out of a parking spot.

When cross traffic is approaching, an indicator light provides a warning in the corresponding outside mirror, as well as an audible warning.

Cross Traffic Alert utilizes the blind spot system’s two multibeam radar modules, which are packaged in the rear quarter panels – one per side. These modules identify when a vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone; an indicator light provides a warning in the outside mirror corresponding to the side in which the vehicle is approaching.

The system can pick up an object moving at up to 18 miles per hour within a 65-foot range – or three parking spaces – from either the left or right side of the vehicle.

The Lincoln MKT will be manufactured in Ford Motor Company’s Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada. Additional product details will be made available closer to the Lincoln MKT’s launch.

DaKat
August 18th, 2008, 11:36 AM
Hmm. I didn't realize the Flex was already losing out. Don't know if that bodes well for the Lincoln or not.

pro-five-oh
August 18th, 2008, 11:53 AM
Ford wanted to sell 75,000-100,000 units of the Flex annually...so far they are pushing about 2700 units a month. They recently stopped production for this reason.

Large CUVs aren't selling well these days. Oops.

DaKat
August 18th, 2008, 01:19 PM
Stopped production permanently, or for this year?

pro-five-oh
August 18th, 2008, 05:26 PM
For a couple weeks....or months.

But I was wrong, nothing is happening yet, right now its just a leak from an Insider.


http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-from-the-front-ford-stops-flex-production-scales-back-edge/

Silver Cobra
August 20th, 2008, 04:54 PM
I'm glad America's obsession with SUVs are dying even though they're still popular. Edge? Freestyle? Flex?? Geez. At least ditch the Freestyle since the Flex is built on the same chassis. A Lincoln version may be a nice styling exercise but the price increase may deem it unworthy for most. The Buick Enclave still looks the best in that category.

If I want utlity, maybe I'll take a CTS Wagon or a 5 door Focus SVT :)

pro-five-oh
August 22nd, 2008, 12:53 PM
That's how bad things are. Silver Cobra still thinks the Freestyle is in production. (I know I'm splitting hairs, but they did rename that car.) Ford's thrown so many CUVs (and D3 cars, but that's another story) at their problems just to see what sticks...and aside from the Escape and Edge, its a whole lot of nothing in terms of sales and public understanding.

Silver Cobra
August 22nd, 2008, 02:07 PM
I know it isn't called the Freestyle anymore. But you have to admit that it sounds waaay better than Taurus X. WTF kinda name is Taurus X?? To this day, I still have no idea where it fits in the market.

The Flex, sadly, is priced a tad high but I'm splitting common sense and logic.

skinhead
August 22nd, 2008, 02:59 PM
Meh, the MKT looks like is could be a good Pacifica replacement and Dodge Journey competitor. I must agree though, the Buick Enclave is pretty sexy lookin'...

NYC LS8
August 22nd, 2008, 03:15 PM
That MKT is pretty cool lookin'.

pro-five-oh
August 22nd, 2008, 04:37 PM
That MKT is pretty cool lookin'.

Wait for the production version. :)

luxuryrules
September 3rd, 2008, 08:50 AM
Wait a second... America's fastest growing luxury brand? Come again?

To combat the new CTS, CTS Coupe, BRX, FX, G37, IS, LS, A5, A4, 1 Series, 3 Series, C Class, Genesis, and all the other new kickass luxury vehicles on the market, Lincoln has a Mazda6, Ford Edge, and a Volvo S80. And somehow we are supposed to believe they are the fastest growing luxury brand? Not that I want to sound skeptical, but... yeah... no.

pro-five-oh
September 5th, 2008, 10:11 AM
Actually that doesn't surprise me, their sales have improved with the new models, but that's only because they went from neglected products with no interest (sans Navigator and Town Car) for 5+ years.

They coulda put a bowl of wet noodles in a Taurus, put Lincoln badges on it, and gained market share from where they were in 2005.

Davemutt
September 13th, 2008, 02:03 PM
If the marketing guys are to be believed, nearly every SUV sold today "offers the performance of a sports sedan".

Jon90LSC
October 3rd, 2008, 04:20 PM
Actually that doesn't surprise me, their sales have improved with the new models, but that's only because they went from neglected products with no interest (sans Navigator and Town Car) for 5+ years.

They coulda put a bowl of wet noodles in a Taurus, put Lincoln badges on it, and gained market share from where they were in 2005.
Thet will be the MKR (for Ramen). I went and looked at new cars at the state fair yesterday (it beat being at work), and I liked the Ford cars over the GM offering. I am curious to see the MKT, since it has a third row seat. The Flex seems like it has more room inside than our Tahoe. I have been kind of watching for a replacement for it when the lease is up (we still have a while). It at least looks to me like Ford is trying, but GM seems to have rolled over and is playing dead. I really wanted to get a good look at a Traverse (since I work at a Chevrolet dealership), but I wasn't that impressed. The Enclave was the nicest of that platform, but nothing really exciting, at least to me.