I’ve taken a lot of heat hereabouts for being so negative about, well, everything. And how dare I diss Ford? They’re the “good guys”: the only domestic automaker (out of three) that didn’t belly-up to the federal bailout buffet (if only because doing so would mean various Fords would have to surrender control of the family firm to, gasp!, outsiders). Well, sorry, folks, but here’s a prime example of why the Blue Oval Boyz are just as loco en la cabeza as the branding brains at Chrysler and GM. Feast your eyes on the Lincoln MKT, the blinged-up version of the Ford Flex. That’s the three-row, six-passenger vehicle that racked up all of 3,190 sales last month, barely cresting 10,000 since the beginning of the year. OK, so other than the luxury Flex’s cetaceous snout . . . am I the only one who can’t see beyond the utter hideousness of that “split wing grille”? Deep breath. Details after the jump.
The big news here (if big news there be): the fitment of Ford’s new 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost™ engine. The turbo-six stumps up 355 horsepower. It’s the same direct injection, twin-turbo powerplant that’s [finally] under the hood of the slightly less sales sluggardly MKZ. As you might expect for any vehicle with a high horsepower lump sitting on Ford’s ill-fated front wheel-drive D3 platform, the EcoBoosted™ MKT comes with standard all wheel-drive.
While we weren’t invited to the embargoed test drive of either vehicle, I’m wondering about the fact that the MKT’s mill delivers max power at 5700 rpm. Do you have to baby this bad (and not in the Michael Jackson sense of the word) boy to hit that 16/22 EPA rating? Wait; sixteen? Doh! I could’ve had a V8! And what are we to make of this?
A litany of exterior paint colors, including Ingot Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Tuxedo Black Clearcoat Metallic, Red Candy Tint Clearcoat Metallic, Cinnamon Clearcoat Metallic, Steel Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Gold Leaf Clearcoat Metallic, Sterling Grey Clearcoat Metallic and White Platinum Tri-Coat.
Litany? Shouldn’t that be a Britney of colors? Anyway, Jalopnik loves the thing, which prices out around $50K with a few bells and whistles. No, really. Good thing the MKZ clocks-in at around the same price point, otherwise cannibalism might go out of fashion at Ford.
Ford may be doing better than the rest but what wre they thinking when they released the MKZ with that anemic power plant? That is no way to introduce a new car design with so much competition out there with so much more horsepower. 355HP is pretty good, but even that is considered marginal as 2010 car models start hitting the streets with upwards of 500HP as an option. Why cant Ford use the GT500 power train as an option? Or would that have taken some planning?
Indeed, this is an example of how out of touch Ford’s product planners are. I mean, on the one hand I have to commend them for sticktoitiveness, not seen since, well forever. On the other, why are they so determined to make the cursed D3 platform work?
Great, except that Ford is omitting the fact that drivers who get the Ecoboost to produce 355hp are extremely unlikely to see great, or even good, MPG numbers.
It will be interesting to see how Ford games the MPG tests on this vehicle and how well those numbers hold up under real world driving conditions.
Wow so when will that engine be available in the Mustang??
Hate on it all you want (and there’s plenty of fodder for that), but it beats the shit out of the X6 or the R-Class, IMO.
I believe you guys should hop over to Jalopnik and read the review. You may be suprised. According to Jalop, plenty of torque and pretty good gas mileage. It is an ugly sucker, though.
The Ford Flex really hasn’t been a big hit, I don’t see the need for a luxury version of it.
For the most part I prefer Ford’s overall lineup to GM’s but I think GM’s Lambda triplets have the Flex/MKT beat in the three-row CUV segment.
However, I think the market has too many crossovers, I’d like to see a few new “manly” SUV’s hit the market.
How about bringing back the Ford Bronco, 2-door workhorse SUV’s FTW. Not every car needs to be a family vehicle, soccer-mom car.
From the Baleen Whale school of styling. I honestly think this thing is uglier than an Aztek.
I was lucky enough to see it at the local auto show (ahem) and I just don’t get the MKT. I thought it was ugly/dorky. I wouldn’t be caught dead in that thing. It also irks me that Ford calls a 355hp twin-turbo 3.5L V-6 something with eco in the name. If they wanted to be economical, they would have made a small turbo V-6 that makes similar power to their N/A 3.5 V-6.
I think it looks like the sinister car in one of those Pixar “Cars” movies.
John
I have said it before and I will say it again, a bunch of guys sat around in a big meeting room, lights dimmed and overhead projector humming, every Friday and had product review meetings for this MKT. They all agreed “Yes, the customer wants this.”
So what you have here, Mr. Customer, is a recycled Flex with an engine with only high rpm power, an ugly grill etc, etc etc. Is it any wonder the US makers are getting their butts handed to them on a sushi plate?
Dear Lincoln,
Please, no more MK-whatevers. Rename this the Lincoln Versailles.
Anyway, for the sake of my local community I hope that the sell enough Edges, Flexes, and their Lincoln equivalents to keep the factory humming.
Going against everything I have held true about automotive styling, I kind of like it.
I’d like to a nice slammed version with some proper fitting wheels.
That being said, no way I’d ever consider buying one: new, used, or otherwise.
LOL, RF hit the nail….
Ford isn’t the “good” automaker…..the Ford family just wants to maintain control its voting-shares and hoping that the economy will turn around before the company absolutely needs to hit bankruptcy court.
That grille worked on the MKR concept and it works in its toned-down form on the MKS, but here it’s just hideous.
I saw this on the Highway in Oakville last week. Even uglier in person. Although, no where near as ugly as the Aztek.
I’m reserving judgement until I meet it in person. I thought the Flex was terrible when I saw it in photos, yet I strangely ended up owning one. The Flex is kind of like a so ugly its cute puppy. Once you’ve driven it, you just have to take it home!
I strongly believe that the MK? has got to end. MKS should be Continental. MKX should be Aviator. Etc. Of course, I believe that only German car companies should use alphabet soup names since they at least have a system. Listen up Acura!
Basically, Ford has decided to follow the Honda/Acura model with Lincoln. Take a Ford, give it “Exotic” (add giggle here) sheet metal, pile in some leather, and add enough techno-toys to make your iPod blush. From a business perspective, if you can do it fairly cheaply and sale the result at a much higher margin (most people are automotively clueless), it works.
It doesn’t look like a Lincoln should. While it’s distinctive among today’s look-alike appliances, it doesn’t look like a professional job of styling–more like they had a couple of teenagers do the design. It’s got that low class blingy thing going on. That little aft rise in the beltline looks totally contrived. And the snout is reminiscent of that on a skeleton. The back, with the light running the width, looks like they slap-dashed it down because they couldn’t think of anything better.
Absolute grade: D
grade reflecting its place among today’s aesthetically challenged cars: C
I’d give the flex around C/B
Does it include a bag to put over your head while driving it?
The fuel equivalent is not worse than that of the Nissan 3.5 V6 in the previous gen G35 I sometimes drive. And it’s 355hp vs. the Nisan’s 270, so it seems like a pretty sweet engine.
That thing looks like a Buick Enclave, only better.
And I do like the front….but there again, I’m a big fan of Audi’s huge grille.
The exterior style is actually good. First, it’s distinctive. I can tell it’s a new Lincoln from afar. Second, it’s sleek. Maybe not so gorgeous, but sleek. Far better than any SUV from MB.
@ NickR:
+100 for the Versailles reference sir.
16/22 EPA mpg is just laughable…a 5.7L Hemi equipped with multi-displacement mode will easily achieve 24-25 mpg cruising around 60-65 on the highway…I know because I’ve done it…
Hey, it’s only fair to point out that the honchos at ford wisely chose to get their credit lined up before all hell broke loose. A wise business decision is a wise business decision. And this vehicle looks better than the mercedes R whatever so i think it’s time to give Ford a break from the incessant negativity. the new taurus is the best looking midsizer out there, the F150 is a great truck, and their new euroeconoboxes will probably go to the head of their class.
The Ford Flex should really be a Volvo if we’re to look at it’s lines and potential clientele.
The big boxy wagon with luxury to boot is a Volvo market. Lincoln? Not a chance.
I’ll think about buying it if they hire Goldfrapp to do a cover of “I Want Candy” for the commercial. (And yes, I realize that doesn’t make sense, but then again neither does hiring Shiny Toy Guns to do a cover of “Major Tom” for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ ad, and Ford’s already done that.)
At least Ford finally ditched the great big chrome hemorrhoid from the ass end of a vehicle.
Bruce
I’m not a fan of Lincoln’s “signature” grill. It really does spoil what are otherwise very nice vehicles.
Pray tell, why would Lincoln choose to emulate Acura styling cues? The rear end looks like a saggy version of the MD/RDX vehicles. Seriously, the car looks like it’s towing a heavy ballsack.
I guess I’m a huge minority here, but I like it. It’s definitely bold and different, and that’s something the SUV/CUV market lacks. I do think GM’s Lambdas are nicer inside though.
That grille is going to haunt me for the rest of the day. Did someone in the design department look at the new Acuras and actually think, Hey, I can do one better?
I mean, seriously, are the product and marketing folks that far removed from the good sense section that they can’t judge when enough is enough? Yeah, we like that grille design – hey, let’s make it even BIGGER. Yeah, that’s it. And let’s keep up the use of those ridiculous MKfill-in-the-blank names. How about a “T” Bob? Sure, sounds GRATE! And they actually PAY people to make these decisions? I need one of those jobs.
Srynerson, even Goldfrapp couldn’t make that rhino sexy.
I like it also.
And I’m quite puzzled.
Are you guys of the same bunch who loved the Flex design so much (a sale disaster) but now are badmouthing this much more handsomely done Lincoln???
IMHO, it looks so much better than the Flex!!!
Grille wars. Again. At least, in its huge blingyness it is trying to be classy.
Is it classy? Really? I would have to see it in person.
BANCHO: “I’m not a fan of Lincoln’s “signature” grill. It really does spoil what are otherwise very nice vehicles”
Agree. I currently own an MKX and prefer the “Continental” grill to the “40’s” style grill Lincolns are moving too. Wish they would have picked the “Continental” grill instead. Overall—-I’m “eh” on the MKT—-an extra row will not get me out of my MKX.
As a proud Flex owner, I would honestly like to know WTH Ford was thinking with this one. The Flex has love it or hate it looks and is distinctive and different than most other cars on the road. The Flex ain’t a crossover, it’s a freaking wagon and I love owning a wagon. This vehicle looks more like a crossover and IMO, will get lost in the shuffle of 3 row crossovers especially considering the price of admission. I just can’t see a family in need of wagon/minivan/SUV space spending that much money for this thing. Keep in mind, there is no where near the markup on these large wagons or crossovers as there is on traditional BOF SUV’s so the actual selling price will be very close to invoice price. That just puts this out of the league for most middle and even some upper class american families.
you have the model letters wrong. Z is the fancy Fusion, which gets a 3.5L NA Duratech. S is the fancy Taurus which now can have the 3.5L DI TT Ecoboost motor, which is also available in the T. and the Flex & Taurus SHO shortly.
I suspect that this will find a small audience, but it may surprise as well. I’d rather drive one of these than an RX, MDX, SRX, Navigator, Enclave or Q7. would probably take an X5/6 or spend less & get a TT Flex. or pick up a hybrid Escalade used. I am interested to see how it compares with whatever competitive set the magazines choose to pitch it against in the sure to come comparison tests.
derek533 :
Another Flex owner! Hey there’s at least two of us on TTAC!
No, I didn’t like the Flex either, but I don’t think it’s ugly like the MKT. I think the Flex is a niche kind of design/car, not a mass seller. It’s definitely not a car for me, but then I hate wagons. Apparently sales prove my point.
I’d buy a Flex but there’s not enough different about the Lincoln to justify the price difference. Plus the Flex is kind of retro cool but the alpha numeric Lincoln is just goofy looking.
(PS: I would buy an MKZ however, just call me crazy.)
yet another crossover. wow, FLM is just packed with these things, and most aren’t cheap. Engine seems good although I hope they don’t use it as an excuse to turn the mustang into a AWD platform. I like the T-Turbo V6 but still want V8 RWD as option on that. Hopefully the new Taurus SHO puts all this D4 AWD Ecoboost thing together right.
Ever the contrarian, I kind of like the look. Like some of you, I may have preferred the 64 Continental grille from the MKwhateverthehellitisthatisreallyanEdge, but the rest of the car is distinctive. Most importantly, it does NOT scream “Hey, I’m a Flex with a funky grille so pay a lot more for ME!” (Unlike some other recent Lincoln offerings). Those who will never see this website will never know that it is a Flex under the skin. So though a derivative vehicle, it does not look so much like one.
My gripe with Ford – in this price class, more cylinders equals more sales. Nobody wants to buy an expensive car and have the kid at the grocery say “Gee, only a V6 like in my Grandma’s Taurus?” IMHO, this is the phenomenon that has harmed Acura the most. This car needs 8 cylinders if it wants to play in this price class.
A year ago an overwhelming complaint here wrt Lincoln was ‘badge engineering’ and ‘Ford with a new grill’. No such issue here. It is an intentionally polarizing design. Even in the small sample here, some seem to love it. Better love/hate than overwhelming bland.
Also, your dig about max torque at such a high RPM is disingenuous at the least. Perhaps the absolute max is there, but overall the torque curve for the Ecoboost engines is flat as a mesa, and it looks like at least 95% of max is available all the way down to about 1400 RPM (I’m looking at a sparsely marked torque curve so my numbers are a bit imprecise).
$50K for this? Good luck with that.
I thought the Venza’s grille was the worst of the not-a-wagon-not-an-SUV-mobiles, but this . . . this is a disaster.
Please, Lincoln, stop with the polarizing design and return to understated elegance. Oh, and ditch the meaningless acronyms!
Who cares about Lincoln? I still can’t figure out why Mercury hasn’t been put out to Olds/Plymouth pasture.
Just FYI.
In case you want a rview, here it is.
And I am a fan of CC.
The damn thing runs well…
http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020752_driven-2010-lincoln-mkt-with-ecoboost-v-6
Holy Nasty!
A bit off topic, but I’m wondering if any others have noted the disappointing assembly quality of Ford’s last few D3 crossovers – especially that of the Flex (and probably Lincoln’s “Flexxus”). The interiors seem to be carefully assembled, but the body panel quality and trim are way below modern standards.
It never fails that if there are 6 or 8 Flex models parked on the forecourt of my local dealership, there are 6 or 8 “creative” ways the hatch can fit in the opening. What’s going on here?
“Cetaceous…hold your breath.” Im drowning in laughter here, you sir have a gift.
The Flex – another high-beltline, little-window design reminiscent of so much of the garbage Toyota’s pushing out these days.
These things all look like shoes. Sorry, I buy glass area and outward visibility.
Just saw a new Mazda3 hatchback yesterday – same story. Beltline pulled up to the nipples, little tiny windows, looks like a Toyota Ratmix with the trademark excessive Mazda fender arches glued on. And then there’s that absurd someone-just-stuck-a-Popsicle-up-my-rectum grin.
If I recall correctly the Flex interior’s also full of the same Toys-R-Us-grade hard ABS plastic that’s been such a turnoff in so many Ford products.
Here’s info from a story linked to the review provide by bigbaffoon1 . . .
“Power rises steeply to 1500 rpm and then stays perfectly flat at 350 lb.ft. until it trails off at 5250 rpm. Horsepower peaks at 355 at 5700 rpm. This is roughly 80 more horsepower and 100 more lb.ft. torque than the non-turbo 3.5-liter.”
JEM:
Bless you, sir or madam. You’ve GOT to be able to see out. Long live (for this reason and others) our family’s ’03 Indiana-built Subie Legacy L Special Edition 5-speed wagon.
Lincoln’s styling in general is bleaugh. Especially the center HVAC Dash panel. It looks old!
The dial/speedometer part of the dash looks great, and very different from the rest.
They should have just made one version of the Flex, branded it as a Mercury, and called it the Colony Park. And give a wood paneling option.
Mercury would have something unique and people wouldn’t balk at $40 grand loaded like they would for a Ford. Plus, women are supposed to like Mercury, right? And they’re the ones that buy family vehicles.
They would have sold a few dozen more if the engineers had managed to put suicide doors on it….
Poor Mercury always got the regrilled Fords. Now it’s Lincoln’s turn. How about a Mercury that is a Mercury and a Lincoln that is a Lincoln? Is that so hard?
RF – didn’t comment about a similar design banish you to hell once already?
Anyway, I guess the only thing worse would be the Chrysler emblem down at the bottom of the wings…..
Man that is one ugly whatever it is. THe Flex not so bad, even atractive in some colors and trims, this yikes. If they are going to make everything off the same platform why do they need 3 dealer networks, Just make them Mercury and Lincoln trim options. OR better yet have dedicated engineering for Lincoln and compete with the rest of the Luxury market.
I thought this Ecoboost was supposed to make great gas mileage AND horsepower, what happened?
The fuel economy at 16/22 beats every competitor in the large luxury CUV/SUV segment. Compare the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Acura MDX, Mercedes M, GL, R classes, Land Rover LR3, and Buick Enclave, the MKT gets better economy than all but the Enclave (with which it ties) and more power than all but Mercs 5.5 liter V8, but the Ecoboost has a better torque curve, and the power numbers are close.
Personally I like the styling, and customers coming in are digging the split-wing grill. The one negative we hear about the Flex is that its boxy, this is not boxy, so hopefully it will attract many customers.
What stupid naming convention.
As I’m reading the article, I keep having to pause and think “ok… which was is the MKZ again? Is it the Lincoln Fusion?… wait, no the Fancy Edge?…I think.. no wait…”
The new Lincoln Market (MKT) is just a great name! Really!
Oh, and looks like the contempt for customers continue. If you’re going to name an engine “EcoBoost”, you can’t have it drinking fuel at 16mpg. Just call it Twin-Turbo, what’s wrong with being straightforward? It’s the same cynism that GM employed with its flood of “green vehicles” advertising a couple years ago, touting the dozens of FlexFuel/Ethanol cars they had. Bulls*** upon Bu***hit.
I thought this Ecoboost was supposed to make great gas mileage AND horsepower, what happened?
Ford woke up from their pipe dream.
Ford claims that these motors give V8 power with V6 mileage. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Take the Taurus SHO and Pontiac G8 GT. Both have the same amount of power…and both have the same mileage.
Ford has successfully made a V6 that has V8 power and drinks like one too.
I would also like to know what happened to “Ecoboost will cost $700 more than a non-ecoboost car”.
Perhaps that was a pipe dream too…
Ooogly! That grille kills it. Only Lincolns left without it are the MKX and the Navigator. I really wish they’d build the Mark X concept car, has the ’63 Continental grille, same basic platform as the Mustang, but with a slightly longer wheelbase and a hard top that folds and goes in the trunk like a Volvo C70.
I’m 48 and I don’t remember or connect with the Lincoln grille from the 40s, so who is Lincoln’s target demographic, guys my dad’s age? For most guys in their 40s and 50s who even give a damn about Lincolns, the high point of Lincoln styling was the 1961-1964 Continental. Does anyone under 40 ever buy a Lincoln? If middle aged guys aren’t the core market for the brand, who is?
Works for me. Though I think the Flex is more handsome. But that grill is overwrought. Call in Giugiaro or Pininfarina next time. They’ll slap it around a little and give it real class.
What doesn’t work is the interior. Nice enough in the Flex, but just to cover it w/ silver plastic detracts from the car. It should have its own, real nice interior.
Not all the figures on the SHO are readily availible yet, but the MKS EcoBoost manages to get 1 mpg better in both city and highway vs the G8 GT despite weighing over 300lbs more, having two extra driven wheels, and making virtually the same amount of power.
Meh. I like the Flex better, just because it looks like a grown-up first-gen Scion xB.
AWD…especially the limp-wristed system that Ford uses…is unnecessary and a BIG negative if you have proper drive wheels…REAR.
And you just summed up perfectly my point that Ford’s 3.5 V6 drinks as much fuel as GMs 6.0 V8.
Like I said…this whole V8 power with V6 economy is a pipe dream. It is V8 power with V8 economy out of a V6.
I’m not a big fan of twin turbo V6’s. I know some of the best and brightest hate this, but there is no replacement for displacement. You lose way to much torque, and this heavy pig needs torque to get it moving.
I love the styling.
The naming convention even confuses Ford executives. I heard more then one over paid self assuming exec mix up the cars.
Who is responsible for these Ford/Lincoln?mercury steering wheels? Can that person be put under some kind of restraining order that prohibits him/her from designing anything for cars?
Actually torque is one of the big benefits of the ecoboost engine. While yes, some V8s can make more than the 350 or so ft/lbs that the ecoboost does, the ecoboost makes all of them from 1500 rpm, so you have effortless thrust anytime you need it.
The ecoboost uses less fuel than the 6.0 V8 as seen by it getting better fuel economy in a heavier car with extra drivetrain loss due to AWD. In the MKT the ecoboost manages to get far higher power figures while getting the same fuel economy as the NA V6 in the Enclave. Also, the 3.5 liter is the high performance variant of the ecoboost family, the real economy gains will be seen by the smaller V6s and the 4 cylinder versions coming in the future.
The Ford AWD system is hardly limp-wristed. It is capable of 100% power to either front or rear wheels, and while it is biased to front wheel drive most of the time, this gives better wet and slipper traction while allowing for a near instant switch to RWD bias when the driver starts to drive in a sporty manner.
26theone: Wow so when will that engine be available in the Mustang??”Word around the campfire is the Mustang gets the 3.5L V6 in 2011. While it might not be the 355hp version, it will likely still be a healthy improvement over the current 210hp 4.0L to keep pace with the 304hp 3.6L V6 that’s in the Camaro.
“The Ford AWD system is hardly limp-wristed. It is capable of 100% power to either front or rear wheels, and while it is biased to front wheel drive most of the time, this gives better wet and slipper traction while allowing for a near instant switch to RWD bias when the driver starts to drive in a sporty manner.”
It is completely limp wristed. It is NOT FWD “biased”. It is FWD based…meaning that on dry pavement, it is a FWD car/truck. And that is terrible.
———-
And you can argue semantics regarding that 1 MPG, but at the end of the day, 1 MPG does not separate V6 fuel economy and V8 fuel economy. FACT is that Ford’s 3.5 V6 gets the same mileage as GM’s 6.0 pushrod V8. Heck, 1 MPG could be the difference in the weight of the EPA employee driving the car…or some other small variable.
“Eco”-boost is a fallacy…there is nothing “eco” about it. I am unsure if Ford is aware that the more air you dump into an engine, the more fuel it needs. That is how the internal combustion engine works.
Coming this Summer to a “Car and Driver” magazine near you:
“Mega-Green Shootout!” GMC Yukon Hybrid versus Lincoln MKT Ecoboost: Which of these 5200+lb, 335+hp, seven passenger, 20mpg combined, $50000 luxury domestic vehicles have what it takes to save the planet?
My prediction is the MKT wins by three “gotta have it” points.
$50K? What an ugly POS.
“Ford claims that these motors give V8 power with V6 mileage.”
That’s EXACTLY the same line Buick used with my ’78 LeSabre with the turbocharged V6.
Thirty years and the marketting department’s still pimping the same line. Oh, wait! The marketting department were still in diapers in ’78.
“Ford claims that these motors give V8 power with V6 mileage.”
Even a 1 MPG advantage is negated by the enormous cost/complexity of a dual-turbo, direct-injected V6 engine. Seems like a step backwards to me.
An all-aluminum pushrod V8 would make more sense, but would be a tough fit with the AWD system (which, as been said, isn’t universally loved).
And why all carmakers are still trying to sell heavy, CAFE-busting crap like this just shows how far their collective heads are up their collective asses – Flex’s are rusting on the lots in light of gas prices that seem to defy normal supply-and-demand curves; the public has no trust in Exxon/Mobil, BP, etc to make such a vehicle a ‘wise decision’.
Ford’s Fusion Hybrid is probably the only bright light in the FoMoCo garage, at least until the Fiesta shows up.
The styling is diffinitely an improvement over the soda cracker box Flex. It’s distinctive but not worth the price IMO.
I like wagons because the dog fits behind the back seats plus you can haul a lot of stuff. IMO people who would buy this would likely have a lot of stuff, a dog and more money than they know what to do with.
It’s not for me though. I like my Escort wagon and Vibe. This car is too big and ostentatious for my taste.
shaker : Even a 1 MPG advantage is negated by the enormous cost/complexity of a dual-turbo, direct-injected V6 engine. Seems like a step backwards to me.
An all-aluminum pushrod V8 would make more sense, but would be a tough fit with the AWD system (which, as been said, isn’t universally loved).
Something I mentioned before, and just wait until that 5.0 direct injected V8 shows up in a Mustang. Tons of safe (free of torque steer) power without the need for gas sucking AWD…imagine if that platform underpinned sedans and CUVs.
“…recalls the classic 1941 Continental” ?
More like: “apes the 1948 Continental in it’s garishness”.
Or: recalls the classic 1992 Olds Achieva.Or 82 Cutlass Ciera.
But at least it continues another great Ford tradition: running a red reflector between the tail lights and calling it a Mercury or Lincoln.
If 16/22 MPG is the best in this category then the whole category should be taken out behind the barn and shot. My ’92 Town Car got better mileage. Looked better, was easier to see out of and probably carried as much cargo too.
In fact, given the abysmal sales of the Flex, I am absolutely sure Ford would generate more sales by putting the development dollars into the Town Car and making it a world class RWD sedan. Don’t laugh unless you have driven one in its current state which is pretty damn impressive.
Also, as they are running out of letters to append to “MK”, what will be next? Is it like hurricanes in 2005, when we started using Greek letters after running through the name list for that year?