TTAC is lately to the party with the MKZ, and it’s my fault; I was delayed looking for parking outside Cobo this morning. Luckily, the Speed:Sport:Life crew was there to make up the gap. Zerin Dube took the photos, and the snark is courtesy of Byron Hurd:
“When I walked into Lincoln’s press conference this morning, I expected the message to be built on the distinctiveness of the MKZ and how little it resembles its Ford-branded platform mate. Instead, we were treated to a fifteen-minute lecture about the first-tier luxury manufacturers losing their way. Lincoln reckons it is the only company who knows what luxury car customers really expect from a buying experience–bespoke products, individualized treatment, small-scale dealerships that focus less on volume and more on service– and by golly, they think they just might be able to provide it. Some day.
As for the car itself, it is distinctly Lincoln, whatever “Lincoln” is these days. It looks nothing like the Fusion we saw yesterday, which is fortunate, because in the current market the Ford makes the Lincoln equivalent (key term) rather pointless. The rear end is sculpted and attractive, and Lincoln says this is a key component of their new design direction. The big Lincoln grilles are still featured prominently up front, which I guess is part of looking Lincoln. Many touches will likely be unique to the show car, but Lincoln insists the panoramic glass roof will reach production, though the execution will likely be different.”
Well, Byron, I think this car knocks the ATS on its ass. It looks simply splendid; only a front-end treatment that shared more with the ’64 Conti and less with the Blue Whale could improve it.
Nice. If they build this, Lincoln might have a future.
So this is what the back would look like if they take half from the Dodge Charger and half from the Acura?
Please – that isn’t a Lincoln.
Wow. This a great lookin car. Cues from the A7, which i think is the best lookin car around. If they price it lower then the A7, they should sell a ton of them. I am diggin the sleek fastback design. The A7 has a liftgate, I cant imaging Lincoln will use one, but they should.
Is it me or does this thing look like a modern Oldsmobile Aurora? Photoshop 2013 Oldsmobile Aurora and squint. Heck the Lincoln star looks like the pre-swoop Olds logo.
Don’t get me wrong… The Aurora was a looker in its day, but I don’t know that Olds is really the styling place to go to save a dying “Old Folks” brand.
No, from the side it looks like a Sonata and all Audis rolled into one.
Still, it’s a break from what Lincoln has done before and that’s a good thing. Hope the car lives up to the hype.
I really like the grille.
No, it’s not just you. I caught a whiff of old Olds too, mostly from the rear. Not in a bad way, but it was there.
I see much Genesis in this.
That doesn’t mean I don’t like it. I do.
It is odd, though, and here’s why:
I initially said I see much (Hyundai) Genesis (sedan) in this, but the longer I look, the more I see just as much Lincoln Mark VIII in it!
So maybe Hyundai cribbed Lincoln first?
http://www.dragtimes.com/images/20511-1998-Lincoln-Mark-VIII.jpg
http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/lincoln/96_lincoln_mark8.jpg
HOWEVER, this is the Lincoln I had hoped that we would have all ultimately been treated to:
http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Lincoln/2002-Lincoln-Continetal-DV-10-RMM-03.jpg
Now that – that is quintessentially Lincoln.
I believe I found that taillight treatment.
Seriously, the new MKZ almost has ‘ghost’ taillights there…
That said, I don’t really get the grille, but this new Lincoln is a surprisingly attractive beast, I think, Pontiac-inspired or not.
Looks good but I will wait until April and such mundane things as door handles and usable side mirrors are added. I suspect it will have the more powerful engines that were conspicuously missing from the Fusion display (i.e. >250hp)
Hope they keep that color for the production run. One of the problems with the current MKZ is that it was offered in the same colors as the Fusion/Milan, which didn’t help differentiate it in the marketplace.
Car looks fantastic. No longer the fusion chrome edition. Nice work Ford. I dont see it in the thumbs on this site, but a direct frontal view gives the grill a nice effect of looking like wings. Nice touch IMO.
Interesting trick they did on the back by making the glass sweep onto the trunk lid and just making that piece blacked out. I assume this will not make into production, or like the Volt just become a cheap piece of plastic and not glass on the real car. As is the car lacks a rear deck, it might as well be a hatchback based on looks. I suspect massive blind spots, just look at how wide that rear pillar is! I do give them credit for attempting a new look on the back end, its almost like a toned down CrossTour.
I spoke to J. Mays, Ford’s VP of design and Max Wolff, who heads the Lincoln design team. I was told that you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between the concept and production versions. Wolff talked about the dark insert visually extending the window. I suggested that it was similar, in a way, with what Jaguar does with the controversial black C pillars. There may be blind spots but that sail panel looks great in person.
It looks good and well differentiate from the Fusion.
Even though it really shows off the interior at an auto show, I’ll take mine without a glass roof.
Looks OK but that horizontal grille reminds me of cat whiskers. The problem with this car that the new Ford Fusion is also beautiful and also has a nice interior.
I was very underwhelmed by the pictures leaked by the Czech site, but the pictures of it under the lights at the show are very, very nice. This is the kind of styling language that Lincoln could build a look around, and this should, if marketed right, take a chunk from the Lexus ES and Acura TL.
Nevermind all that. Bring on the RWD, Lincoln!!!
less plankton, more wanked-on
Hideous grille (slightly better than the current), tiny headlights, great color, interesting taillights.
Keep the color, fix the grille, make sure that people can see in the dark and it’s a hit. :)
It’s got LED headlights and taillights.
I think it looks like a blob, albeit a somewhat promising one. Just on looks I’d take the ATS any day, though my opinion might be different once I’ve seen them both in person.
Looks nice, but seems a bit small. Rear headroom will likely be tight too. A good additon to the line, but not enough car to be the flagship.
Who said it was to be the flagship. It is their “base” sedan. The MKS is above the MKZ in the scheme of things (for now).
I don’t think it’s supposed to be the flagship.
Speaking of which… Jack, how does the new Fusion/MKZ compare in size to the old? They look bigger, and if so, are they getting too close in size to the Taurus/MKS?
I’ve read that the car is 1″ longer and .5″ wider, and rides on a 5″ longer wheelbase.
What, no Bill Blass edition?
Seriously, this is what a Lincoln should look like. Whether the rapidly aging, original Steve McGarrett crowd books a few thousand of this Honda Clarity-esque roller remains to be seen. I’d love to see it on the road, though.
“I think this car knocks the ATS on its ass”
The side greenhouse of this car closely resembles an XTS, while the slightly-crouched, ready-to-pounce stance is pure Jaguar XJ. I prefer the Fusion. It may look like an Aston in front and a Maserati in back…but at least it doesn’t have a goofy, tacked-on mustache.
And Ford didn’t make that outlandish statement like GM did that the MKZ is an alternative to a BMW 3 Series. If I was contemplating a 328i the GM announcement of the ATS wouldn’t have changed my mind.
Put me straight if I’m off base but isn’t this a new Fusion with a nice front end,a lot of lip stick and rouge, much like the last MKZ
Why wouldn’t GM make the statement that the ATS is a direct competitor to the 3 series? It is RWD, within a few inches in every dimension of the BMW, is as light or lighter than the 3, has a very well executed interior and class competitive or leading engine choices and technology. I’m no GM fanboy, but I do give credit where credit is due. We’ll see the two stack up dynamically, but so far it seems the ATS is everything the 3 series use to be, i.e. a well executed, truly sporty small sedan. (Sorry for going off topic, I just felt impassioned to respond to that particular comment.)
As far as the MKZ kicking the ATS’s ass, I assume he was referring in the article to only the style. The MKZ is FWD and I believe more of a mid-size sedan than a 3/ATS size sedan but I may be wrong. I’ll wait to see both in person in two weeks when I go to the show, but so far while I think the MKZ is a looker it is also a concept and will be watered down some for production, such as mirrors, the roof etc. I still think the ATS is as good of a looking car though as this is.
Based on the same platform on the Fusion, but then again so are a Jetta and a S4, so there’s plenty of room in a platform for differentiation.
So far it’s been confirmed that this will have the new Lincoln Active-Damping suspension, it will likely come with an available rear biased AWD system like the upcoming 2013 Fusion, more powerful engine options than the Fusion, and of course a much more luxurious interior, which is one of the bits that people seem to forget about when comparing the current Fusion to the MKZ. More power + AWD biased to RWD + active suspension control + Ford’s torque vectoring system should make this handle very well and give it some serious performance chops.
Nothing wrong with sharing the Fusion’s underpinnings. However, the Jetta and the S4 are most definitely NOT and never were based on the same platform.
My mistake, it was the Passat and the S4, although now that VW is moving away from traditional platforms to more modular component collections it’s hard to say what shares with what. I’m not a VW guy, so I maybe someone who is can explain what the real difference is between the MLB and the MQB that is in use now.
@Nullo, Audi A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 all use Audi’s MLB architecture, where the “L” stands for longitudinal engine.
The Polo, Golf, Jetta and Passat (as well as Audi A1 and A3) use VW’s transverse-engine platforms and are migrating to VW’s MQB architecture (“Q” is German for transverse).
The only time the Passat and A4 shared platforms was the Passat B5, circa 1996-2005.
th009 –
Wikipedia (for as accurate as it is or isn’t) shows the B6 variants also supporting both Audis and VWs, but there is the L vs Q designation again.
Aside from engine orientation, how similar are the MLB and MQB? How much of a difference does the engine orientation make in an AWD vehicle where the torque can be split front or rearwards at will anyway? How important is a platform to the overall feel of car from the driver’s seat at the end of the day?
That’s a very good question, Nullo. I think the answer depends on what’s in the transmission. There is at least a slimmer of hope that longitudal architecture sports a planetary mechanism, whereas for transversial architecture it is always a clutch pack (to the best of my knowledge, admittedly). It means significant losses if it tries to engage in a turn.
Gotta agree with Baruth on this one. I even see a hint of Maybach in those lines, more luxurious in appearance than the larger MKS.
Is this one a “me too” like the ATS?
Looks like a design that Acura could have used.
Not sure I like it. The rear strip light looks like it’s been poached straight from Dodge, the side profile reminds me of the Lexus ES, and the large rear overhang of the Jag XJ, and the front… well, it’s an improvement on the krill-eating grin, but still not what I call attractive. Oh well, most cars I don’t like the look of tend to sell really well. So here’s hoping it works for Lincoln/Ford.
I don’t see Lexus ES in the side profile AT ALL. If anything, I see Cadillac XTS and Audi A7 more than anything.
You had me doubting myself for a minute, so I went and photoshopped an ES and an XJ together;
http://postimage.org/image/401rugzoj/
Bar a minor difference in the back window, I’ll stick by my initial comparison.
Large rear overhang? This is what gets called large rear overhang these days? Sad. “Large rear overhang” is something like this: http://forums.aaca.org/attachments/f163/36032d1252335671-1976-buick-electra-limited-park-avenue-august-21-_2009-001.jpg . The Lincoln has what I would call marginally adequate rear overhang. Unfortunately such overhang consists of a bizarre melange of Dodge, BMW and Jag; no Lincoln to be seen.
Yawn.. maybe a couple years ago it would seem more cutting edge. I see everything in there from Jag to Cadillac to even Porsche.. but it doesn’t gel.. at least to me. And what’s with the super big wheels and thin tires everyone is pushing? Good luck on anything other than dry, perfect pavement.
At least it looks different from the platform-mate.
“The rear end is sculpted and attractive, and Lincoln says this is a key component of their new design direction.”
This just in… The ghost of Bill Mitchell has decided to haunt the Lincoln Styling Studios… female staffers report phantom bum pinches.
Very nice and definitely preferable to Caddy’s hard edged approach.
Exactly.
I might be alone here, but it looks quite a bit like its sister (the Fusion). Take the front and rear clips off, and it might even be indistinguishable from a Fusion.
But that is quite a nice rear.
Not sure where you’re getting that — the C pillar and rear greenhouse are completely unique.
I really like the look of this. However much like someone else has already pointed out, add more head room in rear, bigger headlights, bigger side mirrors and what you have it what Chevy did to the VOLT. I hope I am wrong. If I am them I have just found the replacement for my wifes ES 350. I hope that I am wrong. All their sedans should adopt this look, Including a new much larger flagship above the MKS.
The Kia Optima looks better for much less $. The ATS is RWD and much smaller.
Lincoln has a really long way to go. This is not going to be a game changer for them.
Let’s hope this isn’t another Lincoln concept that gets watered down on the way to the showroom. Remember the MKR?
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_news061227_lincoln_mkr_concept/
^Come on Lincoln, it’s not too late to bring us the MKR. You wouldn’t be in the situation you’re in now if this was your brand headliner.
Why don’t they just go with MKA, MKB, MKC to designate the size of the models in their lineup? A MKE can be the top of the range.
Kind of a mashup
Red Bull wings in front
Harmonica stuck in the mouth rear
Male pattern baldness on top
No matter how this car looks, Lincoln still needs to fix their naming issue. I swear that’s half that reason why this brand is in the crapper..nobody knows what’s what. Such an easy solution as well.
+1
Tried to understand the difference between Lexus IS, GS, and LS?
It’s not just that they’re incomprehensible meaningless codenames — it’s that the *last* letter is the significant one. At least with Cadillac, BMW, etc., the *first* character of the name is the size.
Spot on. Maybe they should call it the Z-Mk, for “Z-Mark”. Then they can do an S-Mark, X-Mark, T-Mark. Better than what they have now.
I don’t know which is worse, Lincoln or Acura with their ILX, TSX, RL, TL, ZDX fiasco…
I don’t think that any of these names would be a problem if they were attached to a memorable vehicle.
Does anyone have trouble identifying a WRX, RSX, SL, F150, M3 or 911?
srogers: No, but they would if there were different size cars and one was named WRC, another WRS and another WRT. It would be just as confusing.
I (personally) have no trouble keeping the NSX, TSX and RSX clear in my mind. The Lincoln MK series requires effort to remember because none of those vehicles has ever interested me in any way. Hopefully, Lincoln can begin to change that starting with this new MKZ (see, I remember this one now).
A modern Lincoln that doesn’t make me immediately try to stab my eyes out?
INCONCEIVABLE!
I generally like the look, especially the profile and rear views. But the front end looks too much like the old Sebring. Seriously, hood strakes?
They should replace that Lincoln emblem in the front with a small statue of a woman. It could be a flying-lady with the grill as larger wings.
That would be an improvement.
Call it Mk3 (Pronounced Mark 3). Call MKS replacement Mk5. Call range topper sedan Mk7. Instantly identifies the size and pecking order of the cars and eliminates the current confusion. Plus it uses some of the “heritage” names.
I actually like this idea..
Two objectsions. 1. Marks used to be sequential modifications of the same, not different, 2. Copycats BMW 3-5-7 line.
1) True that.
2) So what? The “Mark” portion is classic Lincoln, and instantly identifies which BMW model (the segment leader) it is competing with (in size anyway).
Just thought about it..They could use the moniker MARK instead of MK..It is more inline with their history. What you guys think? MARK 3, MARK 5, Mark 7. They also will be less likely to be sued this way as well.
I usually don’t voice my opinion on things like looks and try to stick to the facts but this time I simply can’t contain myself. I’m trying to understand the grill. I just don’t “get it”. Clearly I am in the minority here but I am struggling to find at adjective that properly describes my feelings towards this monstrosity. Fugly doesn’t even begin to cover that tortured front end.
Then again, I also don’t really see what the issue with the new Genesis Coupe is… though I may be biased because I am putting a deposit down ASAP.
The grille was designed by someone that used to design grilles at Pontiac prior to GMi going teats up back there in late 2008. Genesis Coupe….let me assure you….you’re on the right track. That 100,000 mile/10 year warranty has sold them a lot of cars.Even if that 10 years is longer than most marriages last.
Current car is a 2002 Passat 2.8l with 107k on the clock, I tend to keep my cars a long time (I can’t stand making payments) so that warranty is a big part of why I first started considering the Genesis Coupe (and to a lesser extent the Optima SX).
Now that it has a proper HP/Torque rating and what I consider to be a very handsome interior it really is a no brainer. Yeah I hear what people are saying about the front end, but in black it won’t really be all that prevalent.
You may be in the minority here, but I think you’re more aligned to the average American. (It’s no secret that posters here are a poor reflection of American tastes & preferences.)
I doubt this will do much if anything to help Lincoln.
It looks like it’s had one too many facelifts IMHO. Swept-back fascias can look great (eg last Celica), but the result here looks Joan Riversish.
That said, have to give them credit for better distinguishing between this MKZ and Fusion.
If pundits wonder why folks are still buying the less efficient CUVs and guzzling SUVs, look no further than the rapidly vanishing trunk opening in newer sedans. The reason car makers brag the trunk holds 3 sets of golf clubs is because a set of golf clubs in about the only darned thing that will fit through these mail slots, oops, trunk openings. Can you imagine getting a stroller in the trunk of the MKZ pictured above; or the recycling bin which has to go to the town dump, oops again, recycling center? Beautiful yes. Remotely practical, no.
I like the look of this car and now I’m going to take a look at it. Also, I plan to take a look at the Hyundai Azera to see how they stack up. I have to agree.the MKZ looks good
I am not going to look at the ATS even if GM says its going to go up against the BMW 328i. When I read that this new ATS is compared to the 328I I couldn’t help but think the writer of that line must also be writing for one of the Republican nominees.
@car follower
So let me get this straight. Cadillac bench marked the three series when developing the ATS (not just the 328 but the 335 also) but, by your reckoning noone can mention it in comparison with the 328/335.
And, because a reporter had the utter gall to mention the two in the same breath, you refuse to even look at one.
Really??
I’d bet the ATS will be a better (performance wise) three series competitor than the S4 (which is a great car but kinda lacks feel).
But there are others.
The G37 and the upcoming Jaguar. I wonder if they’d get the same treatment from you or is it just a GM thing.
By the way, are you married? It must be “trying” at best to live with someone with your attitude.
I’ll bet soup to nuts that you’re a cuckold.
Don’t take out your frustrations on GM and anonymous reporters. See it for what it is and face it head on. It’s the only way.
One more thing.
Your looking at an Azera. You shouldn’t cast aspersions at anyone.
To me, it resembles a Honda Clarity (the hydrogen-powered car). I like it.
Quite nice. LOVing the XJ influence.
But YE GODS, what Evil Hello Kitty has befallen the front end of that poor bastard!!!
BLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!
..
PLEASE,
just once,
Hire Peter Schreyer or Da’Silva,
just get him to do a modern take on either a K or an H grille for the new cars, dammit.
Stop plastering, “ZOMGROFLOLZ! -We have some really stupid, tasteless designers!!”, RIGHT on the front of your cars!
It’s a good-looking sedan. But is it worth the premium over the equally good-looking Fusion? Ford should scrap the whole lineup and build a mid-sized Lincoln Continental Mark X (“X” as in the letter) 4-door executive express based on the Mustang. Give it a long creased hood and a short rear deck — classic proportions. Price it around $40K with V8 standard and no options. Even if it only sold 20,000 copies, at least we’d all know what a Lincoln was.
Interesting combination of Volvo hips with old 7’er Bangle Butt.
Re.: “small-scale dealerships that focus less on volume and more on service”, I think this is something a manufacturer says when they can’t attract volume, no matter how they try, because the product is so uncompetitive (yet they are still dreaming of volume – at least in the segments that Lincoln aspires to play in.)
Once capable of achieving volume, at the given price point, few OEM’s will be satisfied (nor their owners/investors) to remain small-scall, etc.; and a new meme will be developed to justify growing the brand (without damaging it.)
Hopefully Lincoln will find success with the new direction, and will be able to soon start working on the meme of “small-scale was so yesterday.”
The thing caught on fire, Jack.
At least the cetacean DNA appears to have been watered down. Actually, seems nice-looking in the photos; and I might actually become accustomed to the front end, which is more than I can say for the more extreme krill-catchers that or in current Lincolns.
I suspect the big issue which will distinguish this car from its plebeian brothers is a different engine. It’s really hard to make a large (>2 liters) displacement 4 cylinder that isn’t slightly agricultural feeling at certain rpm ranges and a turbo doesn’t fix that problem. A better version of the corporate V-6, perhaps with DI, might be just the ticket here. Maybe they could bring the old Yamaha V-6 from the 1st and 2nd generation SHO out of the attic and dust it off with some updates — adding DI and VVT . . . ;-)
One can always hope!
Jalopnik is reporting that the care caught fire, but they don’t have pics. Is this a rumor or true?
I like it, though I feel the front end looks too narrow. If the headlamps were stretched back a bit, it would be much better.
The new grille is a huge improvement, amazing how horizontal instead of vertical lines can improve the look so much. Also digging the fastback profile and the rear end.
My only concern is inside; the dash looks gorgeous but the door panels just look like lightly concept-y versions of the Fusion’s, which makes me worry that the production version will lift the door cards out of the Ford wholesale. And as nice as the new Fusion’s interior may be, that would be unacceptable.
Nope. The back end is a deal killer for most everyone.
And you would know that how…?
I see no door handles. How does it work? A mechanism pushes from the inside and the user pushes from the outside?
The detailing is nice but this thing looks THICK. Proportionally it is not at all like the A7 because the A7 is actually very lean. This looks like an ES350 because of how thick it is. Shave 3 inches from the height of those slab-sided doors and we may have a deal but like this I just can’t get ES350 out of my mind.
The rear is totally 1st gen Q45
Interesting
I think they do have a grasp on what (entry level) luxury buyers care about: image. Doesn’t look phenomenal but looks good enough.
The front end sucks; the grille looks like it was designed for an altogether different vehicle. Otherwise, its not bad, although the fastback rear styling will likely chase off the geezers that Lincoln depends on for survival.
The “Waterfall” grill, (though they changed the direction of the slats) has got to go. It is as ugly as the Acura Beak. Lincoln and Acura need to realize cars look better without HUGE amounts of chrome on their noses. Otherwise it’s a handsome car.
Too bad it doesn’t feature suicide doors like the classic Lincoln Continentals of the 60’s. THAT would have made it a true modern Lincoln and given it a very distinctive feature not offered on other cars in its class.