Lincoln MKS
So what is a Lincoln MKS?
Lincoln showed a new concept car at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And it looks like a winner! The most recently introduced Lincoln, the Zephyr, seems to be selling well enough...but to me it isn't really a Lincoln. "Real" Lincolns are not small, FWD, 6 cylinder cars, no matter how well appointed inside and out. The MKS passes my test for having the potential to become a true Lincoln.
Why so optimistic? First, the car is attractively styled, both exterior and interior. It is based on the Ford Five Hundred platform, and so is an appropriate size for a luxury, American sedan. And, most important, it has a powertrain that is worthy of the Lincoln marque - a 4.4L, 315 HP V8, a six speed automatic transmission, and All-Wheel-Drive.
Looks like a suitable replacement for the Lincoln LS, and a real competitor to the Cadillac CTS. Now, for the CTS-V competitor...maybe that will be at the New York Auto Show in a couple of months? Ain't competition great! (At least for the consumer).
COUNTERPOINT: The MKS suffers from unfortunate alphanumeric nomenclature - a highfalutin' way of saying a name with letters and numbers - and Japan-esque styling. Gerry McGovern, then Lincoln head stylist, had it right in 2002 with the Lincoln Continental concept an elegant modern interpretation of the 1960s Lincolns that really established the image of the brand as True American Luxury. MKS, even if it is a great car, will have to establish an image around a non-name so product excellence is all they have left. MKS styling is too generic and derivative to achieve the ambiance a truly classic Lincoln deserves.
