Lincoln’s Raises The Bar With The MKS

Lincoln debuts a worthy entry in the competitive mid-price luxury sedan segment.

Long a strong competitor in the luxury car segment, Lincoln gradually ceded its position to a number of established as well as upstart foreign brands, offering up a steady stream of badge-engineered Fords with top trim level. Ford management’s decision to concentrate on its other premium brands, namely Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Volvo, decimated Lincoln product development, relegating the brand to second class status.

With all but Volvo now out of the way, Ford has redirected its attention to its American luxury car brand, bringing forth fresh new models featuring its latest design interpretation. Leading the way is the new MKS, a five passenger mid-price luxury sedan slotted between the midsize MKZ and the large, but ancient Town Car.

Sharing chassis architecture that underpins several Volvo, Ford and Mercury models, the heavily modified MKS features a beautiful, double-wing grille centered by the Lincoln badge. Crisp, adaptive Xenon headlights complete the front fascia, a declaration that Lincoln’s new design language has arrived.

Inside, the roomy and ultra-quiet cabin is attractively appointed featuring Bridge of Weir perforated leather seating that was first introduced in the 1956 Continental Mark II, as well as generous quantities of chrome, olive ash wood trim, and a smartly laid out center stack. SYNC, a voice-activated mobile phone and digital music system, is standard with optional dual panel moon roof and surround sound stereo system.

Under the hood, a 3.7L V6 is the only engine offered, soon to be joined by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 which Ford says will join V8 power with V6 fuel economy. The current engine is strong, pumping out 275 horsepower and 270 ft.-lbs of torque. Paired with a six speed automatic transmission which can also operate in manual mode, the MKS runs on regular gasoline and delivers 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway.

Anti-lock disc brakes, stability control and side impact/side curtain airbags are among the standard safety features for the MKS. Trunk space is abundant, providing plentiful room to carry several sets of golf clubs.

Front wheel drive is standard, with all wheel drive optional. A fully-independent rear suspension absorbs road trauma with ease while comfortably carrying occupants on its sizable eighteen inch wheels. Steering and handling isn’t quite on the same level of its German counterparts, however the Lincoln MKS provides a ride similar to what Lexus delivers.

The 2009 Lincoln MKS is priced from $38,490, slightly higher for the all wheel drive model. This Spring, a redesigned MKZ debuts followed by the summer release of the seven passenger MKT crossover, three models that demonstrate that Ford is once again giving serious attention to its home grown luxury brand.

See Also — Lincoln Pins Revival On Luxury MKS Sedan

2010 Lincoln MKS Garners An All New Transmission

Released just last year, the large Lincoln MKS sedan is now the beneficiary of a pair of important updates including an optional EcoBoost engine. Though smaller than the dated Town Car, the front wheel drive (all wheel drive optional) MKS has plenty of interior room, scads of luxury appointments and a new transmission to help give the sedan an important performance edge.

V8 Power, V6 Fuel Economy

Introduced for MY2009, the Lincoln MKS receives a new transmission to go with optional EcoBoost technology for 2010.

The early update to the Lincoln MKS is due to the introduction of EcoBoost technology. EcoBoost takes a standard engine and adds more power to it because it employs a smart engineering combination – twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection. While a base 3.5L V6 engine produces pleasing amounts of torque and horsepower, with EcoBoost both are increased to the point where V8 comparable power is achieved while V6 fuel economy is maintained.

Ford’s transmission line had to be updated to keep pace with EcoBoost technology, hence improvements made to its six-speed automatic transmission. A new 6F-55 transmission replaces the previous 6F-50 transmission, which allows the engine to maximize power while maintaining fuel efficiency. Ford tested the previous generation transmission and made changes to applicable components and hardware resulting in a more durable product.

Improved Horsepower & Torque

The EcoBoost powering the MKS is a dynamo, capable of delivering 355 horsepower and 350 pound feet of torque while still getting a respectable 25 mpg on the highway. That fuel economy number matches up nicely with other cars in its class, while providing the MKS with a critical performance edge.

Like the previous transmission, the new edition maintains both fluid fill for life and flat tow capabilities, attributes which didn’t have to be sacrificed as gears, clutches and other essential hardware adaptations were made.

Ultimately, the new transmission – coupled with EcoBoost engine technology – gives Lincoln owners just the sort of pairing that they’ll appreciate. Couple that with all wheel drive and the MKS will be able to take on BMW, Mercedes and Audi, the perennial leaders in the full sized luxury sedan segment.

See Also — Is Ford SYNC The Voice Recognition Benchmark

Consumer Reports Raves Over The Hyundai Genesis

The Hyundai Genesis received Consumer Reports "top pick" award for an upscale sedan, quite a feat for an all new model.

My thoughts that the Hyundai Genesis should have been given its own brand name (ala Lexus) hasn’t hurt the Korean luxury sedan. Over the past several months, the Genesis has been recognized as one of the top cars produced today and is a finalist for next week’s North American Car of the Year award (I predict that they will win).

One of the most critical consumer sites in the world is Consumer Reports, the magazine owned by Consumers Union, an independent consumer product testing and watchdog group based in New York. Consumer Reports (CR) rarely offers praise for all new models, but in the case of the Hyundai Genesis the magazine has gone out of its way to name the Genesis its top-rated ‘upscale sedan’ beating twelve competitors including the Lexus ES 350.

The Genesis isn’t the only Hyundai model recognized by CR for its superior build quality, as the magazine also has named the Elantra and Santa Fe as “top picks” in their small car and sport/utility segments as well.

“The Hyundai Genesis rivals high-end luxury sedans but costs considerably less,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. “Its luxurious and spacious interior and quietness far transcend its relatively modest price.”

The Genesis was put to the test against four other new or redesigned upscale sedans for the February issue of Consumer Reports, those other cars were the Acura TL, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G8 and Lincoln MKS. The TL and Maxima were rated as excellent while the G8 and MKS were recognized as very good models.

Specifically, CR had this to say about the Hyundai Genesis:

Spacious and well appointed, the rear-wheel-drive Genesis offers good value and is a compelling alternative to luxury vehicles costing thousands more. This car’s forte is swaddling passengers in silence. The engine sounds polished and road noise is strikingly absent. The interior rivals those of the very best luxury cars, with its optional stitched-leather dashboard facing and consistently high-quality materials. The only real drawback is its ride, which can be unsettled at times and doesn’t live up to the standards set by other luxury cars. The Genesis 3.8 ($36,000 Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price as tested) is powered by a 290-hp, 3.8-liter V6 that feels quick and smooth and delivers a decent 21 mpg in CR’s own fuel-economy tests. The six-speed automatic transmission provides smooth, quick shifts. Braking is excellent.

Clearly, Hyundai is doing something right when three of its models are considered “top picks” by one of the most challenging judging panels in the world. The Hyundai Genesis is probably the best valued luxury sedan on the market, a car that will likely raise the automaker’s visibility in the years ahead.

Source: Consumer Reports