2013 Lincoln MKS at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show
- Competes with: BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Infiniti M
- Looks like: The MKT's baleen grille is spreading
- Drivetrain: 300-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 with front- or all-wheel drive, or 355-hp, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 with all-wheel drive; six-speed automatic
- Hits dealerships: Spring 2012
The slow-selling Lincoln MKS receives a host of improvements for 2013, including more power, various handling upgrades, new styling and a MyLincoln Touch multimedia system. It hits dealerships in the spring.
More 2011 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Lincoln retailored the nose, fenders and tail, with a grille that comes closer to the MKT's aggressive, uh, teeth. Inside, the instruments and steering wheel are new, and physical center controls have been replaced by Ford's controversial touch-sensitive MyLincoln Touch panel. The MKS will get the latest version of MyLincoln Touch and Sync, which should portent usability and processing improvements over the last one. LCD screens now flank an analog speedometer, and new luxury options include massaging multicontour seats and a heated steering wheel.
Lincoln bumped the car's 3.7-liter V-6 to 300 horsepower and 275 pounds-feet of torque, up from 274 hp and 270 pounds-feet in the 2012 MKS. Gas mileage increases to 19/28 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive, up from 17/25 mpg in the current front-drive car. All-wheel drive models get 18/26 mpg, up from 16/23 mpg in the current all-wheel-drive car. The 355-hp MKS EcoBoost, packaged only with all-wheel drive, remains at 17/25 mpg.
Other hardware changes include larger brakes, more noise insulation and quicker steering with "up to 25 percent" better response, Lincoln says. Active torque vectoring, something that automakers from Honda to BMW use, makes its debut, too. In the MKS, it sends more power to the outside front wheel in cornering maneuvers to improve handling.
On the safety front, the MKS adds lane departure warning and prevention programs. Like Mercedes' Attention Assist, Lincoln's new Driver Alert chimes and flashes a coffee-cup graphic if it senses drowsy driving. If drowsiness persists, the chimes keep coming, Lincoln says. We assume you can turn off all three features, of course.
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Dont think the new grille is an improvement, but the interior, increased power and mpg updates are very nice.
Go to Hell Lincoln! The interior is nice though!
Love the updates but it still needs something to seperate it from the Taurus. Stick the Boss 302 Mustang engine under the hood and some added body trim and it might get people talking about it (think SRT, V-series)...
The MKS is taking a lot of heat on several blogs, but I like it. It looks polished and different. Like the current "S" I am sure this one looks better in person than in photos. Also, I hope they add an ecoboost appearance package that switches out the vertical slats in the grill for mesh- I like the shape, but not the slats.
Broq
broq:
Internet comments are the haven of those who cant speak for themselves. Im not a huge MKS fan (and this version, like the current one likely wont get any respect from the media) but this is an impressive car. The interior is great but no one is talking about it online. That is an interior that goes head to head with Audi or Mercedes, easily. I like the interior better than 5 or E class.
I like the new grille it makes the car seem sportier and lower , I really dont see why everyone is freaking out about it. Its a nice update to keep the brand headed to its younger future.
This is ok, but I doubt that it well make a dent in the sales of more prestigious brands like Audi, BMW, Benz...etc. Sorry, but I think Lincoln still needs a lot of work to be competitive.
Mike:
This is just a refresh of an existing model. They did the same with MKX and sales increased. This isnt an all new car so what they can do it limited. The 2013 MKZ will be all new. Ford knows Lincoln has a ways to go, but you have to start somewhere. If they advertise this right, it will sell better..
A good start would be loosing the current advertisement team- lincoln commercials suck! I think Hyundai has the best commercials, followed by Mercedes. Lincoln has a lot more than sync going for it, but that's all they seem to ever mention in the commercials.
Broq
Is David Thomas and Sheth the same person? I see comments from David stating he is Cars.com staff but then I also see comments from Sheth addressing people's posts so I'm thinking it's either the same person or I'm missing some inside Cars.com joke.
Lincoln did a good job with the improvements as they should help sales.
I think David and Sheth are the same person but not sure about the inside joke thing.
Uh, I most def don't work for cars.com. seems like a great job though. I just answer questions when I can.
Internet comments are the haven of those who cant speak for themselves.
-Wow. Didn't think it could get any worse... and then:
I just answer questions when I can.
-Shet, please save it.
This car is very nice. Give it a manual and a sport suspension and it would sell. It has the style of the TL - maybe even better.
Cadillac doesn't have anything that look this good. CTS coupe is good, but in a bulldog kind of way. This is just nice.
nice car if i were rich id buy 7, one for each day of the week
This car still needs a nose job. There is something wrong with the curved lip.
i love it i love the sportyness to it just what it needed it lincoln advertise it correctly than lincoln sales will be booming