Recall Alert: 2009 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator

Ford has issued a recall for 1,357 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from the 2009 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The brake stop lamp switch may be adjusted incorrectly, which could cause a delay in the brake lights’ illumination.

In other words, the brake pedal could be depressed and the lights could either illuminate late or not at all. The failure of brake lights could endanger the vehicle’s occupants or other drivers on the road.

Dealers will adjust the brake stop lamp switch for free. Owners may contact Ford at 866-436-7332 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2009|Ford|Expedition

2009|Lincoln|Navigator

Ford Payment Protection Plan Ends June 1

In April, Ford announced a plan to pay your car payments for up to a year if you lost your job. The company called it Payment Protection, and the plan ends June 1. Under the plan, owners were basically assured that if they had to file for unemployment, Ford would pick up their new car's payments for up to a year, up to $700 a month.

The plan was meant to reassure potential buyers in a shaky economy. The June 1 expiration date is approaching, and with the economy showing signs of life, it's unlikely Ford will extend the plan.

Hyundai's Assurance program, which pays for the negative equity of a new-car purchase up to $7,500, ends June 30.

GM's similar plan ended April 30.

2010 MKS With EcoBoost Engine Starts at $47,760

This year, Ford will begin selling its much-talked-about twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 powertrain in select vehicles, with debut honors going to the 2010 MKS.

The 2010 MKS with EcoBoost will cost $47,760, which is exactly $5,000 more than the naturally aspirated MKS with all-wheel drive ($42,760). The price bump for the MKT with EcoBoost is about the same. Destination adds another $825.

For that price, you get a 355-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with 350 pounds-feet of torque. The MKS is able to achieve that sort of power through the use of twin turbochargers and direct injection — in Ford marketing speak, that’s referred to as EcoBoost.

The MKS with EcoBoost has all-wheel drive standard and has achieved 17/24 mpg city/highway in preliminary testing. The non-turbo 3.7-liter MKS with all-wheel drive is rated at 16/23 mpg.

The 2010 MKS with EcoBoost competes with more expensive high-performance sedans like the turbo Audi A6 ($50,100) and BMW 535i xDrive ($53,400). The 2010 MKS with EcoBoost goes on sale this summer.

Lincoln MKZ, Mercedes-Benz R-Class Are Top Safety Picks

Two models recently earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick rating for 2009. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class and 2010 Lincoln MKZ both earned Good ratings in frontal offset, side-impact and rear crash tests.

For the R-Class, the designation applies to models manufactured after September 2008 with the standard side airbags. The MKZ rated is the new 2010 model that recently went on sale.

IIHS.org

Ford Offering $1,000 Conquest Cash to Chrysler Owners

Conquest incentives aren’t new in the automotive industry. In fact, they’re often seen as very effective. Besides helping make a sale, they also help steal market share from a competitor. In the latest example of such an incentive, Ford dealers in the New York region are offering $1,000 in conquest cash to all Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge owners looking to buy a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury SUV, truck or crossover, but not car.

These incentives are usually added on top of other cash-back or financing offers.

Detroit News columnist Daniel Howes sees this as a low blow by Ford — kicking its competitors while they’re down, and perhaps even perpetuating bankruptcy fears among buyers.

We’re not sure how any car shopper today wouldn’t already be aware of the dire straits in which Chrysler and GM find themselves. We’ll just say smart shoppers shouldn’t pass up an extra incentive if they find a vehicle that fits them.

Update: Ford says this offer is available in the following regions: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Denver and Phoenix.

Ford banks on its rivals' misfortune (Detroit News)

Ford Paying for 12 Months of Car Payments If You Lose Your Job

Take that Hyundai! Ford announced this morning that it will cover up to 12 months of payments if you lose your job within nine months of buying any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle. The payments could be up to $700 a month! If you get 0% financing for 60 months that means you could buy a $42,000 car and still get the full payment taken care of.

Unlike Hyundai’s Assurance Plus plan, the Ford plan will not include buying back the vehicle with no loss in equity. GM is also announcing an assurance plan this morning, which we will report on as soon as the details are available.

Ford’s plan, called the Ford Advantage Plan, will run through June 1. New cars coming out before June 1 include the Ford Fusion, Fusion Hybrid and Mustang. Lincoln’s new MKZ and Mercury’s Milan are also out now. It’s unclear if the new Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKT will be on sale before this deal expires. The new Ford F-150 could actually see the biggest sales boost with such a plan.

2010 Lincoln MKZ Priced Just Under $35,000

Last year, Lincoln debuted an all-new sedan called the MKS. It was a leap forward for the company in terms of interior and exterior styling. That left the smaller MKZ sedan waiting for a redesign, and now that it has its new look, price will be the deciding factor in whether it’s a success. Today, Ford announced the 2010 Lincoln MKZ will start at $34,115 with front-wheel drive and $36,005 with all-wheel drive, not including an $850 destination charge.

The MKZ includes a 263-hp V-6 and comes standard with leather, Ford’s Sync entertainment system, heated and cooled front seats, and parking sensors.

We’re a bit surprised Ford would raise the price of the MKZ almost $1,500 without adding much extra content. The 2009 model started at $32,695, and at that price it couldn’t compete with the likes of the Infiniti G37 ($33,250), Audi A4 ($31,000), Acura TL ($34,955) and Cadillac CTS ($36,560). We haven’t driven the 2010 MKZ, but with such a high sticker it will be tough to get shoppers to put it on their test-drive list when there are so many other options out there. Some of the competition also come with things like a power moonroof standard, while that remains a $1,200 option on the MKZ.

The MKZ is also priced near the MKS, which starts at $38,490.

Check below for a list of options and pricing.

2010 Cadillac SRX vs. 2010 Lincoln MKT Video

Some of the press conferences at the Detroit auto show focused on technologies that won't be available in the U.S. in the near future, but two luxury crossovers debuted at the show that will go on sale this summer. The Cadillac SRX and Lincoln MKT take different approaches to attract luxury buyers, and in this video we take a look at how they compare by looking at their styling, size, interior quality, seat comfort and features.

2010 Lincoln MKT Video

Lincoln wants to make a splash in the luxury crossover segment with the 2010 MKT. Cars.com’s Mike Hanley took some time at the 2009 Detroit auto show to check the MKT from all angles, and found a stylishly designed luxury vehicle with plenty of good tech options. His complaints? Well, wait till you see him try to sit in the third row. Get Hanley’s full take on the MKT by watching the video.

2010 Lincoln MKT vs. Ford Flex: Suburban Dad

I've been a fan of the Flex ever since it won top honors on our Vacation Blogging trip last summer. My family and I found it roomy, nicely appointed and filled with lots of tech features to make long drives more than bearable. That drove my interest in the Lincoln MKT, and I have to say that, for two cars that share the same platform, they sure look very different from each other.