Lincoln MKT Heading to Production

We were mildly surprised to learn today that Lincoln is moving forward with plans to build a production version of the MKT concept shown at the Detroit auto show this past January. The company has confirmed with the Detroit News that it will also discontinue the Mark LT pickup.

The MKT will be based on the same platform as the upcoming Ford Flex and will most likely have a third row of seats, unlike the two-row concept. We expect it to keep the radical-looking grille, but Ford says the design is still in the early stages of testing with focus groups.

With the MKT in the lineup, Lincoln hopes to solidify its renaissance. With it, the new MKS flagship sedan and the popular MKX crossover, the company has three fresh products. The aging Navigator recently got a refresh, while the MKZ — based on the Ford Fusion — seems like the odd car out of this revamped lineup.

As for the MKT, perhaps Lincoln is looking to score a home run like Buick recently did with its Enclave crossover. Do you think the MKT and MKS will help Lincoln’s lineup?

Ford polishes its U.S. luxury brand (Detroit News)

Video: 2009 Lincoln MKS Tech Features

Kelsey Mays already gave us a terrific overview of the all-new Lincoln MKS sedan. Now he shows us all the new technology crammed into the car, including a new take on the old-school door-mounted keypad, as well as the ability to find the cheapest gas prices nearby.

Video: 2009 Lincoln MKS

Kelsey Mays got to spend a lot of time with the new Lincoln MKS sedan at the 2007 L.A. auto show. Check out the latest video from the floor, as Kelsey walks you through key elements of Lincoln’s important new release.

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More on the 2007 LA Auto Show: 2009 Lincoln MKS

Up Close With the 2009 Lincoln MKS

• The MKS looks and feels swank, especially the leather seats. I wasn't wowed by the controls in the center console, but Sirius' new system, which offers real-time traffic, weather, gas prices and even movie times, was pretty impressive. What I particularly liked was being able to select from several theaters, then being able to look at all the available movie times there. Since my family members often have very different tastes in movies, being able to go through multiple times at multiple locations would be a blessing.
  
  You can search gas prices by location (is there one close enough so I won't run out of gas?) or by price (I'll go another four blocks if it'll save me 10 cents a gallon). What's really interesting, though, is that the Sirius system doesn't (yet?) work with Ford and Microsoft's Sync system, of which we at Cars.com are big fans. — Patrick Olsen, 2:10 p.m.

2009 Lincoln MKS Gets Real Pricing

When Lincoln rolled out the Lincoln MKS … oh, about an hour ago, the company also announced a starting price of $37,235, not including the $750 destination charge. This is for the front-wheel drive model with standard features like stability control, heated front and rear seats, Sync, brake assist, 18-inch wheels, side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags, plus a THX sound system with a six-disc changer.

The all-wheel-drive model starts at $39,105, and you can equip it with everything — including a dual panel moonroof, 20-inch wheels and special wood trim — for just under $50,000. Check out the options and choices at Lincoln’s website.

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More from the LA Auto Show
2009 Lincoln MKS

2007 L.A. Auto Show: 2009 Lincoln MKS

• Competes with: Lexus ES 350, Acura TL, Cadillac CTS
• Looks like: An elegant front end pasted onto a generic sedan body
• Drivetrain: 270-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

To say the MKS is an important model for Lincoln is just scratching the surface. The brand has been looking for a hit to stand apart from corporate siblings Ford and Mercury, and an upscale sedan is something it can hold up as its own.

The MKS delivers some remarkable styling in what will be a sub-$38,000 sedan package. Powering the sedan is a 3.7-liter V-6 engine similar to the one used in the  Lincoln MKX SUV. Lincoln promises that a more powerful turbo six-cylinder will be added to the lineup later in the year. No price was given for that model.

There are a number of luxury features Lincoln is putting into the MKS. We haven’t gotten a breakdown of which are standard and which are pricier options, but we know the MKS will have the new Sync hands-free system, voice-activated navigation, a cap-less fuel-filling system, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry … and, strangely enough, a new version of the old-school keypad on the door.

All that won’t matter if the looks don’t win folks over. The MKS is certainly more interesting than anything Lincoln has turned out of late, even the MKX. We’ll let the photos below do some of the talking and hope to learn more later in the day.

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