Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Lincoln MKZ, MKS EcoBoost

The current state of Lincoln as a brand is debated among the editors as they discuss two of its recent sedans that visited the Cars.com offices. Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss the redesigned 2010 Lincoln MKZ and the 2010 Lincoln MKS with the twin-turbo EcoBoost engine. Can either or both help a brand struggling to define itself in a competitive environment?

Download the podcast via iTunes here or listen in a browser here.

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.

Up Close: Ford's Self-Parking System

Have an aversion to parallel parking? Your ship has arrived: No longer the domain of just Lexus and Toyota, a self-parking system will debut for the 2010 model year on the Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover and will probably spread throughout Ford’s lineup thereafter. On the Cobo Center’s rooftop parking lot at this week’s Detroit auto show, Ford let us put its Active Park Assist through its paces.

Ford Reveals EcoBoost; Bests Segment in Mileage, Power

Ford will show the 2010 Taurus for the first time this morning, but it has already dropped the veil on one of the most anticipated engines in years. Seriously. The new 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6, called EcoBoost, will be used in cars, crossovers and, in the future, even trucks. Power numbers for the first application of the engine, in the Ford Flex, are 355 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

Mileage is estimated at 19/24 mpg city/highway. That’s pretty amazing when you consider that that surpasses every standard V-6 in the segment — see chart below — in terms of fuel efficiency, adding nearly 80 hp. Wow. Not only that, the EcoBoost only comes in Flexes equipped with all-wheel drive. We still have to confirm that these mileage numbers are for an all-wheel drive Flex, which would make the mileage numbers simply astounding. And yes, it uses regular gas. Not premium.

The Ecoboost V-6 will be available in the 2010 Ford Flex first, going on sale mid-year, followed by the 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover to be revealed tomorrow.  The Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS will also receive the engine.

Ford's Automated Parallel Parking System

Like Stockton to Malone, Ford wants to give its buyers an assist — at least those who purchase a 2010 Lincoln MKT or MKS. In mid-2009, both vehicles will come equipped with Ford’s new Active Park Assist system, which parallel parks the vehicle automatically. The MKT is an all-new crossover that will debut at the Detroit auto show next month.

The system strongly resembles the one on the Lexus LS 460 (check out our own Joe Wiesenfelder putting it to the test). Rather than cameras, though, the system utilizes Ford’s ultrasonic-based sensing system.

Ford claims key advantages over Lexus’ version of the technology: Ford’s system can be used in downhill parking situations, and the American automaker also claims it has vastly improved on reliability and speed in parking situations.

While this certainly may be true (we won’t know until we get our hands on a ’10 MKT or MKS), we have yet to meet anyone who truly craves this technology. If you have a different opinion, feel free to let us know in the comments.

Update: Video by Ford is below. Beware, it is kind of dry, but shows the system in action.

Cars.com Faceoff: 2009 Hyundai Genesis, 2009 Lincoln MKS, 2008 Buick Lucerne Super

They're big, they're comfortable and they're pricey. The full-size sedans that came under the scrutiny of our team of reviewers all have their advantages and winning features, but, alas, only one could come out on top. Mike Hanley, Joe Wiesenfelder and David Thomas pit the 2008 Buick Lucerne, 2009 Hyundai Genesis and 2009 Lincoln MKS against each other in a test of fuel economy, drivability and, of course, country-club cred. To find out which pampering bad boy comes out on top in their book, check out the full faceoff on Cars.com.

Cars.comparison: Living Large — Full-Size Sedans (Cars.com)

Cars.com Reviews 2009 Lincoln MKS

Lincoln hasn't exactly overwhelmed car shoppers lately, with products that have failed to match competitors from Lexus and Infiniti, but Cars.com reviewer David Thomas sees promise in the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS. Distinctive and a good value compared to the competition, the MKS seems to have found a niche that it’s already exploiting; it was Lincoln’s best-selling model in July. Thomas points to an expansive interior, improved technology and its relative value as the primary factors in the MKS' early success. Click on the link to read his full review.

2009 Lincoln MKS Expert Review

Cars.com Videos: 2009 Lincoln MKS, 2009 Hyundai Genesis, 2009 Ford Flex

2009 Lincoln MKS: The all-new sedan’s styling is a hit, and the MKS delivers on its good looks with a lot of value for its $37,655 starting price tag, reviewer David Thomas says.

2009 Hyundai Genesis: Hyundai does the impossible, wowing senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder with its first foray into the “luxury” car market.

2009 Ford Flex: The large crossover offers lots of legroom in its spacious cabin, but Joe says the Flex is missing some key interior features.

View and share all of Cars.com’s videos via YouTube.

What Lincoln and Mercury Will Look Like in 2010

Earlier we took a peek at what Ford’s future lineup is expected to look like after today’s announcement about integrating European models into the U.S. sales channel. Ford also announced that it would stand behind its Lincoln and Mercury brands. There had been rumors that at least Mercury might meet its maker thanks to Ford’s tough economic times, but now it’s slated to get a unique small car in 2010. Below is our look at what the two companies will field in the near future.

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)