Cars.com Podcast: Crossover Craziness

It seems the gremlins in our podcast feed have been exposed to sunlight, and our stream of enlightened musings is flowing again. That’s good because it means you get to hear Kelsey Mays explain how the new Honda Accord Crosstour really is like a fish out of water.

His conflicted feelings are countered by David Thomas’ outright love for Lincoln’s MKT, and Joe Wiesenfelder talks about his time in the all-new Audi S4 and why it couldn’t live up to his expectations.

You can download the podcast via iTunes here (yay!) or just hit the play button below. 

Cars.Com Podcast #31

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.

2010 Lincoln MKT Priced at $44,200

Lincoln recently unveiled the 2010 MKT, and now it’s opening the doors to pricing and packaging. The Lincoln MKT will start at $44,200, excluding a $795 destination charge, which would set price of entry at $44,995 for the base front-wheel-drive model. The MKT goes on sale this summer.

To get Ford’s first implementation of its new 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine, you’ll have to dole out another five grand ($49,200), which also adds all-wheel drive. An Elite Package – which includes features like adaptive cruise control, voice-activated navigation and a blind spot detection system – will cost you another $5,000, with or without EcoBoost.

There are still options after the Elite Package and EcoBoost; all in all, the MKT can cost north of $60,000. The MKT is the second-most expensive Lincoln after the Navigator.

This is a lot of money; a similarly equipped Buick Enclave is $3,000 less. No, we couldn’t believe the Enclave was that much either when so equipped. Lincoln would like us to compare the MKT to the Audi Q7, which starts at $46,900 for a seven-seater, but prestige-wise Lincoln and Audi are on different planets for most shoppers. A fair compromise is to compare the MKT to the Acura MDX, which is still cheaper by around $3,000. A similarly equipped Ford Flex is $8,000 less than the Lincoln.

Up Close: 2010 Lincoln MKT

Lincoln's new MKT three-row crossover shares its platform with the Ford Flex but has significantly different exterior styling and is more luxurious on the inside. Its toothy grille is quite large, but because the MKT is also big it doesn't look out of proportion. The rear of the crossover is sleeker than the Flex's, but that comes with a price in terms of interior comfort, which I'll address in a minute.

With the MKT's cabin, Lincoln shows that it understands the kind of appearance and quality that's necessary to be competitive in the luxury crossover segment. The soft-touch stitched dashboard has a premium look, as do the gauge cluster and center controls.

2010 Lincoln MKT at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: Mazda CX-9, Buick Enclave, Acura MDX
• Looks like: Lincoln has a monster of a family wagon coming
• Drivetrain: 268-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 or 355-hp, turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2009

The three-row crossover segment has exploded in recent years, with nearly every automaker releasing a family-hauler that’s neither an SUV nor a minivan. Lincoln’s all-new MKT is neither of those things, and it sure doesn’t look like it wants to play nice, with a giant grille that's less Cheshire cat and more snarling lion.

The radical looks don’t end there. The MKT has a single, thin taillight breaking up the rear hatch, which is surprisingly elegant. Overall, the shape is much more SUV than the Ford Flex’s boxy, minivan-ish look. If you can’t tell, the MKT and Flex share a platform and many features, like the optional second-row dual seats with a fridge between them.

The interior reminds us a lot of the new Lincoln MKS, from the similar buttons to the cushy seats. There are also a lot of high-tech options, like a navigation system with live weather, sports scores and traffic information. Ford’s new automated parking system and MyKey nanny device will also be optional, as will be a blind spot warning system.

There’s a lot of power under the hood, too. While the base engine is a not-too shabby 268-hp V-6, Ford is offering its new 355-hp, EcoBoost turbo V-6 in it as well. That model will come standard with all-wheel drive, while that will be optional on the base model. Both powertrains will be available at launch this summer.

We’re pretty impressed with the looks of the MKT and can’t wait to see it in person later today (Monday). Hopefully Lincoln will bring out another color, because we bet the MKT looks great in black. More photos below.

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.

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.