The new MKS is Lincoln’s first all-new model since the LS made its debut in 1998 and Lincoln has already taken 8,600 orders since its launch.

“It’s going to be an awesome product for us,” said Mike Stanford, who has already sold 60 units of the Lincoln MKS at his Varsity Lincoln Mercury dealership. “We should be able to recapture some of the business we lost when the Continental went away.”

Since 2002, Lincoln has been living off of rebadged models. Now Ford is changing Lincoln’s lineup and the way it markets the brand in the luxury segment.

The new 2009 Lincoln MKS will arrive in dealerships later this month with base model starting at $37,985 while the fully loaded MKS will go for $48,120.

Power comes from a 3.7 liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. The 2009 Lincoln MKS is also expected to be the first Ford vehicles to be powered by the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 engine produces an estimated 340-hp and 340 ft.-lbs. of torque and is capable of delivering up to 20 percent better fuel-economy.

2009 Lincoln MKS :

Source: Detroit News