Right off the bat, you can tell that the MKZ is a huge departure from the previous model, offering a completely new design that appears to be much bigger in size when compared to the previous MKZ.

Check out our original post on the Lincoln MKZ Concept.

Details in terms of power and drivetrains have yet to be released, but so far, Lincoln said that the new MKZ will feature their Lincoln Drive Control and Continuously Controlled Damping adaptive suspension, both of which debuted on the most recent MKS and MKT vehicles equipped with Ford’s EcoBoost V6.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

“With the Lincoln MKZ Concept, we are not introducing a new car. We are essentially introducing a new brand,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford Motor Company group vice president for Global Product Development. “The MKZ Concept is the next step in the reinvention of Lincoln, something we’ve been quietly but aggressively pursuing.”

Lincoln says that the MKZ Concept provides a strong hint at the production model that will hit dealerships later this year.

“The MKZ Concept’s shape is a vision of simplicity completed with just a few strokes,” said Max Wolff, Lincoln design director. “Our movement as a brand is toward something we call elegant simplicity. It’s something warmer and more restrained, which is moving away from complex designs and traditional luxury.”

Leaving behind its sharing days with the Ford Fusion, the new MKZ transforms into a four-door-coupe that will compete with the likes of the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7 – at least in terms of design. On the inside, the MKZ Concept seats four, with a bunch of new technology including a 10.1 inch Thin Film Transistor LCD and MyLincoln Touch.

The production model of the Lincoln MKZ will be available in front-wheel and all-wheel-drive with a range of EcoBoost engines and a new Lincoln Drive Control.

- By: Omar Rana

This is the new Lincoln MKZ Concept – waiting – to be revealed tomorrow here at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. From what we see so far, the new MKZ will depart from its mid-size sedan ways to a four-door-coupe-like body form.

We’ll have full pictures and details for you tomorrow.

Stay with us as we continue our coverage of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Omar Rana

At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Lincoln will take the covers off of the brand new MKZ Concept, which promises to show the new design and reengineering of the brand. The Lincoln MKZ model itself will be totally redesign and delivered as a product that will compete in a brand new segment.

We’ll have more details from the official reveal at Detroit along with live photos. Stay tuned.

- By: Omar Rana

At next week’s 2012 North American International Auto Show Lincoln will be featuring a concept for its new MKZ sedan model.

The model is to help the brand compete against luxury brands that have been growing while Lincoln was undergoing some major changes. “This is the biggest statement Lincoln has ever made at an auto show,” said Max Wolff, Lincoln’s director of design. “Our NAIAS display represents more than a vehicle debut. It represents the reinvention of Lincoln.”

Lincoln has some ambitious goals by 2014 to release seven models either completely new or heavily made over. The MKZ will be the first totally new model to be released, while the MKS and MKT models will be revamped for sale this year.

An art gallery theme featuring work from artist Chuck Hoberman will show case the new models, in addition to a simulated road and product specialists. “Lincoln’s 2012 NAIAS stand is a full premium experience,” said C.J. O’Donnell, Lincoln’s group marketing manager, in a statement.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Free Press

North Korea’s ‘Dear Leader’ Kim Jon-Il may have died last week, but his funeral seemed to be like something out of 1976.

After a long time of living in the lap of luxury at the expense of North Korea’s citizens, Jon-Il was driven to his grave in a mid-70′s Lincoln.

You can check out the highly choreographed funeral after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

A recent survey of the 65 and over crowd and their preferences in cars shows that seniors are the lifeline of some of their common picks.

The top ten list is mostly models that wear Cadillac, Buick, and Lincoln badges. Sales to seniors make up to 90 percent of some of the models on the list, composed by TrueCar.com. Analyst Jessie Toprak, who tracked the last two years of sales, comments that seniors usually go for what’s familiar from their youth. Although Hyundai is on the list, Toprak attributes this to the brand’s low cost.

The following are the top ten cars, the first five of which would have been retired if it were not for those over 65:

1. Lincoln Town Car, 90 percent
2. Buick Lucerne, 87 percent
3. Cadillac DTS, 85 percent
4. Cadillac CTS, 74 percent
5. Cadillac STS, 71 percent
6. Hyundai Azera, 25 percent
7. Chevrolet Impala, 51 percent
8. Buick LaCrosse, 59 percent
9. Lincoln MKZ, 54 percent
10. Toyota Avalon, 54 percent

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Detroit News

Earlier today, Lincoln fully revealed the new and improved Lincoln MKT luxury crossover at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Updated with a facelift and some revised equipment, Lincoln hopes the improvements will help the MKT’s sales as it’s been a bit of a slow seller ever since it was introduced just last year. And that could be due to its awkward looks. However, I did spend some time playing around with the new MyFord / MyLincoln Touch system and I’m glad to say – it’s definitely a big improvement over the old system.

Some of the changes involve the inclusion of Lincoln’s adaptive suspension when opted with the top-of-the-line 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Additionally, much like the MKS flagship sedan, the base naturally-aspirated V6 engine gets some minor tweaks, which means a bump in power and an estimated slight boost in fuel economy.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

Click here for our original article on the 2013 Lincoln MKT.

- By: Chris Chin

So the Lincoln MKS made its debut earlier at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. Having been introduced in 2009, Lincoln certainly showed the world that they’re on the right path to stepping up their game.

Lincoln addressed some concerns with the power of the base engine and the handling. They did so by upgrading the base 3.7L V6 engine and adding Lincoln’s adaptive suspension as standard.

Aesthetically, the facelift for the MKS I think is also a step forward. The previous model had a grill that was a bit brash and overall, the car looked a bit pudgy. Now though, the minor visual updates make the MKS look a little bit more chiseled and thus, slightly more sophisticated.

Click here for our original article on the 2013 Lincoln MKS.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

Making its debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Motor Show, the 2013 Lincoln MKT gets a minor aesthetic facelift. It also comes standard with the same “Continuously Controlled Damping” adaptive suspension setup that also debuted in the 2013 Lincoln MKS when opted with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6.

Additionally, the base V6 for the MKT, much like the MKS, gets a minor update to the 3.7 liter V6 that now makes 300-hp and 275 lb-ft of torque and is expected to improve the MKT’s highway fuel economy by one mile per gallon. The Lincoln MKT EcoBoost keeps its 3.5 liter V6 EcoBoost making 355-hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.

Styling wise the MKT gets the new Lincoln grille which will now be a recognizable Lincoln family look going forward.

Click here for more news on the Lincoln MKT.

“The effort behind the new look was to change the proportion of the MKT from the front view. We helped make it feel wider and a bit less tall, less vertical,” said Max Wolff, Lincoln Design director. “The execution of the new MKT’s grille and the grille bars is a lot more refined and elegant. The new front graphic displays a lot of three-dimensionality, but it’s accomplished in a calmer, more restrained way.”

Lincoln said that the 2013 MKT will hit showrooms around the same time as the new MKS, which should be in the spring of 2012.

- By: Chris Chin

Other than some minor aesthetic changes, the 2013 MKS now comes standard with Lincoln’s Continuously Controlled Damping adaptive suspension, which monitors the suspension up to 500 times per second and adjusts accordingly. Drivers can choose from three settings that automatically changes the stiffness of the shock absorber, the throttle and steering response and the traction and stability control parameters. And if need be, the settings can be customized through the MKS’s MyLincoln Touch infotainment car system.

“CCD is always active, and it underpins the expanded dynamic capabilities of the new MKS,” said Brian Naspinsky, Lincoln’s Vehicle Integration engineer. “CCD makes it possible to provide a smoother, more controlled ride over virtually any road surface in part by reducing body roll by up to 20 percent. CCD also improves handling. Understeer on the MKS has been reduced by approximately 25 percent, so the car feels more eager and ready to respond.”

Click here for more news on the Lincoln MKS.

The base engine in the 2013 Lincoln MKS also gets reworked to produce more power and return better fuel economy. Up from 273-hp to 300-hp and 275 lb-ft versus the outgoing 270 lb-ft of torques, the MKS’s base 3.7L Ti-VCT naturally-aspirated V6 is estimated to boost fuel economy by three mpg’s on the highway for both RWD and AWD models. The top-of-the-line engine remains to be the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and is only available in AWD.

Additionally, Lincoln announced that the brakes wee also upgraded on the MKS, which was a previous concern for the outgoing MKS. And to further emphasize the luxury of the 2013 Lincoln MKS, additional noise barriers, absorbers and other sound deadening materials were used to improve quietness.

Lincoln didn’t announce the pricing for the 2013 MKS, but they did say that it should arrive at your local Lincoln dealers in the Spring of 2012.

- By: Chris Chin

As many of you know by now, Lincoln has plans to introduce 7 new or improved products by 2014.

On its Facebook page today, Lincoln released some teasers of the 2013 MKS sedan and so far it looks pretty interesting – just kidding – these teasers don’t really give away much at all. Lincoln’s slogan for this whole new design theme “Now it gets interesting.”

We’ll have more for you from the 2011 LA Auto Show next week.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Facebook

At the 2011 LA Auto Show next week, Lincoln will debut the new 2013 MKS sedan and the MKT crossover. Yesterday on its Facebook page, FoMoCo’s luxury brand posted a teaser to its new design language stating: “The next step for Lincoln…forward-looking and more elegantly crafted. Now it gets interesting.”

We’ll see how interesting things get next week in LA. We know so far that Lincoln will be dropping its waterfall grille front fascia. The new grille design will be ‘more elegant’ and ‘not as pronounced.’

Lincoln has plans to introduce 7 new or improved products by 2014.

Stay tuned for our live coverage from the 2011 LA Auto Show next week.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Lincoln

Over a year and a half ago, Ford voiced interest in producing a widespread luxury lineup: a Lincoln to rival Mercedes, Audi and BMW; two independent sources inside Ford have leaked less niche-happy intentions.

Lincoln now seems interested in putting out a line up similar to BMW in, say, 2005/2006: there will be one or two bigger SUVs and a smaller one based on the Escape, currently referred to as the MkD. At one point, there was talk of a Focus-based MkC, but those plans have been axed and the MkZ (or Ford Fusion with leather) will be showing up in late 2012.

Let’s not forget their more traditional ambitions as well.

In other news, Lincoln is also working on a couple of V6 EcoBoost engines popping out somewhere between 400 and 425-hp.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: FIN

Pandora, the leading personalized radio service and very soon the leading service for in-car radio, has announced that it will now offers it service as standard on three popular Lincoln models.

The Lincoln MKZ, MKZ Hybrid and the Navigator will all get Pandora as standard, starting today.

“Lincoln makes Pandora available via the SYNC system, using the AppLink feature, which is compatible with Android, BlackBerry and iPhone smartphones,” Pandora said. “Signature functions of SYNC AppLink include voice control over the Pandora smartphone app allowing drivers to change stations or give a song a thumbs-up or thumbs-down with simple voice commands. In addition, drivers can control Pandora through dashboard and steering wheel-mounted controls.”

“Our listeners want Pandora everywhere they are, and the car is at the top of that list,” said Pandora executive vice president of business and corporate development Jessica Steel. “We’re delighted that Lincoln luxury drivers now have easy access to their personalized radio stations behind the wheel.”

- By: Omar Rana

Lincoln is considering a rear wheel drive flagship sedan, potentially based on the Australian Ford Falcon or the Ford Mustang according to two sources inside Ford. These two suggest that Ford has intentions of revitalizing the Lincoln brand to its former glory, not necessarily in a 70s Continental way, but as a relevant and contemporary showcase of Ford’s most advanced technology.

Ford is becoming increasingly flush with cash at the moment which has started discussions of a new Lincoln, in similar fashion, GM is interested in building a Cadillac with prices in the six-figure range.

Either way, the Lincoln project, if it happens probably will not take shape until later this decade.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: Ford Inside News

Besides adding minor exterior and interior upgrades to the Lincoln MKTS and MKS, the Ford-owned luxury brand will strongly focus on improving ride and handling to differentiate Lincoln from Ford. The next-generation of the MKS and MKT will get new steering, braking and suspension systems, sources say.

Ford is also considering introducing Lincoln to the Chinese market, says FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally.

“We have a great luxury brand in Lincoln, which we have recommitted ourselves to,” Mulally said. “There’s going to be tremendous pull from China to have access to these great vehicles.”

Ford is investing $1.6 billion to build four new plants in China, where it will triple its lineup by offering 15 models by 2015.

China’s demand for luxury cars is expected to grow 35 percent, analysts at J.D. Power forecast.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News

Whether or not you love it or hate it, Lincoln’s waterfall grille is on its way out. Sources familiar with the plans for the updated MKS sedan and MKT crossover due next spring, said that the models will no longer feature the waterfall grille.

One source said that both models will get a ‘completely different’ grille from the current grille, which has been quite controversial. The source said that the new grill is ‘more elegant’ and ‘not as pronounced’ as the waterfall grille.

When will we see this new grille on the MKS and MKT? Most likely at the 2011 LA Auto Show in November.

Do you agree with Lincoln’s decision to drop the waterfall grille? Let us know by casting your vote in the poll below.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoWeek