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 fans get ready for some new or refreshed vehicles – actually get read or 7 new or improved products by 2014. Ford’s global product chief, Derrick Kuzak, has said that the will show some of those new or refreshed Lincoln vehicles this year.

Kuzak said that as Lincoln models undergo a redesign, they will be differentiated from Ford models not only by technology, but their sheet metal as well. The will also have a different wheelbase and the length of the front and rear overhangs. Some models will get different powertrains mated to 8-speed transmissions.

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Most importantly, Lincoln will get a small crossover based on Ford’s next-generation Kuga from Europe. The model will fill the gap left by the Lincoln Aviator.

At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Lincoln will show a new MKZ sedan. The redesigned model is expected to be a 2013 model year.

The Lincoln MKS is als expected to undergo a significant redesign for the 2013 model year and may get the 2.0 liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that Ford is giving the 2013 Taurus.

The Lincoln MKX and the MKT crossovers will get a redesign for the 2014 model year.

The Lincoln Navigator will get a facelift for the 2012 model year and will share its powertrain with the F-150 EcoBoost. A complete redesign for the Navigator has been put on hold for now.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

2011 Lincoln MKT

Lincoln said today that a significant amount of its customers are increasingly purchasing the brand’s vehicles with all-wheel-drive. Lincoln, which offers all-wheel-drive on all of its models, said that customers of Lincoln’s crossover and SUV models are more likely to choose this technology.

“One of the greatest benefits of luxury is choice,” said C.J. O’Donnell, Group Marketing Manager for Lincoln. “That is why Lincoln customers are able to equip any of our cars and crossovers with an advanced all-wheel drive system.”

Lincoln said that 72 percent of Lincoln MKT customers and 62 percent of MKX buyers have opted for all-wheel drive so far in 2011. This compares to 46 percent of MKS and 25 percent of MKZ sedan customers. The Ford-owned brand said that the Lincoln Navigator is built with all-wheel drive no less than 62 percent of the time.

“We’re seeing the number of customers choosing all-wheel drive increasing steadily as drivers appreciate the benefits,” says O’Donnell. “More than half of our crossover customers are enjoying the reassurance that all-wheel drive delivers, such that once they have experienced it, they don’t want to give it up. ”We see all-wheel drive as a core technology option for the entire Lincoln line-up, both today and for the future.”

- By: Omar Rana

2011 Ford F-150

Way back in the old days Henry Ford would tell Model T buyers, ‘you can have any color you like, so long as it’s black.’ However, today as Japanese suppliers struggle to come back from the disastrous earthquake and tsunami, FoMoCo is asking its dealers to order pickups and USVs in any color but black.

Ford has asked its dealers not to order any full-size pickup or SUV in Tuxedo Black because of a problem getting a paint ingredient from a supplier in Japan. Ford is also cutting back on its use of Tuxedo Black on mid-size SUVs and the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS.

Apparently the red color is also a problem, Ford is cutting back, but not stopping, three shades of red on SuperDuty F-Series pickups, Ranger, Focus, Econoline vans and the Lincoln Navigator.

Who’s this Japanese supplier? No idea, but they provide a patented substance called Xirallic, which is used to give the red and black paints a slight metallic glitter.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: CNNMoney

Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost

Now that Mercury is gone, FoMoCo plans on allocating more of its resources to expanding the luxury Lincoln brand. Product planners are looking to add a compact, front-wheel-drive sedan or crossover and are also thinking of a vehicle based on the next-generation Ford Mondeo.

Here is a little something you can expect from Lincoln between 2011 and 2013:

First up, the brand is looking at a compact front-wheel-drive vehicle that could either be a sedan or a crossover. Currently, insiders say there are two possibilities – the first would be a compact crossover based on the next-generation Ford Kuga from Europe, while the second could be a compact car or crossover based on the 2012 Ford Focus. Look out for one or both sometime in 2013.

Next up will be Lincoln MKZ, which will be redesigned for the 2013 model year when FoMoCo moves it to a global mid-sized platform. FoMoCo is also said to be considering a mid-sized sedan for Lincoln based on the next-generation Mondeo. If the Mondeo based model is approved, the low-volume mid-sized car would likely fit under the MKS in Lincoln’s lineup. The Lincoln MKS sedan will be facelifted in 2012 followed by a complete redesign in 2016.

Now here’s where things get a little tricky. According to sources that spoke with Automotive News, the MKT crossover and the Ford Flex are rumored to be phased out after the 2014 model year. Insiders said that the models will be replaced by a vehicle based on the new Ford Explorer. The folks at Motor Trend decided to contact Said Deep, Ford Product Spokesman, to see of this is true. Deep said: “The speculative reports about the Flex and MKT are incorrect. These fullsize crossovers are vital to each brand.”

As for the Lincoln Navigator, the model is expected to get an EcoBoost engine and the 5.0L V8 within the next few years. A redesign is also in the works for the 2012 model year.

Click here for our review on the 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost.

Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost:

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Omar Rana ““ egmCarTech.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News, Motor Trend

Ford today announced that the new 2009 Lincoln Navigator will have ‘significant improvement’ in fuel-economy when it arrives on the market. And by significant, FoMoCo means an EPA estimated 14/20 mph (city/highway) on 4×2 models.

Ford used a new software that regulates fuel-consumption by using aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off. Ford will be using the feature on many new ford models including the 2009 Ford F-150, which gets up to 15/21 mpg.

Power for the 2009 Lincoln Navigator still comes from a 5.4L V8 engine producing 300-hp with a maximum torque of 365 lb-ft. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic which has smaller steps between gears than a 4-speed automatic.

Click through for the press release.

Press Release:

NAVIGATOR DELIVERS CLASS-LEADING FUEL ECONOMY

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 24, 2008 ““ The 2009 Lincoln Navigator offers more than impressive levels of luxury and functionality ““ it also boasts a significant improvement in fuel economy that puts it ahead of the other full-size luxury sport utility vehicles in the segment.

The Navigator, thanks to a combination of architectural changes and systems engineering enhancements, has increased its fuel efficiency to an EPA-estimated 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway on 4X2 models.

Combined with overall setup changes that offer lower idling speeds and transmission enhancements, the additional fuel economy makes the Navigator an even more appealing choice in the full-size luxury-utility segment.

“You’ll notice the difference,” said John Rich, powertrain integration and program manager for Ford Trucks.  “We’ve improved the attributes and performance significantly.”

The Navigator is powered by a 5.4 liter, three-valve Triton V-8, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which generates 300 horsepower and 365 foot-pounds of torque.  A wide-ratio, six-speed transmission has smaller steps between gears than a typical four-speed automatic, offering improved shift quality and faster acceleration.

Unique software has been engineered to regulate gas consumption by using aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off delivering considerable fuel savings with no extra effort from the driver.  This complex fuel strategy is being added to many Ford products to help improve fuel economy across the board ““ including the new 2009 Ford F-150, which offers unsurpassed fuel economy and capability in the light duty truck segment.

“Deceleration is when you take your foot off the accelerator and you’re coasting and the system very aggressively shuts fuel off,” says Rich.  “It sounds simple, but it’s not at all simple.  To make this work, we had to carefully manage the complex and constantly changing air-fuel mixture caused by aggressively shutting off fuel flow.”

“It’s so sophisticated, it’s imperceptible to the customer,” Rich added.  “There’s no bump, no hesitation.  The catalyst systems come back to life without taking an emissions hit.”

New for 2009

For 2009, Lincoln continues to simplify the packaging of Navigator and Navigator L, making standard many previously-optional features.

Standard items now include:  Power lift gate; heated and cooled front seats; heated second-row seats; PowerFold™ third-row seats; front park assist sensors; EasyFuel™ capless fuel filler; rain-sensing wipers; perimeter anti-theft alarm; integrated four-button key fob; Rear View Camera; flexible fuel-capable V-8 engine; Lincoln SYNC™ and a 14-speaker THX® II-Certified audio system with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio.

The standard Rear View Camera System in the rear lift gate handle activates when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle or for ease of hooking up trailers.  The video image is displayed in the self-dimming rearview mirror on the standard Navigator or through the instrument panel next generation navigation system on the Elite package.

The new next generation navigation system is available for the first time ever with SIRIUS Travel Link™, which gives drivers and passengers access to up-to-the-minute information and entertainment through the vehicle’s navigation system.  Working through the standard feature SIRIUS satellite radio network, Travel Link offers uninterrupted, coast-to-coast coverage of real-time traffic data; weather reports (current and five day forecasts with storm information and even ski resort conditions); fuel options sorted by price or distance from more than 120,000 gas stations; major league pro and college sports as well as movie listings from more than 4,500 theaters.  A six-month introductory subscription to SIRIUS is included at no cost.

The Monochrome Limited Edition Package for 2009 features unique badging, along with body-color exterior accents including lower grille, lower bodyside cladding, and power folding heated memory mirrors with puddle lamps.  This package is offered in four monochromatic exterior treatments: White Platinum Tri-coat, Black Clearcoat, Vapor Silver Clearcoat Metallic and Stone Green Clearcoat Metallic.  Inside, the package includes unique black carpet and floor mats, Ebony wood trim, and unique Stone or Camel seats with black leather inserts and black piping.  A stitched Lincoln logo is also placed on each headrest.

The Elite Package includes the moonroof; next generation navigation system; power running boards; rear seat entertainment system and the Rear View Camera display in the navigation system.

Three new exterior colors are available for 2009:  Monterey Grey Clearcoat Metallic; Sangria Clearcoat Metallic and White Platinum Tri-Coat.