The New York auto show featured the unveiling of the newly redesigned Lincoln MKZ. Ford hails it as the first step to reinventing Lincoln as a competitive luxury brand.
The Lincoln has struggled to be relevant over the past decade. As recently as 1999 it was the top selling luxury car in the US – but since then, they have fallen to eighth as the brand struggled against of wave of imports like BMW and Mercedes. The redesign of the Lincoln MKZ, which was led by former Cadillac designer Max Wolff, looks to move beyond the bulky, stodgy reputation and create a bold midsize sedan.
The new Lincoln MKZ is the first of seven new or refreshed models coming to market by 2014. The goal will be to attract a younger buyer – something the brand not done well in the past.
The MKZ will feature the following powertrain options:
- A 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which gives it 20% better fuel economy compared with the 2012 model.
- A 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 37 more horsepower than the previous V6.
- A 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that allows the 2013 MKZ Hybrid to remain North America’s most fuel-efficient luxury sedan. The hybrid gets an impressive 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg in highway driving.
Ford recognizes that it will take time to revitalize the Lincoln name, but they appear willing to re-invest in the brand.