The war between traditional buff books and those of us on the net wages on, with the newest battleground being embargoed pics and information about two concepts that will find a home on a rotating platform in Detroit.
Earlier today, Car and Driver broke the embargo on the Lincoln MKR concept and in turn, Edmunds Inside Line decided to give up the goods on Lincoln's new sports sedan exercise. The employed design elements may find their way into Lincoln's DNA, while under the hood, a twin-turbo'd, 415 HP 3.5-liter V6 will power the automaker's soon-to-be released MKS flagship.
Click 'read' for the full analysis.
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MC @ Dec 22nd 2006 11:52PM
Direct injection, twin turbo? Out of Detroit? Wow! Nice job...
Slo_Mo_Shun @ Dec 22nd 2006 11:53PM
FINALLY, somebody decided to rip off the Exelero, now get it into production so I can get my batmobile on...
theswener @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:07AM
I was all gung-ho until I saw the interior, and the grill is wayyy to big. Other than that, great to see something BOLD from Ford!
Andy @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:18AM
I like it! It's not beautiful, but it is "bold." It's like the Mako Shark--a wacky concept that, with a restrained eye, could turn into a fine-looking production car. The name "Zephyr" would better fit this concept, however.
Mark @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:37AM
The Seven defining Lincoln characteristics...
"1. Clean and uncluttered body surfaces; 2. a powerful, dynamic beltline; 3. a chamfered surface running parallel to the beltline; 4. a twin-port “bow-wave” front grille inspired by the 1941 Continental Cabriolet; 5. thin, horizontal headlamps; 6. a substantial C-pillar that smoothly transitions into the roof; and 7. a pronounced roofrail."
What? No "name must be MK something or other", how will we really know it's a Lincoln?
Seriously, some of the cues on the list (1-4, with 2 & 3 being the same, but important) sort of make sense, but the Lincoln star is probably the only thing on the MKR that really says Lincoln.
And the Lincoln star isn't even widely recognized. Once someone asked me what kind of Oldsmobile I was driving. The star was mistaken for the rocket. Only when I said it wasn't an Olds that they realized it was a Lincoln star.
That One Person @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:05AM
Nice! I like it...
gbh @ Dec 23rd 2006 2:50AM
If DET actually *built* cars like this, they wouldn't be in the shape they are in now.
Hell, I'd even buy one.
GOT @ Dec 23rd 2006 2:57AM
Absolutely beautiful [i]CONCEPT[/i]. However it's hard to get excited when these fabulous concepts never make it to production. [/historical pessimism]
BOB @ Dec 23rd 2006 3:58AM
VERY HOT!
I could live without the shoehorn seats, though.
They should institute a crash program to get a version of that grille on the Navigator, to replace the chromed Popeil Vegetable Chopper they stuck on it this year.
And this line.... "See More in 2008--
Lincoln’s next rear-wheel drive flagship sedan, which the company has said will be out in 2008, will borrow heavily from the MKR."..... leads me to believe the Town Car freshening, when the Panther platform moves to Canada, will get some of this. I suppose that will be the MKT or the Notorious B.I.G, or some other letter nonsense: may I suggest "Lincoln Continental" as a cooler moniker?
hondacura @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:50AM
The MKR looks like it would share the same platform with the Jaguar XF
John P. @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:59AM
I'm not all over the styling, but, that 415hp twin turbo v6 has GOT to be fun. WOW!
tim @ Dec 23rd 2006 8:59AM
finally! finally! let's see some things like this in production from gm and ford! bravo, ford. let's prove the import lovers wrong and sell some fantastic cars.
Daniel @ Dec 23rd 2006 9:02AM
YES
Richard Warren @ Dec 23rd 2006 9:39AM
Looks great on the outside, falls apart on the inside, just like the Jag.
apollo322 @ Dec 23rd 2006 9:50AM
"If DET actually *built* cars like this, they wouldn't be in the shape they are in now.
Hell, I'd even buy one."
I couldn't agree with you more! Are they finally waking up?? Fix up that interior and you'll sell a boatload of these cars.
Greg @ Dec 23rd 2006 10:25AM
Nice... But! Is this just another wishful design exercise that won't fully make it to production. Lincoln shows these concepts everyear and all we have is the Zephyr/MKZ, clone of a Ford Fusion.
Sorry, but Lincoln is too late and most people have already written them off as so what... all promises no production. Don't teese me and get my hopes up when none of this comes to production. Talk is cheap, show me the metal!
Question: Why is it that Lexus can keep their new concepts well under wraps until they are just a few months from production and keep the competition guessing, while Lincoln shows these concepts - again as the future of Lincoln, but takes years to get any of it into production and show everyone exactly what they are doing - no competitive advantage!
Bet this takes 2+ years to get partially into production... 2009/2010 anyone?
Daniel @ Dec 23rd 2006 10:42AM
This Hot Rod Lincoln is simply breathtaking. Build it as is (except for a more refined and usable interior).
It is also very important to offer a choice in engines. While the TwinForce V6 is great – a Lincoln should also be offered with a small V8 (or even better a small V10 or V12) in order to kick the butts of the Europeans and Asians.
In your face this is an American Lincoln – damn it.
Matt W. @ Dec 23rd 2006 10:59AM
If it doesn't suck now, Ford will find a way.
bepsf @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:19PM
Someone smoothed off and chromed-up the blueprints from the 1996 Lincoln Sentinel showcar...
http://www.21stcentury.co.uk/cars/ford_lincoln_sentinel.asp
Jaymez @ Dec 23rd 2006 2:34PM
Are the Lincoln designers on crack? They used to have some beautiful cars. Now....