Spy Shots: 2009 Lincoln MKS
Jim Dunne has dunne it again... one of the world's most famous (and most irritating, if you're an OEM engineer) spy photographers has caught the 2009 Lincoln MKS as it ran out for a little test jaunt around Dearborn.
While Dunne admits that the presence of an early-prototype MKS is no big whoop after Ford just showed off the concept version last January at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, it's nice to know that with all the shuffling going on at Ford they're still on track with product development.
The MKS will be a Lincoln flagship, boasting a V6 engine mated to a six-speed transmission putting power to the ground via the front wheels. No official word on when the car will launch, but Popular Mechanics says we should expect to see it launch in 2008 as a 2009 model.
[Source: Popular Mechanics]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
G Money 10:03AM (5/22/2007)
Flagship mated with a V6? You sure this is lincoln, or did you mistaken this with some Acura prototype?
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HeavyArmsSix 10:03AM (5/22/2007)
Ford Taurus for 10k more! Yay!
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The Other Bob 10:12AM (5/22/2007)
I don't think this replaces the Town Car. At one time it was supposed to, but recently Ford announced it would build a new version of the Town Car. This is more of a Continental replacement than a Town Car replacement.
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sammy 10:15AM (5/22/2007)
"Ford Taurus for 10k more! Yay!"
Kinda like a Lexus ES - a Toyota Camry for $10k more! Yay! or
an Acura TL - a Honda Accord for $10k more! Yay!.
There are many other examples. Should I continue?
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Jro 1:47PM (5/22/2007)
I wonder why there is a camo'd up Super Duty in the background of the side shot.
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Hamud 10:33AM (5/22/2007)
#4 YAY, heehehehehehehheheh.
I hope thay make use of the TwinForce or at least something like it.
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Chris Doane 10:41AM (5/22/2007)
Flagship mated to a TTV6.
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bmoredlj 11:02AM (5/22/2007)
Lincoln is planning a front-wheel-drive, V6-powered Lincoln flagship...While HYUNDAI develops a rear-wheel drive, V8-powered flagship.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooookaaaay....
Also, when do the "Navigator" and "Town Car" names succumb to Lincoln's "new" naming system? Shouldn't they be the MKN and MKT by now? Not being facetious; just trying to keep Linc honest.
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Z 11:12AM (5/22/2007)
the really sad things is that Lincoln has built some of the nicest concept cars over the past decade ... what a line-up they would have if Ford had built each and everyone as a production model ... this, however, will not cut it in today's market place ... too little too late
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mk 11:17AM (5/22/2007)
"The MKS will be a Lincoln flagship, boasting a V6 engine mated to a six-speed transmission putting power to the ground via the front wheels."
I know Ford didn't write this, but if it is an accurate description, then my rant is at Ford.
This is why Lincoln is floundering, and Mercury is left with no way out.
That statement should be an oxymoron. A Flagship lincoln with less than 8 cylinders, and wrong-wheel-drive??? How the mighty have fallen.
With Lincoln being wimp-i-fied to a FWD lineup, (excepting the Mark LT idiocy, and the ubiquitous Navigator trucks...) where is Mercury supposed to fit?
What is Mercury supposed to be, besides a european-flavor ford variant, under the Lincoln price-point, with a bit of dignity and a pinch of performance thrown in? Performance is out the window all over FoMoCo proper.
With Lincoln falling down market, it is squeezing Mercury out. the Milan should be where the MKZ is, and the MKX should be a Mercury variant of the Edge, as well.
Lincoln has completely abandoned the town car (proper name or not) livery market that it DOMINATED for decades. TC is a dinosaur facing extinction.
Everything in the line is now a MK or Mark something; yet there is no Mark IX coupe. Not even a swoopy four door coupe-like sedan, which seem sto be all the rage.
The MKS might be a fine main-line lincoln front-driver. but why on earth would they list it as a "Flagship"???? is this really the best they can do?
A 5-series, M45, GS/LS, E-class, RL competitor, WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE, and a V8 ENGINE should be the minimum for a Lincoln Flagship, even if it is more luxury than sport. A Continental upright sedan, and Mark IX coupe, hard-roof convertible, or coupe-like 4-door would be a logical pair. Based on the MKR concept.
Let Jaguar have the XF at that price point, with british style, and go up market from that point.
Then de-content those theoretical lincolns, restyle a bit in the Mercury/Ford Europe design language, and tune up the sport instead of lux, for Mercury. Comet and Cougar, maybe.
You could even offer it as the Ford SHO, Falcon, or some SVT special edition, moderate to low production Ford sedan, and use it to homologate a NASCAR body. Think of that... a performance oriented RWD V8 Sedan from Ford that spawns a RWD V8 race car profile... instead of a FWD non-performance car posing on a race car chassis.
They claim heritage with a retro mustang, but then abandon the lincoln tradition completely. What does Lincoln have left if it ditches "American Luxury" traditions, and works to really update them, rather than just abandoning them, or watering them down completely.
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Scott 11:27AM (5/22/2007)
Is Ford the one calling this a flagship, or is it just every media outlet out there? I don't see this vehicle as a flagship, I see it as a mid-level replacement for a vehicle like the Continental. Granted I don't have any idea if Lincoln is planning on building a vehicle that will slot in above this in the lineup, but given the stats this vehicle looks to be a comfy cruiser with a modicum of sport (TT3.7 V6). Lincoln has realized that people don't associate Lincoln with "sport", so hopefully they're looking to really emphasize luxury in their upcoming vehicles. People don't buy Lexus ES's because they're sporty, they buy them because they're comfortable and luxurious. That's probably the market Lincoln can hope for at this point. Caddy isn't exactly ripping up the sales charts with their "sport" sedans, either. Check out that STS . . .
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Rolf B 11:28AM (5/22/2007)
One minor point, it was the MKR that was at Detroit in Jan.
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Chet 12:20PM (5/22/2007)
"The MKS will be a Lincoln flagship, boasting a V6 engine... putting power to the ground via the front wheels."
What is this, 1983?
That's so sad. I know they're working with what they have, but... ouch.
How about spinning it as "nearly 300hp with available AWD" just so you don't depress us all.
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Igor Holas 12:35PM (5/22/2007)
1) no one at ford is calling this flagship .. Ford was smart enough to cancel a MKC sedan larger than the MKS - whcih was also FWD/AWD. Only Media is calling it flagship and wrongly so ..
2) someone tell me how Audi is a Luxury brand with nothing but FWD/AWD, but for Lincoln it is blasphemy
3) yes this will have TTD35 in it - 350hp/350ft.lbs
4) this is not replacing the TC - TC is getting a fece lift next year ..
5) this will have a RWD BIASED AWD ... sure not as "snobby" as dedicated RWD, but hardly actually inferior
6) I would love to know the identity of the people clamoring for RWD .. are they actual luxury customers or Civic driving 20-something armchair quarterbacks?
Igor
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Hamud 1:29PM (5/22/2007)
#13 I hope you'r right, really, it would be perfect if it goes the way you said.
That RWD/AWD sounds pretty interesting.
People keep asking for a V8, then, when it comes, the same people start complaining about the mileage, greenhouse gases and blah, blah, blah...
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Bigbuck16 1:42PM (5/22/2007)
#2 What the hell are you talking about a ford taurus for 10k more.Just because it shares the same platform does'nt mean they'll look the damn same.You should've said the volvo s80 was a damn taurus then,you jacka**.Anyway this looks sweet from what Im lookin at now and it looks like they kept the 20 inch rims.From the spyshots from a couple weeks ago the interior looks like it will be nice.MKS will dominate just wait.
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Jason 5:08PM (5/22/2007)
What is "snobby" RWD? Can I get snobby RWD?
Also, if they did come out with an MKT, would it be able to run on rails as part of the defunct Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway? That thing would handle good!
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Hamud 2:19PM (5/22/2007)
#16 I also noticed what seems to be a Flex right behind the MKS in the photo that shows the front and side of the Lincoln.
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That One Person 5:11PM (5/22/2007)
I have seen this test mule a couple times in the last week running around D-born. It looks pretty big. And it looks sharp.
Also, #2...You are slow. Can you say Lexus ES? LX470? Acura TL? Audi A3?
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KT 5:32PM (5/22/2007)
I've seen and sat in this car. It's a great looking car, inside and out. I don't understand how ppl are saying it'll be a loser by just seeing a "spy" photo. Jeez
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