Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossovers/CUVs, Lincoln
VIDEO: Meet the new face of Lincoln: Harry Connick Jr. baby

Lincoln has seen a bit of a resurgence lately, with sales up 11% over last year. To keep the good times rolling, Ford has tabbed the world's best Frank Sinatra impersonator; Harry Connick Jr. The jazz scion will make his debut on Sunday Night Football sporting MKX duds on a trip through his hometown New Orleans. The spot will run during the Saints game, and the theme is about dreams.
The Lincoln brand also picked up amputee triathlete Sarah Reinertsen to help sell the MKZ. Reinertsen was the first female amputee to finish the Ford Ironman Triathlon Kona. While charitable contributions and inspirational athletes make for great stories, we question how much it helps to move product off dealer lots. Lincoln needs to focus more on highlighting its products, as the MKX and MKZ are newer offerings that many luxury buyers don't even know exist. The MKX commercial is playing during a pricey primetime NFL slot, and the MKX interior is largely unseen and the exterior appears all too briefly. Check out the Harry Connick Jr. MKX commercial after the jump.
[Source: BRANDWEEK]
Gallery: 2007 Lincoln MKX
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rollolo 11:23AM (10/17/2007)
Cool car!
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Joe K. 11:32AM (10/17/2007)
"Ford has tabbed the world's best Frank Sinatra impersonator; Harry Connick Jr."
I like Joe Piscopo's version better... haha... "I'm done with you, your money's on the dresser..."
So lets analyze the ad campaign... Guy who dreams he was Sinatra schleps cars for a company that dreams they are still viable... Great!
Yeah, Lincoln needs to rethink this, rather than make their own version of the "Life liberty and the pursuit" ads from Caddy, they really should push their products. I think Mullaly had the right idea about it being about them, but has failed to convince everyone that in the end products must create the perception of value that the marketers can then push...
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Menice 11:39AM (10/17/2007)
it looks like a front loadable toaster... esp. in white.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/03/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-lincoln-mkx/
they should have used the millions spent in film production and star salary on something more important.... like a big ass loaf of bread.
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iQuack 12:05PM (10/17/2007)
Harry Connick Jr. is as talented as a musician gets--both for his singing and piano-playing.
The MKX is a decent vehicle, but really a Ford Edge in drag, so Connick has a big job convincing people to pay more for a tarted-up Ford.
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W.J.Borders 10:50AM (10/19/2007)
You propbably need to view the the overall differences between the MKX and EDGE
Dan S. 12:35PM (10/17/2007)
:: Ford has tabbed the world's
:: best Frank Sinatra impersonator;
:: Harry Connick Jr.
Firstly, you'd want to use a regular colon, not a semi-colon.
Secondly, the world's best Frank Sinatra impersonator is and forever shall be the late Phil Hartman.
Thirdly, I think Ford's missed the mark with their "sell cars through faux altruism" concept. Nothing in the commercial wows me or makes me want to buy (or even look at) the Edge... er, MKX. If anything, it makes me want to donate to Habitat for Humanity and eat some gumbo and Zapps chips.
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iQuack 6:13PM (10/17/2007)
While we're discussing form, I'd suggest "First, Second, and Third" instead of "Firstly, Secondly, and Thirdly."
The "ly" helps nothing;-).
Dan S. 12:36PM (10/17/2007)
:: Ford has tabbed the world's
:: best Frank Sinatra impersonator;
:: Harry Connick Jr.
Firstly, you'd want to use a regular colon, not a semi-colon.
Secondly, the world's best Frank Sinatra impersonator is and forever shall be the late Phil Hartman.
Thirdly, I think Ford's missed the mark with their "sell cars through faux altruism" concept. Nothing in the commercial wows me or makes me want to buy (or even look at) the Edge... er, MKX. If anything, it makes me want to donate to Habitat for Humanity and eat some gumbo and Zapps chips.
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Maestro1 1:23PM (10/17/2007)
LOL they should instead stick to keeping the brunette on the screen so people even pay any attention.
They should also make some decent cars and get a new logo (theirs is ugly imo) instead of rebadging Fords.
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carcrazy 1:30PM (10/17/2007)
Her name is Jill Wagner and if it wasn't for her I'd have no idea what a Mercury looked like...
atreyu.owns 4:32PM (10/17/2007)
u do realize that that badge has been used on Lincoln's for over 60 yrs?
DKB_SATX 2:22PM (10/17/2007)
I guess it depends on whether you're talking about singing or general impersonation... Personally I think Michael Buble sounds more like Sinatra than Connick does. Oh, and the less you show of that clumsy round-peg-in-square-hole instrument panel, the more likely you are to lure someone in. The Edge has a much more pleasing instrument panel... they were trying to refer to the '60s square-gauge Lincolns, but it just looks wrong IMHO.
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500 2:27PM (10/17/2007)
Sounds like Lincoln's got the amputee market locked up.
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gasman 4:36PM (10/17/2007)
The SNF Saints game was last Sunday 10-14-07. Old news.
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Xcountryflyer 4:40PM (10/17/2007)
Like he would ever consider driving a Lincoln. Like Tiger drives a Buick....
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W.J.Borders 10:34AM (10/19/2007)
Interesting, if you get in my 2006 Lincoln Zepher and turn on C.D., it's Harry's- NOLA C.D.. Since 1965 I've had over 20 new cars and this Lincoln is the very finest i've owned; in every respect! Latest quality report out this week FORD has the highest QUALITY rating of all car companies. Don't think foreign any longer-BUY AMERICAN--G.M., Chrysler, or Ford.....
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Kit 10:41AM (10/19/2007)
Who and how do they come up with the headlines for some of these stories?
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jess 10:49AM (10/19/2007)
I will not buy anything Connick endorces! He also endorces Sun-Com and of all the cell providers we have used over the years, they were the WORST by far! I guess some people will endorse anything for a buck!
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r bearfield 11:19AM (10/19/2007)
back in the 50s, my dad told me that whoever bougth a small ford got a falcon, it still applies.
lincoln--ford with different medallions.
escalade--chevy or GMC with different medallions.
they should just sell the medallions in a "make your own" kit.
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W.J.Borders 11:52AM (10/19/2007)
Lexus/Toyota
INFINITI/NISSAN
ACURA/HONDA