Lincoln returning to RWD, too
Not that they ever left, but Lincoln's not going to pull what Cadillac tried in the '90s, switching its entire lineup to FF chassis. Derrick Kuzak, Ford's Lutz, has intimated to Car & Driver that rear wheel drive remains part of Lincoln's plans, and that there's a new FR car under development. While the big news at Lincoln lately is the MKS, that car's fan base will likely not know what stringbacks are.
Last year's hotness, the MKR, was based on modified Mustang underpinnings, so perhaps that's what's coming. Or, Ford could be looking at the new global RWD platform that's being developed in Australia, though that seems unlikely. It would be expensive to build a car in Oz and shipping would add another layer of expense, too. The MKS is a good start for Ford's plan of more Lincoln sales volume. It's nice looking, the EcoBoost motor will shove you back into the seat, and even the unboosted 3.5 is a great match for the chassis. For all that, the MKS probably won't have what it takes to sway drivers with enthusiast desires, but such a car could definitely slot nicely in the lineup.
Thanks for the tip, Zac!
[Source: Car & Driver]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
elprogramer 4:39PM (1/12/2008)
That car is growing on me.
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Buckus 4:40PM (1/12/2008)
If it's expensive to build a car in OZ then ship it, why can GM do it and ship it to China (Buick), the Middle East (Chevy Impala), and the US (Pontiac G8)? Assuming the labor costs in Oz are about equal for GM and Ford (as they tend to be in all countries where both operate) then it could make sense for Ford.
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BOB 3:49AM (1/13/2008)
As for selling OZ built cars in other countries --- SORRY, a naive comment
-- the US dollar is now crap, so the cars come in high
-- the size of the Holden big cars is a luxury size in other markets, so easier to price up, but not in the US
Anthony 4:45PM (1/12/2008)
That MKS or whatever it's called is 1 fugly Acura TL.
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Anthony 4:46PM (1/12/2008)
That MKS or whatever it's called is 1 fugly Acura TL.
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DanMan 4:55PM (1/12/2008)
I think RWD is great but I'd love to see more AWD systems like Suzuki is using in their SX4. I love AWD but hate the way it drags down fuel economy when you don't need it.
I know Suzuki's system is AWD or FWD but I think it wouldn't be hard for an automaker to come up with a system that was AWD or RWD. I could have used a system like that when I was trying to get up a snowy hill this Monday in Gallup, NM. My little station wagon was only FWD and it was a real pain in the ass. Of course I only need AWD about 2 weeks out of the year, the rest of the time it would be a waste of fossil fuel.
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Ethan 5:56PM (1/12/2008)
You mean like Cadillac, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, etc. have done?
DanMan 3:27PM (1/13/2008)
Any non-luxury brands that have done that? How bout a Ford (like the Taurus X) with that feature instead of strait up AWD? It couldn't add that much to the price and it would look like world class tech at the working man's prices.
Andrew 5:08PM (1/12/2008)
please build the MKR! that thing is absolutely *stunning* and sets an excellent styling theme for the lincoln brand, IMO. the front grille is just awesome.
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SGV 5:13PM (1/12/2008)
Lincoln simply cannot afford not to make the MKR
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psarhjinian 5:54PM (1/12/2008)
Its a pity. They had probably the best midsize rear-drive chassis on the market in the DEW98 Lincoln LS. This is the car that, with an equivalent engine and transmission, could make an E39 5-Series sweat.
And they killed it.
Now they're trying again. I really hope Ford doesn't show it's usual lack of Focus. I don't know if its a money shortage or just and incredibly inept marketing dept, but they have this uncanny ability to release excellent products and then completely screw them up.
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jim 7:29PM (1/12/2008)
Marketing and Bean Counters are the biggest problem
the law 5:55PM (1/12/2008)
grill is too powering.
maybe if they made the chrome lines a little thinner it couldn't be as bad.
would not buy in its current state!
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Sully 6:18PM (1/12/2008)
"Or, Ford could be looking at the new global RWD platform that's being developed in Australia, though that seems unlikely. It would be expensive to build a car in Oz and shipping would add another layer of expense, too."
What part of "Global" did you miss? GRWD will form the basis of multiple vehicles in the US, including the Mustang. Just because a platform is designed in one location does not mean that it can only be built in that location. Besides, this is old news.
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T Cheema 7:33PM (1/12/2008)
is this a replacement for the LS or the Town Car? It's a nice car, definitely one of the best Lincoln designs yet, but I still don't think it will be able to compete with the Germans, something that many people believe the LS could do.
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King of Pasadena 7:35PM (1/12/2008)
OK, I have a novel idea. How about a 2 door coupe? You know, like a Mercedes CLS coupe, only with 2 DOORS! You could call it, oh, I don't know, how about MK IX? (Pronounced mark nine, not Mac Icks.) That would fit in with Lincoln's current naming scheme of mark everything, and provide domestic competition for the likes of the G37 coupe. I've said it before, but I'm not sure the world needs another "crossover", and although the Lincoln version of the Flex looks like it'll be nice, I'm not sold on the name "Lincoln Market".
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why not the LS2/LS7? 8:08PM (1/12/2008)
Can it have HID headlamps, badass taillights and an Intech V8?
mk 9:34PM (1/12/2008)
I agree that such a car should be built.
I think it should be the mercury cougar.
A more lux-oriented, and equipped coupe should be the MK IX, and be priced higher, $40-50k.
And personally, I think the 9th mark should be a sleek 2+2 hardtop convertible. Not a 2-door CLS competitor, but a cut-price SL, bigger than the 3-series, smaller than the 6-series.
Pick up the folks that actually wanted the retro T-bird. A car that the Lexus SC430 could only dream of being, and more practical than the XLR.
But a sporty car like a G37 competitor, should be a Mercury grand tourer, not a Lincoln luxury car.
Bryan 10:11PM (1/12/2008)
I never understood why they killed the LS instead of redesigning it...... When I sold Ford/Lincoln/Mercury and the LS was on its last leg, we still had demand for them, and used LS's sold pretty well. Everyone preferred it over the now renamed "Zephyr" when it first came out.
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inspiron8000 11:31AM (1/13/2008)
It would be great to see Lincoln reintroduce a big, beautiful, Mark series coupe with RWD, but, then again, I didn't know what 'stringbacks' were, either.
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