Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Ford, Lincoln
Ford to officially announce Lincoln MKT today
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lincoln MKT concept.
We've been waiting for an official production announcement of the Lincoln MKT since the concept was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and according to Automotive News and the Wall Street Journal, that confirmation comes today. The Ford Flex-based crossover will give Lincoln a seven-seat CUV to compete with the Acura MDX and the Audi Q7, while providing customers a more fuel efficient alternative to the Navigator. The production MKT will share none of the Flex's boxy sheet metal, but the mechanicals will be very similar. The MKT will launch with either the 3.5L V6 from the Flex or the bored-out 3.7L version from the MKS sedan. The MKT will get Ecoboost at some point in its production run, but Ford hasn't released a date yet. Ford plans to build approximately 25k Lincoln MKTs annually, and production is slated to begin next year.
[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
WetheSheeple 10:38AM (8/15/2008)
So this ugly piece of metal replaces the MKX which is already a tarted up Flex?
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WetheSheeple 10:41AM (8/15/2008)
Ooops, I was half asleep when I commented. I see it's based on the Flex. I was thinking of the Edge for some reason. My baaaaaaaad
It's still ugly.
styleguy 10:49AM (8/15/2008)
First of all, the MKX is a gussied up Edge. Secondly, if Lincoln drops the MKX they'll have no five-passenger SUV/Wagon as the MKT will be a 6-7 seater, so don't expect it to go anywhere soon as the Mariner is not ready to step it up a notch. Finally, this looks great in concept form, and if the MKS means anything, this will be just like the concept form, if not better. This model will fit in well in Lincoln showrooms and has the potential to compete with the best.
Randy 12:21PM (8/15/2008)
What he said!
Avinash machado 10:40AM (8/15/2008)
Instead of rebadging Fords, Lincoln needs to go back to its roots and start making proper luxury cars to compete with Cadillac. Sad to see Lincoln lose all its past heritage and glory.
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MasterCKO 1:40PM (8/15/2008)
OMG. The comments in this article are completely asinine.
Didn't any of you read that only the mechanicals are the same? None of the sheetmetal and (probably) none of the interior. Seriously, you all should learn what rebadging is before you spout off about it.
Lesson 101: This is platform- and technology-sharing (which saves money), not rebadging.
If this is rebadging than the new MKS is a rebadge of the Taurus, but with an interior like that, I'll take it.
Ridiculous.
MasterCKO 1:52PM (8/15/2008)
And btw, EVERY SINGLE AUTO MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD shares platforms and technology among the brands in their respective stables (if they have more than one brand).
Ford is absolutely no different.
Lincoln MK8 3:52PM (8/15/2008)
MasterCKO, I'm glad to see someone in this world holds a hint of intellienge, and you my friend exude it. Glad to see it!
And IMHO, I kinda like this better than the Acura MDX, but it rivals the Q7 in my book...but definately a smart move for Lincoln.
Jorge 10:44AM (8/15/2008)
I wonder if Lincoln plans to change the name of this for the mexican market as MKT sounds as mecate (rope in english) or maybe has one in the trunk to pull it yourself when gas gets too expensive, hahaha.
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Jorge 10:45AM (8/15/2008)
I wonder if Lincoln plans to change the name of this for the mexican market as MKT sounds as mecate (rope in english) or maybe has one in the trunk to pull it yourself when gas gets too expensive, hahaha.
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Blake Luttrell 11:25AM (8/15/2008)
Because the Spanish alphabet is pronounced just like the English alphabet, right?
Jorge 2:24PM (8/15/2008)
For the mexican market means in "spanish", so is the pronunciation of the letters in spanish, are you just too dumb to understand that or do I have to give you the sesame street version??
Gerolsteiner 3:21PM (8/15/2008)
Are you serious? eMe kah teh is how you would say MKT in the Spanish alphabet, not Emkaytee (as it would be in English). Spanish spelling sort of sounds like el mecate (if the "l" is almost unpronounced, as it should be). Jorge is right, I don't know what the hell Blake is talking about.
Now why it would be a bad thing to call it the rope...I have no idea.
Matt 10:46AM (8/15/2008)
The MKX is not a Flex...it is a rebadged Edge.
What I find interesting is that the Flex is already overpriced and having trouble selling, now, in Ford's warped reality, they think that an even more expensive Flex is just what we need...dismal gas mileage and all.
Every day that goes by, Ford gets closer and closer to Chapter 11.
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Jobu37 1:52PM (8/15/2008)
Or perhaps Ford realizes that by the time the MKT hits the market the economy will be on the upswing. Basing future product decisions on the current state of the economy would be stupid. The Big 2.125 made that mistake back when they continued to build and design gas guzzling SUVs even though the signs were beginning to show up that the future was small cars. They took the easy way out then and are paying for it now. So they are making assumptions that there will still be an unequal distribution of wealth six months from now and some of those folks with the money would be very likely to buy a 7-seat luxury CUV that gets 24 mpg. Good move on Ford's part.
Ligor 10:47AM (8/15/2008)
i think this is ok for Lincoln, and I see they planned only 25k units, which is smart.
right now hte market will have to become so chopped, you basically have to make sure that styling is what differentiates your products
and nitche vehicles will become more important to the bottom line of all companies.
But lincoln definitely needs to get he Mustang chassis elongated a bit and put a IRS on it adn make a nice sedan/coupe/convertible in the $30-40k range, the MkZ just doesn't cut it.
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Ligor 10:51AM (8/15/2008)
you mean like Caddy rebdging Chevy, like the new SRX based on the Equinox?? or hte Slade based on the Tahoe, or add your vehicle here...?
please all companies do that, differentiation in style adn adding the nice luxury interiors is where it's at - and I think the new MKS does that well, and will be a lot more competitive to the STS once the 340HP engine with AWD comes on board next year.
the CTS is where Lincoln falls short on providing a competitive vehicle, but what's coming donw hte pipeline is fine, it's not like the Escalade is a better option than the MKT, for the tiems, the MKT will be better suted to the market conditions.
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Joe 11:08AM (8/15/2008)
How about all the platform sharing between Toyota and Lexus??? I mean, Ford isn't the ONLY company doing this.
jgp 10:52AM (8/15/2008)
C'mon Lincoln, be honest and drop this MKZ/MKX/MKS/MKT crap. Call them by their real names:
MKFusion
MKEdge
MKTaurus
MKFlex
Oh, and these leftovers:
MKCrownVictoria
MKExpedition
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compy386 11:22AM (8/15/2008)
I'll give you most of those, but do you seriously think the MKT and Flex look anything alike? All they share is platforms. Every other major automaker does it. They difference between rebagging and platform sharing is that you need to produce vehicle that are distinct yet mechanically similar.