Autoblog

Autoblog Podcast #322

Dan Roth — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Podcasts, Bentley, Jeep, Lincoln, Subaru, Toyota, Tesla, Electric

2014 Jeep Cherokee, Tesla profit, 2014 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Ford Atlas chief designer Gordon Platto

Episode #322 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, Tesla's cautious announcement of a first-quarter profit, the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur and Zach and Dan share an interview with Gordon Platto, chief designer for the Ford Atlas Concept truck from this year's Detroit Auto Show. We wrap with a couple of your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #322:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
2013 Toyota Prius V
2013 Lincoln MKS

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Jeff Ross

Runtime: 01:26:23

Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

Review the show in iTunes

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #322

Autoblog Podcast #322 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dodge Dart falls short of Consumer Reports Recommended, Caddy XTS and Lincoln MKS, too

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Cadillac, Dodge, Lincoln, Luxury

The Dodge Dart, Cadillac XTS and Lincoln MKS all failed to earn a "Recommended" rating from Consumer Reports. When it came to the compact Dart, the organization's testers thought the vehicle offered a quiet cabin, solid-feeling chassis and nimble suspension, but the new model ultimately fell short of the coveted rating due to powertrain issues. The institute's reviewers found the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to be underpowered and noted "drivability issues" when the available turbocharged 1.4-liter four was paired with the optional dual-clutch transmission (some of our editors disliked it paired with the six-speed manual). CR also dinged the latter powerplant for sounding "raspy." For what it's worth, we think the forced-induction engine offers an excellent and playful exhaust note, but that's just us.

As for the XTS, CR lauded the car for its luxurious cabin, but the vehicle's experience was dulled by its finicky CUE infotainment interface. Overall, the big Cadillac scored much higher than its cross-town rival from Lincoln. While testers found the American luxury sedan to offer a quiet ride and quality fit and finish, they felt the MKS delivered a "cramped driving position, ungainly handling, uncomposed ride, and limited visibility." Ouch. At the end of the day, both cars fell short of rivals from Japan, Germany and Korea. Check out the full press release below with more details, along with CR's musings on the Chevrolet Spark and Lexus ES.

Continue reading Dodge Dart falls short of Consumer Reports Recommended, Caddy XTS and Lincoln MKS, too

Dodge Dart falls short of Consumer Reports Recommended, Caddy XTS and Lincoln MKS, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

John Neff — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Lincoln, New Car Reviews, Luxury

A Bench-Warmer In Waiting

I hail from Cleveland, and that means I'm familiar with sports franchises that are always falling short of championships. The Indians, the Browns, the Cavs - they've all come close, but being a resident of C-Town means learning to appreciate the effort more than a reward that never seems to come. So I can appreciate the situation in which Lincoln finds itself today, one where the past is full of repeated attempts to be competitive, and looming on the future's horizon is the next hope on which everything hinges.

That next hope for Lincoln is not the car you see here, but rather the smaller, all-new 2013 MKZ sedan. Like LeBron James entering Gund Arena for the first time, the MKZ will enter dealerships this fall as the brand's chosen savior, markedly more stylish, advanced and desirable than anything offered by Lincoln in recent memory. And that would make this car, the 2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost, one of the other 20 guys whose names I can't remember who played alongside LeBron during his rookie season.

Being in the shadow of the Next Big Thing makes it hard for anybody, or anything, to stand out and be noticed. And yet, those 20 other guys suited up each night next to LeBron, and the MKS will continue as Lincoln's flagship large sedan despite the luster of the new MKZ right next to it. Lincoln, however, has given the MKS some significant upgrades for the 2013 model year, and we're here to see if its off-season adjustments can make a difference to buyers willing to give Lincoln another chance.

Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lincoln goes back 80 years to sell the 2013 MKS

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Lincoln, Luxury

Lincoln has released the first 30-second ad spot for the 2013 MKS, with its seventeen intial seconds spent covering the era of Lincoln glory from 1922 to 1976. The ad almost feels like an apology for the MKS, as if the ad team really wanted to sell the 2013 MKZ but was assigned the penalty-box MKS and had their protestations silenced with, "Just make something!"

We think the MKS deserves a little more love than that.

Scroll down to see Lincoln's latest commercial for yourself.

Continue reading Lincoln goes back 80 years to sell the 2013 MKS

Lincoln goes back 80 years to sell the 2013 MKS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Lincoln MKS hits the Hollywood spotlight

Chris Shunk — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Lincoln

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and for Lincoln, that all-important first stride is represented by the 2013 MKS. The big Lincoln sedan has been given a mid-cycle refresh that includes upgraded power, a newly refined suspension and a restyled beak, all of which are on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The newly redesigned front end of the MKS is likely to gather the most attention when it hits the streets in spring, as Lincoln designers have added more and thinner elements to the grille. Lincoln has also tweaked front and rear fenders, added a new hood and fresh HID headlights along with new LED taillamps.

Engineers would likely argue that the mechanical changes for 2013 are even more significant, as the MKS benefits from a host of suspension tweaks and more power. The 3.7-liter V6 now boasts 300 horsepower, 26 more than the 2012 model. Despite this welcome infusion of grunt, Lincoln tells us that this big sedan now gets three more miles per gallon. A base V6 MKS will achieve an estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The EcoBoost 3.5-liter engine will continue to output 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.

The ride and handling of the MKS should benefit from Lincoln's new Continuously Controlled Damping, which can enact changes at a hair-raising clip of 20 times per second. The MKS will also feature Lincoln Drive Control, which gives the driver the ability to switch from Normal, Sport and Comfort driving modes at the press of a button. And speaking of switchgear, the 2013 MKS will feature available MyLincoln Touch, which has been tweaked for quicker performance and improved ease of use.

The new face of the MKS is more attractive in person than it is in photos, but we get the feeling that the more telling changes for the Lincoln brand will present themselves when the 2013 MKZ arrives at the Detroit Auto Show in January. If Ford really hopes to gain traction with its luxury marque once again, a much more thorough product rethink is clearly in order. Hit the jump to read over the Lincoln press release.

Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKS hits the Hollywood spotlight

2013 Lincoln MKS hits the Hollywood spotlight originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Lincoln MKS evolves new nose, bigger brakes

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Lincoln, Luxury

Think about the position that Cadillac was in over a decade ago; that's about where Lincoln is today. The rebirth of a brand doesn't happen overnight, so until Lincoln debuts its next generation of fully redesigned and reimagined products, subtle evolution and continued refinement are the order du jour. Hence the 2013 Lincoln MKS.

The greenhouse of Lincoln's flagship sedan carries over unchanged, but the front and rear fascias, fenders, hood, HID headlights and LED taillamps are all new and punctuated by the reworked grille. That last bit is far and away the most radical change, making the 2013 MKS come off as less baleen and slightly more elegant.

Stuffed behind the standard 19-inch aluminum wheels (or optional 20s) is all new braking hardware to address one of the MKS' most glaring dynamic faults, with the front discs upsized to 13.86-inches - more than an inch larger than the outgoing stoppers - and 13.58-inch rotors in the rear. More impressive is the standard fitment of Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD), which monitors and adjusts the suspension up to 500 times a second to balance handling and comfort. CCD works in conjuction with a torque vectoring differential and the new Lincoln Drive Control, which modifies ride, throttle, shifting, steering and traction control on the fly when changing the system from Comfort to Sport mode.

The powertrains are also largely carry-overs, with the standard 3.7-liter V6 getting a boost in horsepower from 274 to an even 300, all while returning 19 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway in FWD spec. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 - standard with AWD - outputs 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque and is projected to return fuel economy ratings of 17/25.

On the tech front, the MKS comes equipped with the recently reworked MyLincoln Touch system, with standard Operator Assist, WiFi hotspot functionality and a tweaked UI to match the updated interior. Also included for 2013 is the new Lane Keeping System and Lane Keeping Aid, which alerts the driver if he or she is drifiting out of a lane and applies a small amount of torque to the wheel to bring things back in line.

We'll have full impressions of the MKS from the floor of the LA Auto Show later today, but in the meantime, get all the details in the press release below the fold.

Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKS evolves new nose, bigger brakes

2013 Lincoln MKS evolves new nose, bigger brakes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lincoln teases new design language; 2013 MKS, MKT headed for LA Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Crossover, Lincoln

Yesterday, Lincoln released the teaser you see above on its Facebook page, showing what's in store for the automaker's revised design language that's coming soon (we're guessing it's the hood and fender of the redesign MKT). Lincoln states that its new styling direction will be "forward-looking and more elegantly crafted," and it appears that we'll get our first glimpse at the fruits of the company's labor at the LA Auto Show next week.

Autoblog reader Tony tipped us to this page on the LA Auto Show website, which lists all of the vehicles that will debut at the Los Angeles Convention Center next week, and both the Lincoln MKS and MKT are listed under the "world debuts" section. Makes sense, since we've already seen the refreshed versions of the Ford Taurus and Flex on which the Lincoln vehicles are based, respectively. When asked, a Lincoln spokesperson was unable to confirm that we would see the new sedan and crossover in LA.

Unlike the current vehicles, the 2013 MKS and MKT are expected to differ greatly from their respective Ford kin. While not officially confirmed, sources within the automaker have suggested that the updated vehicles will use new running gear in order to fully differentiate them from their Ford counterparts. Of course, Ford's EcoBoost engine technology will be on hand, though other enhancements like suspension and steering upgrades will also likely be in the cards.

Stay tuned for the full details from the LA Auto Show next week.

Lincoln teases new design language; 2013 MKS, MKT headed for LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments