Recently we had the opportunity to spend some time behind the wheel of the new 2007 Lincoln MKX crossover. This is a critical vehicle to the brand as it works to establish credibility and build brand equity in the luxury crossover market against competitors such as the Lexus RX and Infiniti FX.

Driving the heaviest model available -- laden with AWD, Vista Roof, etc. -- initial impressions with the powertrain are very positive. The 3.5-liter V6 is smooth until pressed into high rpm duty, where it gets a little raspy. The engine is complimented by an excellent six-speed automatic transmission that provides reasonable acceleration from a standstill, holding the lower gears to prevent premature up shifts. Without the constant up-and-down hunting sometimes experienced with an automatic, this gearbox feels almost intuitive in its ability to be in the right gear at the right time. A request for more acceleration is quickly addressed with a downshift from sixth to fourth or even third when necessary.

Follow the jump for the rest of our driving impressions and some official photos from the MKX press kit.

Continue reading 30 Minutes with the 2007 Lincoln MKX

30 Minutes with the 2007 Lincoln MKX originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Nov 2006 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.