Autoblog

Lincoln MKC crossover headed for Detroit

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Lincoln, Luxury

Fresh off the launch of the stylish new MKZ sedan, the newly named Lincoln Motor Company is reportedly preparing for a lineup expansion. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the first new product joining the Lincoln brand is a small crossover based on the Ford Escape said to be called the MKC. We saw this machine testing a few months ago, and while we were hoping the name might be reserved for a future two-door model or even the diminutive Concept C hatchback, it looks like the "C" will stand for compact crossover instead.

The report also says that this crossover will be making its debut next month at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, so we'll have to wait until then to see what the new model looks like. Unlike the MKX, which is based off the Ford Edge, we would expect there to be a lot more differentiation between the MKC and the Escape like Ford managed to do with the newest Fusion and MKZ.

In addition to the new MKC, the article states new MKS and Navigator designs are expected to debut by 2014.

Lincoln MKC crossover headed for Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Lincoln getting its own version of the Ford Escape?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln

Lincoln may be working on a new small crossover built on the same platform as the Ford Escape. Our spy photographers recently spotted this early development vehicle out on public streets around Detroit. Slightly larger than its non-luxury sire, the model may bow with a new interpretation of the Ecoboost four-cylinder. It doesn't take a keen eye to spot the larger intercooler stuck low in the hacked front fascia of the Escape. Word has it the vehicle could make use of a new 2.7-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine, though power figures are still absent at the moment.

What will Lincoln call its newest addition? Chances are the company will stick with the confusing MK-based naming structure it currently uses, and early reports hint the CUV may fly under the MKD banner. Why D? Your guess is as good as ours. The luxury CUV segment is a volume powerhouse at the moment, and Lincoln would be wise to offer buyers a product in that segment. Whether the MKD can manage to be more than a gussied-up Ford remains to be seen, however.

Is Lincoln getting its own version of the Ford Escape? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lincoln MKT earns Top Safety Pick from IIHS

Chris Shunk — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST

2010 Lincoln MKT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has dumped all of its latest safety gadgets into the already structurally sound 2010 Lincoln MKT, and the Blue Oval's engineering labor appears to have paid off as the luxury crossover has just scored a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The Top Pick status of the 5,000 lb MKT doesn't come as a surprise, as it is mechanically identical to the well-regarded Ford Flex.

The MKT scored a "Good" rating in each category, including structure, injury measures and restraints. The IIHS added that "dummy movement was well controlled. After the dummy moved forward into the airbag, it rebounded into the seat without its head coming close to any stiff structure that could cause injury."

The Lincoln MKT comes with standard equipment like an advanced structural safety system that combines octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and support members that are designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment. Along with the usual safety suspects like side curtain airbags, Ford offers optional safety equipment like Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning Brake Control and a Blind Spot Information system. Hit the jump to read the Ford press release.

Gallery: 2010 Lincoln MKT

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Lincoln MKT earns Top Safety Pick from IIHS

Lincoln MKT earns Top Safety Pick from IIHS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2010 Lincoln MKT stops to rest in Pennsylvania

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Lincoln

In the old days we relied on people like Jim Dunne and Hans Lehman to hide in the bushes near automotive test sites in order to get previews of upcoming vehicles. Now, thanks to camera phones and tiny point-and-shoot digital cameras, our very own readers are able to snap spy pics and let us know in minutes. Such was the case for Autoblog reader Mike, who recently spotted a partially camouflaged crossover sitting at a Pennsylvania rest stop. The vehicle in question is the upcoming Lincoln MKT.

We first saw the MKT as a concept at this year's Detroit Auto Show and the production model will appear next January in Detroit. The MKT shares its underpinnings with the Ford Flex and should come with power provided by the same 3.7L V6 used in the MKS sedan as well as the new twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Unlike the concept, which had its interior packaged as a luxury four-seater, the production model is expected to get three rows of seats with room for up to seven passengers. What's not known at this point is whether the truck-based Navigator will live on after the MKT debuts. We're betting it won't for very long. Thanks to Mike for the tip and photos!

Gallery: Lincoln MKT - spy shots

[Source: Mike]

Spy Shots: 2010 Lincoln MKT stops to rest in Pennsylvania originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Lincoln MKT may be unveiled at Detroit show

Alex Nunez — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln

Click image for a gallery of the suspected Lincoln MKT mule

According to an LA Times piece on the silliness that is modern vehicle naming, the paper appears to have flubbed a little bit revealing that Ford will introduce the 2009 Lincoln MKT at the Detroit Auto Show next week. What's the MKT? Well, the conventional wisdom suggests that it's a large 3-row crossover based on the Ford Flex architecture. We expect to see it wearing Lincoln's new, more dramatic styling language as introduced on the MKS along with a more upmarket interior in terms of look and feel. Looks like the spy shots that came out last week were timelier than we thought. While the mule pictured is disguised with Taurus X bodywork, not even that black mask can hide the new-look baleen whale grille that Lincoln has adopted. We won't need to wait much longer to see how this ultimately plays out, so as soon as we know the full skinny, you'll know, too.

[Source: Los Angeles Times via Inside Line]

Gallery: Lincoln MKT Flex-based CUV - spy shots

REPORT: Lincoln MKT may be unveiled at Detroit show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Flex-based crossover for Lincoln

John Neff — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln

click above for more spy shots

As we reported yesterday, Lincoln is likely to get a version of the seven-seat Flex crossover a year after it debuts with a Blue Oval badge. Here's verifiable proof. KGP Photographers have caught a Taurus X-based mule wearing Lincoln's new split grille that will first appear on the MKS sedan. We thought the new nose looked large on the MKS, but it's at least a foot tall for this application. Its oversized dimensions make the mule in these pics look like a humpback whale that's beached itself on an Arctic coast. Quick, somebody feed it some krill before it dies.

While we can't say what the rest of the body will look like, don't expect it to share any body panels with the boxy Ford Flex. We envision a big, low-riding CUV with more flowing lines for Lincoln.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Gallery: Lincoln MKT Flex-based CUV - spy shots

Spy Shots: Ford Flex-based crossover for Lincoln originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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