Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Report: Lincoln MKT, Ford Flex to be phased out at end of 2013?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/report-lincoln-mkt-ford-flex-to-be-phased-out-at-the-end-of-20/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/report-lincoln-mkt-ford-flex-to-be-phased-out-at-the-end-of-20/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/report-lincoln-mkt-ford-flex-to-be-phased-out-at-the-end-of-20/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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

Doesn't it seem like only yesterday that Ford was in charge of seven different brands? Now The Blue Oval is down to two, Ford and Lincoln, after today's sale of Volvo to Chinese automaker Geely and the pending execution of Mercury. This means more energy and money will be available to plot success for Ford and Lincoln, and according to a report in Automotive News, that means Lincoln could get "a compact, front-drive car or crossover" (Lincoln Concept C, anyone?) and perhaps a model based on the next Ford Mondeo. Not exactly what we would have expected from Ford's luxury brand, but times change.

A small taste of what's in store for Lincoln: the MKX will get a redesign next year, the same year that the venerable Town Car dies, and, according to AN, a brand-new MKX with a design less like the Edge will appear in 2014. The MKZ gets a new look in 2013, which could be the last year for the controversial Ford Flex/Lincoln MKT and Navigator, perhaps replaced by an Explorer-based crossover or an SUV with more chops for rough terrain. Hopefully, they'll also rework that whole MK-Random-Letter approach to nomenclature as well.

The more germane revelation is this: Ford apparently believes Lincoln's success is contingent on putting lots of daylight between Ford and Lincoln engineering. Lincoln models need to be more distinct from their Ford counterparts in everything from engines to styling to feature sets. That might mean a lot more luxury features and refinement could be making their way into Lincolns soon - and that's something increasingly anxious Lincoln dealers ought to be able to get behind.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost AWD


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Lincoln MKT, Ford Flex to be phased out at end of 2013? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Flexford explorerford flexFordExplorerFordFlexlincoln mksLincoln MKTLincoln MKXlincoln mkzlincoln navigatorLincolnMksLincolnMktLincolnMkxLincolnMkzLincolnNavigatormktnavigatorproduct plansProductPlansMon, 02 Aug 2010 10:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19577125/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/02/report-lincoln-mkt-ford-flex-to-be-phased-out-at-the-end-of-20/19577125/article-detail.xml 19577125 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/01lincolnmktebawdopta_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/01lincolnmktebawdopta.jpg <![CDATA[VW's Winterkorn reportedly proposes a trio of new Porsches]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/vws-winterkorn-proposes-a-trio-of-new-porsches/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/vws-winterkorn-proposes-a-trio-of-new-porsches/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/vws-winterkorn-proposes-a-trio-of-new-porsches/#commentsFiled under:

2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for a high-res image gallery

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn appears to be laying out a future for Porsche that could make the company happier, but might not please its core customers... again. Of course, the impetus is to increase volume. Porsche sold nearly 100,000 vehicles in its last fiscal year -- but won't get anywhere close to that this fiscal year -- but Winterkorn wants the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer to put out 150,000 units annually by 2013.

More volume means selling more of what they've got, or making something new to sell. The new proposed direction is the latter: three new models, two of which would be lower-cost numbers-makers. There were no details given beyond market placement, but the first car would slot in below the Boxster. If you have images of a 914 sputtering through your head, banish the thought -- Winterkorn promises that VW will not make Porsches.

The second car has been referred to as a "baby brother" for the Cayenne, or a Porsche version of VW's Tiguan. That could be the mini-ute that Porsche and Audi have spent the past few years denying its existence. At the top is another version of the Panamera, maybe one with the same stellar interior and driving abilities but with a stellar back end to match. No matter what they end up looking like, the real point is that you'll be seeing a lot more Porsches on the roads soon.


Gallery: 2010 Porsche Panamera


[Source: AutoBild (translated) via German Car Blog]

VW's Winterkorn reportedly proposes a trio of new Porsches originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin has stepped in to clarify recent rumors of its Lagonda revival. We know that a Lagonda concept is due to be shown at next year's Geneva Motor Show, and of late it was speculated to be something SUV-ish. An Aston spokesperson has laid out the plan, and this time neglected to mention the acronym "SUV" at all.

Two upcoming Lagondas will probably be sedans and use Aston's VH platform, tending to the luxury side of sporting while Aston solidifies its grip on the sporting side of luxury. An upscale and up-priced version of the Rapide will come in 2011, followed by a $100,000-or-so S-Class challenger in 2012. Now that we've got the SUV thing out of the way, let's hope Aston stays on the right course and creates cars that don't look anything like more DB9 clones.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

Aston Martin's Lagonda S-class fighter coming in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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