FINE DRIVING: LINCOLN MAKES ITS MARK
EcoBoost V6 adds greater torque, power, but at similar fuel usage
One of the storied North American marques is making a comeback with a fresh approach, new technologies and a 330-horsepower EcoBoost engine.
The Lincoln Motor Company, founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland, has been a subsidiary of Ford since 1922. The Lincoln has been many things during the past century, including a luxury car, a successful racing car and the vehicle of choice for the United States Secret Service.
Then what happened to Lincoln? Most people think of the horrible decades — the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s that saw opera windows and fake landau roofs. The age of the average Lincoln owner was well past retirement, and things didn’t look good for the brand’s future. The only saving grace was the Lincoln Town Car seen at airport taxi stands. Fortunately, there is a definite new vigour with two sedans and four SUVs.
I had the opportunity to spend some time in the 2016 MKX, a mid-size SUV, and I was curious to see if it would be a true Lincoln or a high-end Ford in its driving experience.
The new MKX is based on Ford’s CD4 platform, found in other Lincoln SUVs and Ford’s Taurus, Flex and Explorer. This shared engineering is used to amortize the costs across corporate brands and models. The Lincoln may share the underpinnings with Ford but from there on, it is a distinct marque with its own designers and engineers.
Debuting in 2007, the MKX was refreshed in 2011, and now we have the second generation with new exterior styling and an additional engine choice. The 2.7- litre, twin- turbocharged EcoBoost V6 is smaller in displacement but at higher rpms it packs more horsepower and torque than the 3.7-L engine: 330 hp and more than 370 pound- feet of torque in the 2.7-L engine, versus 303 hp and 278 lb-ft in the 3.7-L. The combined fuel ratings of each engine are essentially the same, but the greater torque of the 2.7-L at lower engine speeds makes a big difference. The penalty is a $2,950 premium for the EcoBoost package.
The exterior styling is new for 2016 but the split-wings grille is retained, framed by LED headlight clusters included as part of the $5,500 Luxury Package. The lights change intensity and focus depending on the speed of the vehicle; they are wide and low at slower speeds, brighter and narrower on the highway.
The body lines are a pleasing blend of elegance and sporty aggressiveness, with flowing curves and bolder fenders. But as nice as an exterior may be, you spend your time inside a vehicle, and this is where it must interface with humans. So far, so good: the 22-way adjustable, heated and cooled front seats were swaddled in Terracotta Brown perforated leather. For long journeys, both front seats are equipped with massage, which you can adjust to different levels of intensity.
In this fully equipped Premium model, there is a plethora of technology, from the Revel II audio system with 19 speakers, to active noise cancelling, acoustic glass, active cruise control, lane-departure warning, active parking assist with front, rear and side cameras for 360-degree views, and a collision warning that will apply the brakes if needed. The MKX is able to park itself, in both parallel and perpendicular spots. The centre console provides several storage cubbyholes, some with power points for your electronics.
So, with all these improvements and features, is Lincoln making a comeback?
I drove the MKX through the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Montréal and on the winding country roads of the scenic Eastern Townships and found it supremely quiet with minimal road noise. The SUV is softly sprung and can get a bit wobbly in a series of corners if you dip into the ample horsepower of the EcoBoost twin turbos.
I did find the paddle shifters for the transmission to be unnecessary, as the MKX doesn’t suit an aggressive driving style. And the very short speedometer needle was difficult to see; a longer one would have been a better choice.
The power from the EcoBoost engine was a pleasant surprise, but there it comes at a significant additional cost and it prefers premium fuel.
There were plenty of options on my test vehicle and it added up to a bigger bottom line. The MSRP of $45,890 (which includes a delivery charge of $1,800) increased to $65,090 after adding $19,200 worth of options.
Hefty option pricing aside, I think it’s safe to say that Lincoln has brought back its unique mix of horsepower, performance, style and luxury that made it a legend in the automotive world.