Can The Lincoln MKS Really Compete?
When it comes to luxury cars, America’s traditional brands – General Motors, Ford and Chrysler – pale in comparison to Europe’s finest brands which include Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Maserati, to name a few. American luxury cars have the expected pillow soft ride and quiet cabin environment, but when it comes to raw power, handling and design, only the Cadillac CTS can put up a challenge.
Premium Brands
Lincoln sales have faded badly over the years, falling well behind Cadillac as Ford poured all of its resources into bolstering its premium European brands – Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo.
With the first three now sold and out of the Ford fold and with Volvo expected to eventually follow, Ford has been redirecting its resources to give Lincoln a much needed makeover. The Town Car is still available for sale as is the big Navigator SUV, but these models will eventually fade away, to be replaced with more modern, technologically advanced vehicles.
Lincoln’s Emergence
Over the past few years Lincoln’s transition has become apparent thanks to four new models, each sharing the MK nomenclature – MKZ, MKX, MKS and MKT. Naming conventions aside, the Ford Motor Company hopes that customers will be drawn to them especially current Lincoln owners.
Lincoln’s best effort to date to snag buyers away from Mercedes, Jaguar and the rest can be found in the MKS, a larger sedan that competes against the likes of the Cadillac STS, Jaguar XF, Mercedes E550 and Audi A6. The standard MKS is front wheel drive and powered by a 3.7L 24-valve DOHC Duratec engine, while all wheel drive is optional. Clearly, this combination doesn’t challenge the traditional European V8, but Lincoln has built a compelling case for itself by sticking a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 under the MKS’ hood.
This engine offers V8 equivalent power while returning fuel economy in a V6 engine’s range. Combining direct injection with turbochargers the MKS’ horsepower (355) and torque (350) numbers rival most European V8s. Because EcoBoost is only offered with all wheel drive, Ford hopes that the power and handling improvements will appeal to buyers.
The Challenge
A pair of magazines, Automobile and Motor Trend, teamed up this past summer to put the EcoBoost powered Lincoln MKS to the test, in a bid to see just how well the sedan measures against select European competitors including the Maserati Quattroporte, Jaguar XF, Mercedes E550 and the BMW 550i. That challenge is known as Showdown at Loveland Pass, which is a 11,990-foot elevation, tortuous roadway known for its sharp curves, absent guard rails, and thin air.
A website detailing the race has been set up: 6versus8.com, offering the results of the challenge. I won’t be sharing the details, but there are a few questions you will want to ask when viewing the clips: Does the higher elevation benefit the Lincoln? If so, what role do turbochargers have in giving one car an edge at elevated altitudes? Finally, would holding this challenge at Nürburgring (The Ring) have proven to be a much more accurate assessment of how the Lincoln MKS would perform in relation to its competitors?
Special thanks to John Proctor and Car Banks Jr. of Leith Lincoln Mercury of Raleigh for showing me the video. The two magazines developed an interesting challenge, but does it hold weight in every day driving conditions?
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October 20th, 2009 at 7:27 am
The car looks impressive on the film however i will wait till i have a test drive before committing!
November 9th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I’ve just watched the 6versus8 Challenge on the SPEED channel and was completely disappointed. Nothing but an advertisement for the MKS with little or no substance. They ran the top level, twin-turbocharged MKS against the base models of five European Sedans. Each of those would also have a sport version and any one of them would have completely wiped Loveland Pass with the MKS. The MKS is an overweight, 4151 pound, overpriced, about $55,000 with Eco-boast (pun intended) and options, and not the best looking tool in the kit. It might have been a relevant test if they’d used the top-dog of every marque or if they’d run the base 273hp MKS against the base models, but as it stands I’ve just wasted a half hour watching an infomercial.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Sheldon, no doubt the test was slanted to give the MKS a chance. Some have wondered why the Cadillac CTS wasn’t included as that model would have blown the Lincoln away. Still, it was an interesting video which might convince some people to at least consider the MKS, especially those buyers for whom raw power isn’t top on their list.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Matt K.,
I do see your point although I’m concerned that those who buy the vehicle based on an infomercial rather than a true test will be disappointed and be left with a bad taste in their mouth for Lincoln. They’ve made some truly awesome cars over the years but this is not one of them. I think for the next model year they need to find ways to trim some of that weight, lower the price and maybe scrap the V-6 and go with a modular V-8 and truly make it competitive with the Cadillac CTS and CTS/V. As it stands right now it is trying to compete with sedans that are really in a class above it and not doing a very good job at that. Plus, way too many of us know when we are being conned and I’m afraid this will turn out to be Lincoln’s equivalent of the Cadillac Cimarron. Remember it? Ouch. For me I will have to wait for the Mark IV.