Lincoln MKZ Full Modelchange

Over the years, Lincoln is Ford's luxury marque that sometimes didn't go quite well against its rivals from Europe and Asia. Even General Motors' own Cadillac brand trounced this brand quite easily because they think they are better than them. Thanks to such downturn, it seems that the fate of the Lincoln brand is pretty much on the line but in order prove that Lincoln still have to get up from its knees and rise above the odds, Ford decided to give Lincoln life anew as Lincoln Motor Company. A new company name that was been sacred from the 1950's promises that it will have its own product development team, designers and salespeople. For Chapter 1 of the new Lincoln Motor Company, here's this opening salvo...

2013 Lincoln MKZ

It's the second generation Lincoln MKZ and despite started out in life as a Ford Fusion just like its previous incarnation, it tries to shave off its image as a Ford Fusion with a fancy name and bigger price tag because everything you'll see on the all new MKZ is far more different from the all-new Ford Fusion as well as the 3.7L Duratec V6 engine, unique to the new MKZ.

Apart from its all-original Lincoln look that proves that they're not just a bunch of Ford cars with posh names and posh pricetag, this new model tries to have that new feeling, a feeling that every time you're driving this, it gives you some sort of an esperanza feeling, something that feels like you're listening to the song Esperanza. He he he...Esperanza...I'm a 90's kid, I always remember that show...Esperanza...

Anyway, while backing off to this whole Esperanza analogy, there are some engine choices offered on the new MKZ. There's a turbocharged 2.0L EcoBoost engine derived from the all new Ford Fusion, a 2.0L Hybrid variant that gets me up to 19.2kmpl as rated by EPA, and a 3.7L Duratec V6 engine, which I said it is unique to the new MKZ. With a recommended Michelin tire (see: Michelin Pilot Super Sport), it promises stopping distance from 100kph to a dead stop of 06 feet to stop from 160 mph, 0.91 g on the skidpad and a 26.5-second time in our figure eight. Some say that such tires can stop better and handle better than our favorite Ford muscle car, the Mustang.

2013 Lincoln MKZ interior

I once read an article from Motor Trend and they said that if they fit the new MKZ with conventional tires (see: Michelin Primacy MXM4), this car would have been more quieter and conventional because when they test it with the Super Sports tires, here comes an excessive tire noise which is bad for the passengers, bad for the lazy boys, bad for your boss, and worst of all...bad for your Sir Chief. He he he...sorry about the Sir Chief bit.

One of the craziest things about this new model is that there is no gear lever. That's right, Lincoln tries to get mad with the styling details and made some very complicating changes to the typical car interior, knowing where to start an engine, where to set to drive, where to change the volume of the radio, air condition, so on, so forth. In here, you have to rub those silver linings from left to right to adjust the aircon, the volume, and others and to set the car to drive, because this car has no lever to engage it, push the D button on the dashboard. This is a dashboard confessional if you know what I mean....he he he....

2013 Lincoln MKZ

Price? Well, you have to be an Aga Saga or a posh person to have one of these because it starts at $35,925 for both the 2.0L model and the hybrid model and $37,155 for the V6 model, $37,815 for the 2.0L 4WD model, and $39,045 for the V6 4WD model. That seems posh for a car that started out in life as a Ford Fusion but as an owners car, you'll gonna have to spend more for the necessary tires and Lincoln genuine accessories to balance it out. There's nothing wrong when it comes of driving this but if there's something wrong with it, that's your responsibility, not the car. Good bye and Good Luck.

Available Colors: Smoked Quartz, Ingot Silver, Ruby Red, Ice Storm, Ginger Ale, Crystal Champagne, Tuxedo Black, Bordeaux Reserve, and White Platinum.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

With Ford Motor Company decided to axe the Mercury brand, it seems that there will be no more Milan Hybrid to offer. For this luxury marque, Lincoln unveiled its first hybrid car set to take place from the banishment of the Mercury Milan Hybrid.

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

The new MKZ Hybrid offers the same MKZ comfort with the new hybrid power-train that simply defines "eco-car" to the supreme level. Since the MKZ Hybrid is a full-fledged, all-American eco-car, it features the 2.5L Atkinson-Cycle I-4 Hybrid Engine, dedicated to bring out the green factor for this luxury sedan. With the CVT added for the MKZ Hybrid, the fuel efficiency for this American luxury hybrid can go for about 41/36 mpg.

My thoughts about the MKZ Hybrid:

As Ford fans trying to think twice before saying farewell to the Mercury Milan Hybrid, and other Mercury models, Lincoln's gaining an edge for bringing new models in the future, and the MKZ Hybrid tries to stand out without the risky sacrifice of becoming the most fuel-efficient Lincoln ever made. With the same pricing as the regular MKZ (2WD), for about $34,330 or 4.8 million pesos, most luxury car enthusiasts who has a sense of green driving cannot go wrong with this premium hybrid car.

The MKZ Hybrid still carries Bridge of Weir leather, Heated/Cooled 10-Way Power Front Seats, SYNC connectivity, and other luxury items, perfect to turn things around for the upperclassmen. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid targets the Toyota Crown Hybrid, Lexus GS Hybrid, and the upcoming Nissan Fuga Hybrid respectively.

Photo: Ford Motor Company