New Arrivals - MKS

Lincoln MKS

Exerpted from Driving.ca and Ford.ca 

The full-size MKS is the new flagship Lincoln , replacing the venerable Town Car.  In addition to the radar-enhanced cruise control, it is a showcase for technology - front and rear parking control, headlights that swivel and dim automatically, an invisible touchpad entry system, push-button engine start and more.

The MKS is powered by a smooth, free-revving 3.7 litre Duratec V6 derived from the 3.5L V6 used in the MKX crossover.  In 2007 the 3.5 was voted one of Ward's 10 best engines - one of the industry's highest accolades.

The 3.7 produces 275 horsepower on premium gas, or 273 if you fill it with regular.  In base models the engine is mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels, but the loaded tester was equipped with a sophisticated all-wheel drive system capable of sending up to 100 percent of power to either the front or rear wheels when needed.  The automatic has a shift-it-yourself "manumatic" function - a welcome feature even if you use it only sparingly. 

Outside, the car has a chunky, square-shouldered look flowing up and back from a toothy two-part grille.  A high, rising beltline imparts a feeling of substance;  a sharp rising crease along its flanks adds visual tension.

The chunky look extends to the spacious, well-appointed interior.  The wood-accented dashboard is dominated by a large screen used for the navigation system, the audio system and the easy-to-use backup camera.  The gear selector sits up in a high-mounted console between the leather front seats, which are heated and cooled.  There is an optional dual-panel moonroof - tilt-and-slide over the front seats, and a fixed glass panel with sunshade for rear passengers.  There's ample rear-seat legroom, and a fold-down armrest that hides a pass-through into the trunk.

The audio system - THXII Certified with 5.1 surround sound - includes a 12 channel amplifier that pushes up to 600 watts of power through 16 speakers.

On the road, the MKS inspires confidence but doesn't feel agressively sporty - in part because the driving position is so elevated, you almost feel like you're in an SUV.  The engine has good punch, the transmission allows it to wind right up, and the fully independent suspension help the 19-inch wheels stay planted.  Steering is well-weighted;  the ride is quite firm but still comfortable.  Powerful disc brakes brought the tester to safe stops, including a couple of quick ones for kids on bikes.  

Of all the techno-wizardry the MKS carries, the adaptive cruise control is the most notable.  It uses radar to maintain a preset distance from the car in front by adjusting your vehicle's speed.  Set it and the MKS will maintain a constant distance until the vehicle in front accelerates to a speed above the set speed, moves out of your lane, or slows to below 30 km/h.  There are three gap-distance modes:  sporty, normal or comfort.  Comfort is the default position.  The settings equate to gap times of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.3 seconds.  At 97 km/h, that would mean following distances of 26,  40, or 60 metres.

Performance Features

• 3.7 L Duratec DOHC 24-valve aluminum V-6 engine with 275 hp @ 6250 rpm, 274 lb.-ft of torque @ 4250 rpm, and 10.3:1 compression ratio
• Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection
• Intake variable cam timing (iVCT) and Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)
• 6-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission
• 19-in. 10-spoke bright machined/painted cast-aluminum wheels
• Front-wheel drive
• Independent front and rear stabilizer bars
• Independent front and rear suspension
• P255/45R19 all-season tires
• Power 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
• Power rack-and-pinion steering
• Stainless steel exhaust system with dual chrome exhaust tips

Interior

• 5-passenger seating
• Accessory timed delay
• Auxiliary audio input jack in front centre floor console
• Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
• Front centre floor console with armrest and two-tiered storage
• Genuine wood accents in Fine Line Ebony or Olive Ash
• 12-way power, heated and cooled driver and front-passenger seats with power lumbar
• Heated rear seats
• Illuminated entry with theatre-dimming feature
• Leather-wrapped shift knob with chrome surround
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with genuine wood accents in Fine Line Ebony or Olive Ash
• Overhead console with lights and sunglasses holder
• Audiophile Sound System with AM/FM stereo/6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3 capability and 8 speakers
• Power door locks
• Premium leather-trimmed seating surfaces
• Rear-window power sunshade
• Remote, power decklid release
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio, including SIRIUS Satellite Radio receiver, SIRIUS Satellite Radio low-profile antenna and 6-month prepaid subscription to SIRIUS
• Lincoln SUNC voice-activated, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system
• Power tilt and telescoping steering column

Exterior

• New Lincoln split-wing chrome grille
• Easy Fuel capless fuel-filler system
• Fog lamps
• Adaptive HID Headlamps with Auto High Beams
• Forward and Reverse Sensing Systems
• Light-Emitting Diode (LED) taillamps
• Power, heated sideview mirrors with security approach lamps, memory and auto-dimming driver side
• Rain-sensing, speed-sensitive windshield wipers
• Rear-window defroster
• Solar-tinted glass

Instrumentation and Driver Controls

• Auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and microphone
• Power windows with global open and one-touch open/close for driver and front passenger
• Steering wheel-mounted cruise and secondary audio controls
• Universal Garage Door Opener
• White LED-backlit instrument cluster with speedometer, tachometer, fuel level gauge, coolant temperature gauge, and message centre

Safety and Security

• Personal Safety System with dual-stage front airbags for driver and front passenger, safety belt pretensioners, safety belt energy-management retractors, safety belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module and Front-Passenger Sensing System
• AdvanceTrac ESC (electronic stability control)
• Belt-Minder front safety belt reminder
• Child-safety rear door lock
• Emergency in-trunk release handle
• Front-seat side airbags
• Integrated key transmitter remotes (2)
• Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start
• Lower anchors and tether anchors for child-safety seats (LATCH)
• Perimeter anti-theft system
• SecuriCode next-generation keypad
• SecuriLock passive anti-theft engine immobilizer system
• Safety Canopy System with roll-fold technology, 2-row side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor
• Side-intrusion door beams
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (excludes spare)
• Traction Control

Available Equipment

• 20-in. 11-spoke polished cast-aluminum wheels with P245/45VR20 all-season tires
• Dual-Panel Moonroof with power sunshade
• Engine block heater
• Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system
• THXII Certified Audio System with AM/FM stereo/6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3 capability, 16 speakers (including 10-in. subwoofer), 600 watts of power and 12-channel amplifier
• THXII Certified 5.1 Surround Audio System with AM/FM stereo/CD/DVD/Jukebox, MP3 capability, 16 speakers (including 10-in. subwoofer), 600 watts of power and 12-channel amplifier
• Voice-activated, hard drive-based Navigation System

Interior Packages

• Aluminum Applique - includes aluminum instrument panel applique and full leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Premium Wood Door-Trim Package - includes wood appliques on all 4 doors
• Vision Package - includes Navigation System, Rearview Camera system, THXII Certified 5.1 Surround Audio System and Adaptive Cruise Control (limited availability) 

Wheels

• 19-in. 10-spoke bright machined/painted cast-aluminum (standard)
• 20-in. 11-spoke polished cast-aluminum (late availability)

Available Custom Accessories

• All-weather floor mats
• Ashcup/coin holder/Smoker's Pack
• Dual INViSiON DVD Headrests
• Front illuminated sill plates
• Garmin nuvi Portable Navigation System
• Interior cargo net
• Interior cargo organizer
• Interior cargo area protector
• Moonroof deflector
• Premium carpeted floor mats
• Remote start systems
• Side window deflectors
• Splash guards
• Wheel locks

Full photo gallery available here.