By Mark Elias
Tuesday, Jun 2nd, 2009 @ 11:09 am

Almost a year ago, we spent a day with Lincoln ’s then-new MKS. It was a pleasant enough drive through the Virginia countryside, on roads that could show off the handling and features of the car that was penned to help save the division. We came away impressed, within the limits that we were able to discover during a four-hour drive.
Recently, we had a chance to revisit the MKS – this time for an more extended period. During that time, numerous errands were completed, car washes performed, parking maneuvers executed, hands-free calls made and tanks filled. Here’s our in-depth second look.

It ain’t no Town Car
The first thing that is so obvious is that the Chicago-built MKS is not the long, Crown Vic-based behemoth that the Town Car is. This is good. For all the charm that the Town Car possesses, from its ability to coddle its passengers in the back seat, to the ability of stretched limos to carry drunken prom-goers home after a wild night of dancing at the Embassy Suites, the Panther platform has grown increasing stale.

Naturally, we were jazzed at the idea of new blood in the luxury division over in Dearborn.

A recap: The MKS features the new face of Lincoln with the outspread wings emanating from the grille. Add the long front overhang, and the short tail, not to mention the bright trim around all the window openings. From a distance, it could be a Hyundai Genesis sedan. Or an Infiniti G37 sedan. Or any number of others. But move in for a closer look and the first thing you’ll notice is the car is huge. Not just big, but gargantuan. Built on the same platform as the Volvo XC90 and even the Ford Taurus , it will swallow up most of the free space in a typical two-car garage.

The look has grown on us. It’s an athletic look that belies its large size, but we can live with it. We like the chrome bright strip around the side windows and at the rocker panel but frankly could live without the Lincoln “target” bling at the rears of the front fender panels. Chrome strips flow over the roof to the trunk opening but are not objectionable. A faux decklid spoiler-like lip helps with the aero at the rear and gives a sporting impression to the overall package.

The interior delights and in some ways but disappoints at the same time. To be more clear: Parts of it disappoint. The use of leather inside is top notch, and looking all around will cause you to envision leather craftspeople stitching together pieces to cover the heated and ventilated seats, door panels and dashboard. In fact, we wish more manufacturers took Ford /Lincoln’s lead and padded the door panels at the top, where one would naturally rest their arms. That, combined with the single-needle tailoring of the piece that lives on top of the dash rivals touches found in some of Europe’s best.

On the other hand, we can live with the in-dash monitor, and the audio and climate controls, but feel the panel just below the a/c buttons that screams Lincoln in block letters, reeks of trying to save a buck. Perhaps our feelings would change if there were a veneer of rosewood or curly maple to take the place of the petroleum by-product that currently takes up residency there.

The interior controls are first-rate. This MKS was the first Sync-equipped car that this writer has spent a considerable amount of time in, color me impressed. Quickly finding my Bluetooth equipped phone enabled me to go hands free, in between barking orders for a change of the Sirius-equipped THX sound system, I was amazed at how quickly I adapted to it and vice versa. A word to the wise, though: only one voice can be talking in the car while you serve up commands otherwise the Microsoft system gets confused, and offers back the comment “I did not understand.”

Power for our version of the MKS came from the 3.7-liter Duratec V6 engine with 24-valve performance. With 270-horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque, it is sufficient for motoring in most situations and offers quick entry and exits on the highways and city streets that we chanced upon. The six-speed automatic transmission with select shift allowed us to play boy racer with the MKS when we felt like throwing it into a turn. The suspension didn’t act untowardly with us, but let us know this a big vehicle. MacPherson struts up front and an independent rear suspension in the back helped to keep the MKS’s entire 4,276 pounds well behaved during such activities. Our tester was equipped with optional 19-inch premium painted cast aluminum rims, that as it turns out are much quieter than the 20-inchers found on the launch vehicle we tried last August.

We can’t wait to see if there might be a MKS SHO with the addition of the new EcoBoost powerplants later this year. EcoBoost has been confirmed for the MKS, but whether Lincoln will further sport-ify the MKS is still unknown.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Lincoln has put together a vehicle that might be lost on the Boca Raton macher on his way to the country club or the early bird special at the local beanery, but that’s okay. This is a Lincoln for the next generation – the one that doesn’t mind cranking up the audio system to advanced volumes.

We’re anxious to drive the upcoming, redesigned Taurus to see just how it is different, however, since its “personal luxury with a dose of sport” mantra seems oh-so-similar to that of the MKS.

2009 Lincoln MKS AWD base price, $39,105. As tested, $45,570.
Ultimate package, $5,715; Destination, $750.

Words and photos by Mark Elias.

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