The Lincoln MKT crossover concept looks to be one step closer to production, with a production prototype shown to a consumer panel over the weekend. At the same time, the Lincoln Mark LT luxury pick-up truck is discontinued at the end of the current model year. Both announcements reflect Ford’s efforts to make Lincoln a serious player in the luxury market in the US and abroad, getting back to its roots and focusing on its in-house luxury brand, especially since the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover.
We had a hunch as to the LT’s demise, with the newly unveiled 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum as a big hint. It was unlikely Ford would position two such similar products in the same market, and the company confirmed this strategy, according to Automotive News.
The MKT made its debut in concept form at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, where it sported just two rows of seats. The production version is based on the Ford Flex underpinnings and will have three rows of seats, which it needs to be competitive, according to Jim Hall, an industry analyst.
“It’s a very important vehicle for getting Ford back into that luxury segment and making Lincoln credible again,” said analyst Erich Merkle of IRN Inc.
Another analyst expects the MKT to be introduced in May of next year. With the upcoming MKS sedan that has no equivalent in the Ford stable, Lincoln is on a roll, coming off a more than 9 percent sales increase in 2007.
03/17, 10:55 AM
posted by:
richt62167
I will believe it when I see it! and I bet when we see it wont look like that.
03/17, 10:59 AM
posted by:
E60M5
My goodness its ugly. Honestly who design these things??
03/17, 11:02 AM
posted by:
A4
ha uh what?
03/17, 11:25 AM
posted by:
manhertm
Its kind of a cool fugly like the FX45. If they can keep the exterior in line with the concept, keep the fender gap and combo the same I believe it will sell.
03/17, 11:40 AM
posted by:
Pro_Lapse
I like it but the interior had better be a step up from the MKZ insides
03/17, 11:46 AM
posted by:
Ray Sinclair
This thing is ridiculously ugly. I smell a slow seller.
03/17, 11:50 AM
posted by:
Pro_Lapse
It’s better loking than Edge and Aviator
03/17, 12:53 PM
posted by:
Scarface03
I think Lincoln will stomach a few “fugly” comments, as long as it’s generally received well.
Lincoln–and other U.S. car makes–need more daring styling.
03/17, 1:12 PM
posted by:
S o c i a l i s m
Here’s another way to “make Lincoln credible again:” don’t rebadge a Taurus/500 and sell it for over $40k, don’t rebadge a Fusion and sell it for over $30k, and don’t rebadge an Edge and sell it for $5k more than an Edge.
You want Lincoln to be credible? Then build a damned Lincoln again like you used to 70 years ago.
03/17, 1:17 PM
posted by:
Robert
Reports are that the only significant changes are in the rear so that the car can accomodate 7 passengers. Everything from the B-pillar forward is likely to show up on the new vehicle. The front might get toned down slightly, but not much.
It is possible that this will debut Ford’s DI engines and will include the EcoBoost line like the MKS.
03/17, 1:38 PM
posted by:
A4
oh hey lets delete comments and leave some that dont make sense, ford sucks again
03/17, 2:05 PM
posted by:
Pauly
Lincoln cars have gotten to be so glitzy and their trucks, so ghetto fabulous. I think the MKS and this thing will look very outdated very soon.
03/17, 2:15 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
lol “ghetto” fabulous
03/17, 3:42 PM
posted by:
bolex
yup ras kass only lasted 2 years in the spot light…..too bad he was pretty good.
I dont know about you guys but i like it.
richt62167- i agree, by the time this comes out and they dull it out it’ll be ugly.
03/17, 5:33 PM
posted by:
jjayc08
I think it looks pretty cool. It doesn’t look like a sedan, or a wagon, or an SUV and I really respect that. The rear is really weird, but as mentioned I don’t think that will stay- what I’m concerned most about is the front. Come on, take a dare with your new products, you need it.
I expected the Mark LT to fade out. It sold out pretty well at first, but they need something more than a rebadged blue collar truck…
03/17, 6:00 PM
posted by:
FairlightRacing
i’m so hungry i want 10 **** in my motuh all at the same time. Invite all your friends and we’ll have a good time
here’s a remix i did to sir mix alot’s song
i like big ****s and I can not lie
You other homo’s can’t deny
That when a tranny walks in with a big fat ****
And a round testicle in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your tongue
what do you think of it??? Is it good??????????????????????
03/17, 6:04 PM
posted by:
Mike59
I believe I saw this car at the March MPLS auto show. The windshield glass and the rear window glass extended toward the middle of the roof support member – a huge expanse of glass exposed to the sun. My question was would this produce a terrarium-like interior like the old Gremlin or would the glass auto darken somehow. Without darkening, no AC in the world would keep up with the solar gain. I didn’t especially care for the design of the whole car.
03/17, 11:16 PM
posted by:
bigp
hey fairlightracing were do you live so we can bring the big ****s, i want to test the ecoboosted model
03/18, 6:40 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
This is disgusting. The FX barely squeaks by with it’s stupid freak looks, no one is going to accept this from Ford. Good luck, I have a feeling this will be DOA.
03/18, 7:49 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
It is ugly, yet strangely endearing…
03/24, 2:26 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
skip it.