Many of the most fuel efficient vehicles are not desirable to the luxury buying segment because of their size and focus on being more economic than comfortable, and are usually not what one would consider luxury.

The Lincoln brand has been widely known as a high end luxury vehicle that has always been about comfort and style.  Even back in the days of the Mark VII’s they were in a class of their own with the roomy leather interior and functionality that most cars wouldn’t dream of having.

The Lincoln MKZ is a culmination of years in the making and it seems appropriate that this vehicle should earn such a title due to the extreme reliability and focus on providing not only a comforting driving experience, but one that is technological in almost every regard.

Lincoln has always been ahead of the rest it seems from their interactive dash board and more interior controls and features than one could ever learn about.  The engineers were truly passionate about this brand and the merging of great technology, innovation, and luxury.

In addition, the automakers are becoming more competitive in trying to win over lifetime customers who are loyal to the brand so expect that if you become a Lincoln owner, you’ll have a hard time finding something as luxurious and affordable at a suggested MSRP of $34225.

When Car & Driver magazine road testers got the chance to compare the all-new Lincoln MKT with 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive to the Audi Q7 V8, they came away mightily impressed – with the MKT. Said Car & Driver in its July test drive, “…on Ford’s undulating ride-and-handling course and five-mile banked oval, the MKT exhibited reassuring composure and had more than enough grunt to outrun the V8-powered Audi Q7 on hand for comparison.”

The fact that the MKT EcoBoost™ has an MSRP of $49,200 – thousands less than the Q7 – is a sizeable added bonus. Just as eye opening as the MKT EcoBoost model’s 355 hp and 350 lb/ft of torque is its rated highway fuel economy of 22 mpg. For comparison, the Audi Q7 V8 rates at 18. And the MKT can run on Regular grade fuel just fine while the Audi (and most other luxury-brand crossovers) require more expensive Premium.

The MKT is also available with a naturally aspirated 268-hp 3.7-liter V6 and is available in front-wheel drive or with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. The MSRP of $44,200 makes it an exceptional value in the segment. But you’re not going to find anything among full-size, three-row luxury crossovers with such dramatic styling as the MKT.

Nor are you likely to find another three-row crossover that offers today’s most in-demand technology and makes it so easy to use. Isn’t the whole point of new technology to add convenience, not distraction and frustration? When it comes to delivering onboard information and entertainment, the Lincoln MKT takes a backseat to no luxury crossover.

Speaking of seats, MKT treats the driver and front passenger to standard heated and cooled seats. On competitors’ vehicles, that feature tends to be on the extra-cost option list. Second-row passengers in the MKT meanwhile, enjoy nearly 42 inches of stretch-out legroom. Plus, they have access to their own climate controls, as well as available premium sound and video features.

Power “fold and tumble” second-row seats with heating, cooling and power-assisted lumbar adjustment are also available. There is even a rear console-mounted refrigerator available in the six-passenger seating configuration (middle-row bucket seats).

In the MKT, you can simply speak requests for music and phone use because it comes standard with the SYNC® voice-activated, hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system. Order the Elite Package, and your favorite sounds play through an incredible THX II® Certified 5.1 Surround Audio System. The package also includes a voice-activated navigation system with integrated SIRIUS Travel Link™. A prepaid subscription gives you coast-to-coast weather data, forecasts, fuel prices, sports scores, movie listings and more. It’s like having a personal in-car concierge.

The Elite Package also enhances driving safety with the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert, and enhances luxury with the power panoramic Vista Roof™. And you’ll still be $20,000 or so under competitive vehicles. But are they truly competitive? Can they, like the MKT, park themselves?

In Car & Driver’s words, the MKT’s available Active Parking Assist is “unlike the system offered on the Lexus LS, since this actually works.” Activated at the touch of a button, Active Park Assist uses sonar sensors to tell you if a parking space is suitable as you drive alongside it. Just stop the MKT, shift into reverse and work the gas and brake pedals while the MKT steers itself in. Unlike other systems on the market, Active Park Assist also works in uphill parking situations.

Out on the open road, the Lincoln MKT offers serenely quiet cruising, the result of a super-strong structure, laminated windows and careful attention to aerodynamic design. Inside this tranquil environment, every surface reflects extraordinary craftsmanship. The list of standard features is quite long, making an MKT better equipped than other luxury vehicles, even before adding options. Keyless Intelligent Access with push-button starting, Lincoln’s exclusive MyKey™ technology, adaptive HID headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a power liftgate, a rearview camera and SYNC are all standard.

The 2010 Lincoln MKT achieves a milestone in luxury vehicle design, comfort, performance and technology – with value that embarrasses competitors.

Source: IMN

The competition in the luxury crossover category is intense, and the 2010 MKX is up to the challenge. This five-passenger vehicle comes equipped with 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seating, a tilt-and-telescope steering column and heated and cooled power front seats. Interior cabin design is luxurious, but not overstated, with real wood and satin-nickel accents and easy-to-read gauges.

Driving pleasure is enhanced by the SYNC electronics system, Bluetooth and iPod interfaces and a premium sound system with six speakers, an in-dash six-CD changer, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio input jack. Passengers enjoy plenty of space, even in back where three can sit in relaxed comfort. Fold down the 60/40 split-bench leather-trimmed second-row seats, and the cargo area revealed is a maximum of 69 cubic feet – more than what’s available in other manufacturers’ offerings.

Standard safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control (RSC®), front side airbags and side-curtain airbags. Front and rear outboard three-point seatbelts with a rear center three-point seatbelt, side-guard door beams and vehicle-speed-sensitive variable intermittent windshield wipers also come standard.

Available add-ons include several packages. The Ultimate Package adds 18-inch, eight-spoke aluminum wheels, EasyFold™ second-row seatback release, adaptive headlights and interior mood lighting. The Elite Package adds a panoramic Vista Roof™, hard-drive-based navigation system with single-CD player, a THX-certified surround-sound audio system, 10GB of digital music storage and SIRIUS Travel Link, which includes real-time information on traffic, weather, sport scores and movie times. Three other available packages, the Limited Edition, Monochrome and Midnight Limited Edition choices, offer a number of unique colors and trim features.

The standard powertrain for the 2010 Lincoln MKX consists of a 3.5-liter DOHC Duratec® V6 that develops 265 hp with 250 lb/ft of torque. That mill is coupled with a six-speed, electronically controlled, adaptive automatic transmission with overdrive and floor-mounted shifter and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. In addition to power rack-and-pinion steering, the MKX features an independent suspension with MacPherson struts and coil springs in front and a luxury-ride multi-link setup with coil springs in the rear for easy handling and road stability. EPA fuel economy estimates are 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined for the front-wheel drive edition. Properly equipped, the MKX can tow as much as 3,500 pounds.

With an MSRP starting from $38,345, the well-equipped 2010 Lincoln MKX couples a supremely comfortable ride with a quiet cabin, a fine array of packaged options and a roomy cargo area that will make the daily commute, weekend shopping or vacation getaways a pleasurable experience.

Source: IMN