Cobo Arena was strangely under capacity during the first-of-the-day press conference for the Lincoln MKT concept. Could this be backlash after yesterday's unofficial media lockout at the Ford F-150 debut?
Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, was first to speak. "Lincoln was the fastest growing luxury brand of 2007, " he said, but without seeing some hard statistics, that claim seems tenuous. The current MKS, MKX and MKZ, Fields added, "offer a blend of performance, luxury and value that all represent a quiet confidence." He even dropped his voice slightly to emphasize the "quiet."
It's too soon to know if the Lincoln MKT crossover wagon will be quietly confident. Its composite body panels, constructed of recycled soda bottles and various other poly-based wastes, are designed to have a quiet impact on the environment. Same goes for its 3.5-liter V6, which seems to be a higher-boost version of Ford's upcoming twin-turbo, direct-injected V6. In the MKT, it makes 415 hp at 5,750 rpm and 400 lb-ft of torque from 2,000-5,000 rpm. A six-speed automatic drives all four wheels through an all-wheel-drive system.
But the styling of the MKT just isn't quiet -- large facial features, chunky shoulders and a strange tail design that Peter Horbury, executive director of design, calls a bustle back. "It's elegant , but it provides the massive storage space that's crucial for a long trip."
We also like Lincoln's justification for the MKT's very large C-pillars and, consequently, its very large blind spots: "The Lincoln MKT's more substantial C-pillar creates an aura of privacy for rear occupants."
Although we joke, a production version of the Lincoln MKT is assured, as it's based on the 2009 Ford Flex platform. The concept version only seats four, but in production form, "it could easily accommodate seven," Horbury said. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
But the styling of the MKT just isn't quiet -- large facial features, chunky shoulders and a strange tail design that Peter Horbury, executive director of design, calls a bustle back. "It's elegant , but it provides the massive storage space that's crucial for a long trip."
We also like Lincoln's justification for the MKT's very large C-pillars and, consequently, its very large blind spots: "The Lincoln MKT's more substantial C-pillar creates an aura of privacy for rear occupants."
Although we joke, a production version of the Lincoln MKT is assured, as it's based on the 2009 Ford Flex platform. The concept version only seats four, but in production form, "it could easily accommodate seven," Horbury said. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
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