#NYIAS Sure enough, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid headlined Ford's press conference at the New York auto show. And sure enough, it is a Ford Fusion Hybrid with a toothy grille. It goes on sale this fall. Lincoln says it will be cheaper than the Lexus HS 250h ($34K).
So that means the MKZ Hybrid has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine running on the Atkinson cycle, a front-drive electric motor and a rear-mounted NiMH battery pack. Net horsepower is 191 and fuel economy will be 41 mpg in the city, says Lincoln, and presumably 36 mpg on the highway.
The key upgrade in the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid over the Fusion Hybrid is evident in the fuel economy display. Now, in addition to growing a vine of green leaves, you have the added challenge to scrimp your way to white apple blossoms. The flowers come into bloom when the car deems that your long-term fuel consumption is impressively frugal.
The other announcement at the Ford press conference came jointly from Alan Mullaly and, via satellite feed, Steve Ballmer of Microsoft. Once Ford starts building electric vehicles en masse, owners will be encouraged to use Microsoft Hohm to manage the recharging process via computer or the EV itself. It's thought that once a bunch of us are driving EVs, we'll rush home at the end of the day and plug them in, putting strain on the electrical grid.
Hohm will reportedly help you decide when to recharge your car, depending on grid load and your own schedule. It will also help prospective EV owners decide if their home has sufficiently robust wiring to accommodate EV recharging. Details are few at this point, but of course, Microsoft has a dedicated Hohm blog that you can monitor.
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