2013 Lincoln MKS

Revision or old fashioned?  Maybe it’s a heavy dosage of both.  Lincoln has made a refreshing overlook on the MKS in performance and technology.  The all new 2013 Lincoln MKS offers more power, larger brakes, better fuel economy and a plethora of safety features.

Ford uses its renowned ecoboost engine in many of its flagship vehicles mainly in the high-end consumer range simply… because its good.  The 3.5 liter twin turbo direct fuel injection engine produces a staggering 365 hp and 350- ft-lbs of torque.  Fuel efficiency is not the greatest with a city rating of 17 mpg, and 25 on the highway; but nevertheless, performance does not come free without compromise.   The engine in the Lincoln MKS is mated to a 6 speed automatic select-shift transmission and only comes in AWD.

The Lincoln MKS power delivery is accompanied by improved handling through continuous damper controlled suspensions as well as Lincoln’s electronically adjustable drive control system allowing the user to select either Comfort, Normal, or Sport mode.  Fiddling around between different modes under various conditions result little to no notable differences even during select-shift mode.  Making matters less intriguing, users have to navigate through a maze of on-screen menus to select a ride mode.

What we can give Lincoln credit for is the electronic power-assisted steering.  Replacing traditionally hydraulic power steering pumps with a software controlled electric motor, the system can dynamically control the amount of power assist required under low or high speed conditions.  The system also incorporates active nimble compensation to filter out unwanted vibration as well as dynamically compensate steering control in the presence of crowned road surfaces, or cross-winds.  All in all, it is easy to notice the increases responsiveness and  precision of the steering control on the Lincoln MKS.

The Lincoln is a large and heavy sedan.  It drives very solid and responsive on the freeway.  However, it lacks the refinement silky smooth acceleration when compared to other luxury sedans such as the Lexus RX series drive train.  The 20″ wheels adds bold styling on the Lincoln MKS, but the side effect decreases ride comfort when driving road expansion joints or bumps on the road.

Lincoln’s interior is a very calm and collective environment.  Lincoln has made extra effort in ensuring the cabin space remains quiet by dampening out unwanted sound by intelligently placing sound absorbers and noise barriers throughout the interior.  Underneath the leather quilted seats lies seven adjustable air bladders to maximize comfort and adjustability.  Our particular model was equipped with an awesome THX audio system blasting out through 16 speakers with a 10″ sub.  The MyLincoln touch also makes the system very accessible through smart phone wireless connectivity to stay in touch with friends and family on the road.

Safety was an integral part of the Lincoln MKS design.   The robust blind-spot detector located on each side mirror helps drivers induce much better judgement and confidence in merging lanes.  Hidden behind the rear-view mirror  lies an intelligent camera that actively detects if the vehicle is swerving out of its lane on highways.  Once detected, the steering wheel will gently vibrate and nudge the vehicle back into its lane.  The 2013 Lincoln MKS comes standard with traction control,  front seat and side curtain airbags,  antil-ock brakes and roll-stability control. Adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support is available.   As an option, as are blind-spot and cross-traffic warning systems, lane-departure and lane-keeping assist, and a rear-view camera.

As much as we can appreciate the amount of technology and upgrades Lincoln has made in its MKS model, it still faces an uphill battle in the luxury brand competition arena, mainly with luxury vehicles such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Lincoln is at least cheaper when comparing price tags, but there is still the less appealing factor when considering a luxury brand American name tag.  There is also the well raved Kia Optima and slimmed down Ford Taurus to consider when looking into the luxury sedan circle. We recommend taking a thorough look around before deciding whether the Lincoln MKS deserves a valuable spot in your parking garage.

Specifications:

• 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine
• 6-speed Automatic transmission
• Up to 18 cty/27 hwy mpg
• All-wheel drive
• Navigation System
• Bluetooth
• iPod input
• Satellite radio
• Side/Curtain Airbags
• Stability Control
• Traction Control
• DVD player (Optional)