October 23rd, 2009

First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKZ

5
Business people are strange folk. They prefer duck to steak, follow charts all day and get up at five in the morning to start trading stock in the Asian market. They’re the kind of people who think carefully; or at least like to think they think carefully (cough, Citigroup, Bank of Ameria, AIG, cough).

When it comes to car choice they analyze what they’ll spend their hard-earned 5 a.m. money on. But before they know it, a new Mercedes is in the garage and they’re not sure where it came from. Sure it glistens and offers a million buttons with enough options to impress anyone at the office, but it certainly doesn’t win points on originality. Or they could buy a BMW, if they want a car people will mistake for a moose. And yes, they could buy a Jaguar, but everyone will start referring to them as “that guy”.

3 Or, being the smart businessman you are, you could take a spin in the 2010 Lincoln MKZ. Yeah, it’s a Lincoln, and sure, you’ll need to convince the boys at the office of your sanity. But a quick drive will can be convincing. From the outside it has a face unlike any other in the luxury market. From the back… well just don’t look at the back. The praying-mantis-taillights are far-out for the business crowd. The profile looks like a luxury sedan, enough said.

Inside business people will find themselves at home. The black and metal-looking interior with hints of wood scattered about feel just like an office. The seat is comfortable and the optional heating and cooling make your butt nice and cozy on long road trips. We took it from Detroit to Chicago and back very comfortably.

Driving around Chicago the sounds system begged me to roll the windows down and indulge my neighbor at the red light with some business music; John Mayer. Crisp and clear to high volumes, the THX sound system coupled with the SYNC media manager let me listen to my iPod loud and proud while the built in navigation was easy to use. 1

The ride in the MKZ was surprisingly smooth, even over dirt roads. The 3.5L V-6 has enough get up and go for around town, but it’s far from a sporty engine. I’d expect this to be included in the twin-turbo Eco-Boost lineup sometime soon. Until then we’ll have to settle on 263 horses and a 0-60 of 7.1 seconds.

So the Lincoln is the perfect car for the luxury buyer. Well, not really. Don’t get me wrong, the Lincoln is a great car, especially considering the $35,000 price tag; well below other cars in this class. But unlike its European brethren the MKZ just doesn’t have that feel of an ultra-luxury car. It doesn’t turn heads on the street, it doesn’t have loads of gizmos and gadgets, and it just doesn’t “feel” like an expensive luxury brand. Your tennis instructor wouldn’t drive one, but Bill from accounting would.

Young execs looking for a great mid-level luxury sedan will be pleased with the MKZ. It’s a great beginners luxury car. And it’s living proof Lincoln isn’t just for those who can’t afford a Mercedes.

The 0-60

Car: 2010 Lincoln MKZ
Engine: 3.5L V-6 Duratec
0-60: 7.1 seconds
Horsepower: 263 hp at 6,250 rpm
Torque: 249 ft.-lb. at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed SelectShift automatic
Fuel Economy: 18 city / 27 highway mpg
Ford says: 45 percent of current Lincoln MKZ buyers do not currently own a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury product

In the interest of fairness, the author of this article worked at Ford Motor Company summer, 2009.

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