LA Auto Show: 2017 Lincoln MKZ

Gotta be honest.. I love the bump in HP for the AWD model.. 400HP/400 torque from a 3.0L TT... Sounds familiar.. but the look seems like Lincoln literally stole from all three, Kia, Jag, and Audi (the headlights) in their design. What ever happened to originality. The Split wing on the MKZ was actually one of the few things that set it apart. Thank GOD they retained the "Oldsmobile Toronado" taillights  OK.. make that 4

Now for something completely out of left field. Before the LA Auto Show kicked off, Lincoln surprised everyone with an updated version of the MKZ.

The updates begin outside where the front end trades in the split-wing grille for similar look found on the Continental concept. A rounded grille is flanked with narrowed headlights with LEDs. The back is mostly unchanged aside from a new bumper. Inside is a new centerstack with actual buttons for the climate controls and radio. There's a choice of two Revel audio systems and two USB plugs for rear passengers to charge their devices.

Under the hood, the MKZ boasts a 2.0L GTDI four-cylinder with 245 horsepower as standard, and a hybrid. But if you want power in your MKZ, then you want the brand new 3.0L GTDI V6 with 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque when equipped with all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive models will get 350 horsepower.

The 3.0 GTDI V6 will have the option of a Driver's Package that adds nineteen-inch wheels, sportier suspension setup, dynamic torque vectoring, Ebony-painted brake calipers, and carbon fiber trim.

Lincoln says the 2017 MKZ will begin arriving at dealers next summer.

Source: Lincoln

Album: LA Auto Show: 2017 Lincoln MKZ

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Press Release is on Page 2

Some are confused as to why Lincoln can’t find a design language and stick with it….like some luxury brands whose evolutionary styling looks very similar decade to decade. I don’t know, I like things mixed up a bit. Brings excitement to the brand and also shows they are not afraid of stepping out with some wilder themes.

Like what I see.  Previous design was polarizing, but eventually I warmed to it.  This should be much easier to warm to.  And gotta love the performance AWD with RWD feel, minus the RWD limitations.

Well.. I like it..kind of. I, too, am confused why they are all over the map with their design language. I don't mind evolving from generation to generation but to completely drop one and change makes it dificult for people to recognize your brand and to really build some cache with it.

Does this mean the MKC/X/Nav will all be adapting this grill as well?

Is this the same Taurus-based car from like..2008?

Casa,

I noticed those IDENTICAL Audi headlights as well. I like them, but definitely they still look like an Audi rip-off.

The engine and powertrain choices are solid but this Continental front end on the existing MKZ skin is just average and a mixed bag to me. Just don't think this new look will age well. It does borrow heavily from Jaguar and to a lesser extent, Audi. Not that it's a bad thing but it is what what it is.

I'm really confused because I see a lot of derivatives like Casa, but especially similar to the new Jag. This is unfortunate, because I actually like the current MKZ and the developing Lincoln design language. The new split wing worked, and it was original. Are they going to have 3 corporate faces sold simultaneously? The MKS and MKT both still wear the old "refreshed" grilles.

Yawn!

I can already hear the cries from those who were expecting the show car.

If you are gonna look close to anything, might as well be the most stylish luxury brand in the world.

No shields here, thank God.

It seems as tho the new thing at Ford is to take designs from higher end vehicles to get attention in a formula originally pulled off by Hyundai, then Chrysler (300)then... well Ford... With the Fusion. It worked to a degree, but on a WHOLE BRAND?

Coming up with an original yet cohesive design language would have made this far more impressive. Again, it has a nice look to it (Jaguar influence being what it is) but it just doesn't stand out on it's own because of that obvious influence. I actually like the split grill look better because it didn't look like anything else.

Yawn!

I can already hear the cries from those who were expecting the show car.

Note: This isn't the Continental. That will be shown most likely at Detroit.

Yawn!

I can already hear the cries from those who were expecting the show car.

What William said.

My main issue is only in the order of the release.  They should have shown the production Continental first and then this.  

I'm going to be doing an "Up Close" article on this one.

Nice looking update, but it does remind me of the 300 now. Copy one of the best selling full size sedans?

The one thing I find questionable with this announcement is that it comes out two months before the car that modeled the look first (the Continental) and this obviously the look they wish to convey with their cars. Weird strategy but that's just my opinion.

HIDEOUS MATING of the new continental grille to the MKZ.  WTF were they thinking

New front styling blends in much better now with the back style.  This is much more mainstream than before, so sales should probably improve, especially combined with this new higher performance model. So it will launch a few months before Conti, which makes sense to show Z first, I would expect the two together to really give Lincoln a boost next year. They are already on track for about a 10% gain again this year, which is much higher than the segment average, if not the highest.  And with the design elements so close to Conti concept, I think that bodes well for what should be a very close to concept Conti.

And still one of the best profiles in the segment, imho.....

Props to Lincoln for putting a 400 hp turbo V6 in the MKZ to breath some life into it.  I was surprised that this is the most powerful Lincoln ever, hard to believe that in their 100 year history they never mad a 400 hp engine.  

The grille doesn't look that good, they are just copying Jaguar and some others.  They will have an all new styling language in 2020 anyway, Lincoln doesn't stick with anything.

Well,… to nitpick, Lincoln will turn 100 in 2020.

And they did have a 400-HP engine prior to now- 1958 to be exact.

Well I read some news release that this was the most powerful Lincoln ever.

Problem is, they can put 400 hp in it, but it is still a Fusion chassis underneath.

Uh, well atleast it doesn't look any worse, to me that is. 

I like the way it looks, but if I actually owned one, I would immediately concede that the design of the exterior is painfully similar to brands that Lincoln wished it could compete with right now. I think it's fishy how it now looks more Jaguar than even Jaguar. But I won't complain that it doesn't look good.

It's just that it appears for the near-term, Lincoln has no ambition to look different. Well, maybe the resemblance will help sales, and justify more investment. But that's a big if.

The interior... just not feeling the update. I don't like the steering wheel, how it continues to have overlapping panels instead of integrated ones. But the rest is an upgrade, so why not?

But I still continue to like the side profile. It's very good.

Wow!

Looks great. And torque vectoring AWD and 400HP.

It's on my consideration list now.

Well I read some news release that this was the most powerful Lincoln ever.

Well net > gross… but the posted number is the same.

Shared with Merc (tho the air cleaner was unlettered/numbered) - clearly one of the most striking air cleaners ever minted :

400hp with AWD is good.

Front end that has nothing to do with what's going on behind the A-pillars is not good. As mentioned earlier, no cohesion-and this will only become more apparent when the Continental bows with a similar front end plus the rest of the car that should accompany it.

A game facelift on a tight budget. But little more.

I have to admit, the drivetrain sounds enticing. I'm not really convinced the rest of it is worthy of any compliments, however. I really thought the current MKZ was a fantastic design and this just seems like a step backwards. I mean, the front clip looks okay by itself, but it doesn't mesh well with the sharp lines elsewhere. It's a sort of a generic mess. 

Agreed.  Ford is just a Euro brand copy cat anymore.

Well,… to nitpick, Lincoln will turn 100 in 2020.

 

And they did have a 400-HP engine prior to now- 1958 to be exact.

Gross v. Net

One thing I have to give Lincoln props for here is the interior, specifically the seats in the Black Label models.   The level of craftsmanship they've put into those seats is fantastic.  They would absolutely be at home in a Designo trimmed Mercedes-Benz.

Well I read some news release that this was the most powerful Lincoln ever.

 

Problem is, they can put 400 hp in it, but it is still a Fusion chassis underneath.

Interior is not that far removed from a fusion too. They needed to up the ante on the interior

One thing I have to give Lincoln props for here is the interior, specifically the seats in the Black Label models.   The level of craftsmanship they've put into those seats is fantastic.  They would absolutely be at home in a Designo trimmed Mercedes-Benz.

The seats and door panels are both really nice but when I bring my eyes to the center stack, it just looks too much like the Fusion (plain jane looking) while the rest of the interior is five steps above that. Kind of messes with the cohesiveness of the rest of the interior to me.

 

One thing I have to give Lincoln props for here is the interior, specifically the seats in the Black Label models.   The level of craftsmanship they've put into those seats is fantastic.  They would absolutely be at home in a Designo trimmed Mercedes-Benz.

The seats and door panels are both really nice but when I bring my eyes to the center stack, it just looks too much like the Fusion (plain jane looking) while the rest of the interior is five steps above that. Kind of messes with the cohesiveness of the rest of the interior to me.

 

The whole interior wrap around from the doors to the dash has always screamed Fusion to me, because not only were some of the Ford's buttons carried over, but it's clear everything uses the same hard points. Vents, trim details, center stack, door paneling.

It's like Chevy and GMC except everyone at Lincoln pretends it's not the same car underneath getting marked up to 3-series pricing. Now obviously that's an exaggeration, but the point is no true luxury brand allows mainstream underpinnings to show through so blatantly.

 

 

One thing I have to give Lincoln props for here is the interior, specifically the seats in the Black Label models.   The level of craftsmanship they've put into those seats is fantastic.  They would absolutely be at home in a Designo trimmed Mercedes-Benz.

The seats and door panels are both really nice but when I bring my eyes to the center stack, it just looks too much like the Fusion (plain jane looking) while the rest of the interior is five steps above that. Kind of messes with the cohesiveness of the rest of the interior to me.

 

 

The whole interior wrap around from the doors to the dash has always screamed Fusion to me, because not only were some of the Ford's buttons carried over, but it's clear everything uses the same hard points. Vents, trim details, center stack, door paneling.

 

It's like Chevy and GMC except everyone at Lincoln pretends it's not the same car underneath getting marked up to 3-series pricing. Now obviously that's an exaggeration, but the point is no true luxury brand allows mainstream underpinnings to show through so blatantly.

 

I thought about this a bit and then went googling images just to see..... and you're right.  On the MKZ/Fusion, there is just too much similarity... it looks like you could even take a door panel interior from one, swap it into the other, and the trim pieces would still line up perfectly.   Compare this to the Avalon/ES and the dashboards are substantially different, even with screens and vents in different locations.  The same goes for the Impala/LaCrosse/XTS... the hard points don't line up on any of them.  The Chrysler LX sedans line up the same, but they shaped the dash differently enough so as to disguise it better.  Put the two next to each other and the points match up, but there is just enough distinction in the shapes to matter. 

 

 

 

One thing I have to give Lincoln props for here is the interior, specifically the seats in the Black Label models.   The level of craftsmanship they've put into those seats is fantastic.  They would absolutely be at home in a Designo trimmed Mercedes-Benz.

The seats and door panels are both really nice but when I bring my eyes to the center stack, it just looks too much like the Fusion (plain jane looking) while the rest of the interior is five steps above that. Kind of messes with the cohesiveness of the rest of the interior to me.

 

 

The whole interior wrap around from the doors to the dash has always screamed Fusion to me, because not only were some of the Ford's buttons carried over, but it's clear everything uses the same hard points. Vents, trim details, center stack, door paneling.

 

It's like Chevy and GMC except everyone at Lincoln pretends it's not the same car underneath getting marked up to 3-series pricing. Now obviously that's an exaggeration, but the point is no true luxury brand allows mainstream underpinnings to show through so blatantly.

 

 

I thought about this a bit and then went googling images just to see..... and you're right.  On the MKZ/Fusion, there is just too much similarity... it looks like you could even take a door panel interior from one, swap it into the other, and the trim pieces would still line up perfectly.   Compare this to the Avalon/ES and the dashboards are substantially different, even with screens and vents in different locations.  The same goes for the Impala/LaCrosse/XTS... the hard points don't line up on any of them.  The Chrysler LX sedans line up the same, but they shaped the dash differently enough so as to disguise it better.  Put the two next to each other and the points match up, but there is just enough distinction in the shapes to matter. 

 

I appreciate you validating that! I've had plenty of arguments with people that either don't understand what I'm saying or refuse acknowledge it like I'm simply bashing, which is funny because I've ALWAYS openly liked the exterior design of the MKZ (until now), even going back a generation.

Thinking the front matches the back better....

Model looks more relaxed than old stiff look it had up front.

Took a few minutes, but I like it....Side view of it there helps.....

I was more of a fan of this MKZ (but only with the V6) before this hasty refresh... it was unique in a good way.  And for Ford to intro the latest "new face of Lincoln" on a junior model instead of allowing the Continental to take that honor... is like a suicide door for the Continental... its impact is permanently blunted.

Also the blatant combining of two MKZ threads is painfully obvious, as there are two comments offering opinion before William's informative post.  William's post should be the lead here. 

That's why I don't like combining threads.

Here it is in black.

Gorgeous.

Okay, so this is my opinion, down-vote if you like, please do move on though after you see this...

The top image. It does look good. 

All I can think of calling it: Jaudi XJz with a Lincoln badge on it. 

Okay, so this is my opinion, down-vote if you like, please do move on though after you see this...

 

The top image. It does look good. 

 

All I can think of calling it: Jaudi XJz with a Lincoln badge on it. 

That was EXACTLY what I was thinking. It looks like a really good looking Audi-Jaguar..but it's a Lincoln. I still like its looks regardless but it doesn't look like its own design like the current gen does.

Looking closely at the jag image, one can see a resemblance, but honestly, aside from a semi-rectangular grill shape….which is used by many, I see nothing else.  I see nothing else.  Lincoln grill details also carefully differentiate very uniquely as well.  Regardless, it is a huge improvement that better ties the front and rear styling and I think most would agree.  Combined with all the goodness they are bringing to it, and the news is very positive.

So with Conti reveal coming to NAIAS (pretty mug a given, following their recent trend of concept then production reveal a year later), I am hoping they continue another trend, of revealing a concept at NAIAS as well. I am expecting either the Navi or Aviator.  This is probably the best time in history to be a Lincoln fan.  And sales should easily continue to grow with new Z and Conti sales starting in the spring.

There are many similarities with the Jag, you see it in the body line at the base of the window all the way to the back, I could go on with all the places, but I know that I am not the only one that saw Jag when you first looked at this auto. Jag got there first and Lincoln liked it enough to mimic the auto.

Either way, if people buy it and are happy then it is a compliment to Jag and a win for FORD.

Nobody has ever accused previous Z of looking like a Jag, so I am doubtful that adding a rectangular-esque grill changed that.

I see Audi in the headlights

Good Point Drew, your right with the underlying stream of LED lights, that is a Audi trait. Yet the rest of it is very similar to the Jag.

You could argue that the last good Lincoln was made in 1963.  I'd listen to that argument that the Continental Mark V was a good looking car.  Jock Ewing had one after all.  Since 1980 Lincoln has pretty much been making lackluster product.

The car is a pastiche. It is the result of a design team getting together, cherry-picking winning design elements from various carmakers, and throwing those elements against the wall to see what sticks.

I admit to being a bit confused on the design change, until I remember the words of many who visit the 'latest' luxury sedan designs from competitors, whose design has not changed in years and difficult to tell even when side by side.  

What Lincoln has done, is invigorated brand with a style change.  Something that clearly, and evidently, has not happened in recent years with the competition, no matter what they throw out there.

Who would have thought that an MKZ can upstage so many in the luxury segment, with minor changes.

As much as I like the new front style, it really is the rear most angle that just stands out unlike anything else.....

and even the profile remains one of the better ones in the mid luxury market place.