LA Auto Show: The Veil Drops On The 2015 Lincoln MKC: Comments

[William Maley]

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William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

November 13, 2013

Earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show, Lincoln unveiled the MKC Concept. The concept was a preview of a new Lincoln model that would come sometime later this year. Many of us praised the MKC Concept since it didn't look like a carbon copy of a Ford vehicle. But there was concern that the production model would not look like the concept at all. Well, take a deep breath as Lincoln has unveiled the 2015 MKC before its official debut at the LA Auto Show next week and it looks pretty close to the concept.

The MKC Concept and production model are almost identical in design. Up front is Lincoln's spit-wing grille which has been tapered back. Along the side, designers added some sculpting to give the MKC a bit more presence. A set of nineteen-inch split five-spoke wheels help add to presence. The back end features a wrap-around tailgate and a wide taillight.

Inside, the MKC will feature a blend of leather, wood, and what Lincoln describes as “natural-look” materials. The center stack is almost reminiscent to the MKZ with a push-button transmission and a eight-inch touchscreen housing MyLincolnTouch. What's different on the MKC is there are actual buttons on the center stack, not capacitive touch buttons.

As for power, the MKC will be available with two EcoBoost engines:

• 2.0L EcoBoost Four-Cylinder: 240 Horsepower, 270 Pound-Feet of Torque
  
• 2.3L EcoBoost Four-Cylinder: 275 Horsepower, 300 Pound-Feet of Torque
  

Lincoln didn't say what transmission will be available in the MKC, but its a safe guess to say a six-speed automatic. Front-Wheel Drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available as an option. Also optional on the MKC is a new adaptive suspension system called Continuously Controlled Damping.

The Lincoln MKC goes on sale starting next summer.

Source: Lincoln

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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All-New 2015 Lincoln MKC Provides Fresh Choice for Small Premium Utility Customers

- The Lincoln Motor Company introduces the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility vehicle, the second of four all-new Lincoln vehicles to fuel the brand's reinvention

- MKC will introduce the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque

- Designed with driver comforts in mind and featuring an array of premium amenities, MKC targets a growing audience of luxury customers who demand a more personal car-buying and car-owning experience

The Lincoln Motor Company's reinvention takes a major step forward today with the unveiling of the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility vehicle.

The Lincoln MKC is a unique creation from the ground up with an assortment of first-in-class features. Its all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine offers excellent performance while its ingeniously implemented wraparound liftgate is an example of masterful customer convenience.

The luxurious interior embraces driver and passengers alike, and its new and innovative technology personalizes the MKC ownership experience. Lincoln MKC follows the MKZ sedan to become the second all-new Lincoln in as many years as the brand continues its reinvention.

"Lincoln MKC is a perfect blend of inspired automotive design and dynamic driving performance in a segment that has grown in popularity in recent years," said Jim Farley, executive vice president of Ford global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. "As a challenger luxury brand, entering this segment is a natural next step for us. MKC will do more than just compete – it will change the way people think about Lincoln."

Building the right vehicle at the right time

Lincoln MKC – first introduced as a concept vehicle at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit – represents a critical milestone in the company's plan to expand its lineup.

Arriving on the heels of the all-new and successful 2013 Lincoln MKZ sedan, MKC becomes the second new vehicle in the brand's plans to introduce four new luxury vehicles by 2016.

MKC gives Lincoln a compelling offering in the small premium utility vehicle segment, the fastest-growing part of the luxury market. The segment has grown by 25 percent since 2012 and by more than 200 percent since 2009. The segment growth is being driven by new luxury buyers who are coming into affluence, as well as by current luxury owners who are moving from larger vehicles to smaller ones as their life desires change.

With MKC, Lincoln continues its move toward targeting a younger, more diverse customer. The vehicle also positions Lincoln to resonate with drivers in desirable markets on the East and West coasts.

Designed to inspire inside and out

The Lincoln design team faced the dual challenge of creating a standout vehicle in a competitive field, while further refining the Lincoln design DNA that started with the 2013 MKZ. From its signature split-wing grille to its uniquely crafted, hands-free wraparound liftgate, the Lincoln DNA is evident.

"Our design team worked tirelessly to create a vehicle that attracts new customers to the brand while meeting the expectations of longtime Lincoln drivers," said Max Wolff, director, Lincoln Design. "The execution of the new liftgate is a prime example of how a premium design element can create a better customer experience."

MKC presents a sleek, sculpted body that helps it stand out among peers. Its high beltline and low shoulders create a sturdy, athletic presence, while features such as soft exterior lighting, pedestal side-view mirrors and an available panoramic, all-glass Vista Roof® give the vehicle a luxurious, sophisticated personality.

The unique design also carries through to the interior, where craftsmanship and high-tech combine to offer a warm, luxurious environment. An architecturally unique instrument panel showcases Lincoln's signature push-button gear shifter, which provides an open, inviting interior space. Plush leathers with French stitching, and available Bridge of Weir leather and real wood trim accentuate MKC's elegance and grace.

"We gave attention to every detail to convey a stylish, fashion-oriented vehicle," said Soo Kang, Lincoln interior design chief. "Our use of colors, materials, stitching – every detail was considered to create an overall luxurious experience."

To be more consistent with the Lincoln driving experience, an all-new Lincoln steering wheel debuts on MKC and will be available on all future Lincoln vehicles. This highly tactile leather-wrapped wheel provides better feeling and control and puts the brand's new design DNA in the driver's hands.

The enhanced THX® II Certified Audio System, an industry-first featuring THX-distributed bass technology and 14 right-, center- and left-slot speaker assemblies, is available. The state-of-the-art audio system delivers a rich, immersive surround sound experience that reproduces music as it was mixed in the studio.

SYNC® with MyLincoln Touch™ enables drivers to personalize MKC by using voice-activated commands or simple touch controls on the class-exclusive 8-inch touch screen. Knobs and buttons on the center console provide additional and easy access to control the air conditioning and sound system.

Lincoln luxury meets dynamic performance

When equipped with the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, MKC offers a projected 275 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data. Class-exclusive Active Grille Shutters are designed to help improve MKC fuel efficiency at highway speeds.

MKC comes standard with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine, projected to produce 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data. This makes Lincoln MKC an all-EcoBoost vehicle.

MKC comes standard with front-wheel drive and 18-inch wheels. Drivers can upgrade to Lincoln's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and 19-inch wheels for enhanced cornering and handling and an even sportier look.

The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system also includes Continuously Controlled Damping. Drivers can use Lincoln Drive Control to select from sport, comfort and normal drive modes to cater to their driving mood. CCD constantly monitors the road; the suspension reacts on average within 20 milliseconds, providing a smooth ride with enhanced handling.

CCD also is available in the standard front-wheel drive configuration of MKC.

"The width of MKC's track has been set to allow the designers the freedom to create a planted stance for the vehicle, and it provided engineers the opportunity to minimize body roll and give the vehicle a more sporty feel," said Lisa Drake, MKC chief engineer.

Technology provides protection, confidence

MKC offers advanced technology such as collision warning with brake support, a Lane-Keeping System and driver assist to help drivers avoid common accidents. The collision warning system is designed to alert the driver if it detects a potential front-end crash. The system issues an audible alert in the cabin, a visual alert on the windshield and automatic brake assist sensitivity.

MKC introduces available park-out assist technology, a class-exclusive feature that enhances the vehicle's active park assist capabilities. Where active park assist helps guide drivers into tight parallel parking situations, park-out assist steers drivers out of tight parking spots.

The vehicle's Lane-Keeping System uses rearview mirror-mounted cameras to identify lane markers and help drivers avoid unintentionally straying from their lane. Dashboard-mounted cameras monitor driver alertness. If the system detects a driver's alertness level dropping below a given threshold, a warning is issued via a chime and a pop-up message appears on the left-hand cluster screen.

MKC also offers a Blind Spot Information System, which continuously monitors the vehicle's blind spots with radar sensors, and class-exclusive cross-traffic alert, which detects traffic as the vehicle backs from a parking space.

Driver confidence and safety is furthered by the inclusion of seven standard airbags, including a class-exclusive driver's knee airbag. In preparing MKC for the road, the vehicle was subjected to 5,000 virtual and real-world crash tests and a variety of conditions.

Experience Lincoln's uniquely warm reception

MKC will greet owners with exclusive Approach Detection, which senses when an owner is near and responds by illuminating "welcome mats" on the ground next to both front doors. Simultaneously, headlamps, taillamps and door handles glow with soft lighting tuned to complement the vehicle's exterior color.

MKC will be the first Lincoln to have always-on built-in connectivity, allowing owners to utilize a smartphone app to control the vehicle. With the MyLincoln Mobile™ app, MKC owners can start, lock, unlock and locate the vehicle, as well as schedule a remote start event for a set time.

Drivers also can use the app to place a call for roadside assistance, monitor the vehicle's fuel level, check tire pressure and battery status, and program engine start times to allow the vehicle to heat or cool to comfortable levels.

Lincoln MKC production is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2014 at Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky. Vehicles are due in showrooms next summer.

View full article

[Drew Dowdell]

hmm... that's actually better than I expected.

[G. David Felt]

While I can see the generic shape of the Ford Edge here, it is clearly a solid job on making it stand alone. I like the dash layout and while easy on the eye's, I wonder if this will still blend into the background and be forgotten in a short amount of time.

[ZL-1]

Best looking Lincoln IMHO

[William Maley]

While I can see the generic shape of the Ford Edge here, it is clearly a solid job on making it stand alone. I like the dash layout and while easy on the eye's, I wonder if this will still blend into the background and be forgotten in a short amount of time.

I think you mean Escape. Lincoln MKX is a Ford Edge in dress.

[ocnblu]

Not too bad, a little tame, but good.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I like it better than the Ford Escape. Close friends of ours took delivery of a leftover 2013 Escape Limited AWD and love it; I'm sure this will do well for Lincoln.

[Robert Hall]

Just another 4cyl cute-ute. Yawn.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[regfootball]

generic lux suv but done well enough and to be honest plugs a huge gap in lincoln's lineup. Much like the SRX sells the most caddies, the MKC should end up being Lincoln's sales leader.

what i find interesting is the 2.3 ecoboost. That engine is needed to be in the Edge, Taurus, and Explorer, instead of the 2.0. A 2.3 Ecoboost Taurus would be awesome. Be a great mustang motor too.

Edited November 14, 2013 by regfootball

[Robert Hall]

what i find interesting is the 2.3 ecoboost. That engine is needed to be in the Edge, Taurus, and Explorer, instead of the 2.0. A 2.3 Ecoboost Taurus would be awesome. Be a great mustang motor too.

The 2.3 ecoboost is going to be an option in the '15 Mustang, I've read..quite the torque and power output for the displacement.

[regfootball]

one thing i read was that the 2.3 may become the standard Mustang mill and the v6 may either be an option or go by the wayside.

[Drew Dowdell]

If the mustang loses weight, that's probably a good base engine.

[Robert Hall]

one thing i read was that the 2.3 may become the standard Mustang mill and the v6 may either be an option or go by the wayside.

I've read that for '15 the V6 will be the base engine (unchanged from current) and the 2.3 will be an option.

[G. David Felt]

Per the Ford News Release, http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/press-releases-detail/all-new-2015-lincoln-mkc

When equipped with the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine option, MKC offers a projected 275 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data. Class-exclusive Active Grille Shutters are designed to help improve MKC fuel efficiency at highway speeds.

MKC comes standard with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine, projected to produce 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data. This makes Lincoln MKC an all-EcoBoost vehicle.

NO V6 engine option at all, I think this is wrong as it will not be seen as the luxury people will put towards other auto makers, but time will tell if the sales prove their engine options right or wrong.

I personally am not a fan of these high reving small engines. I will probably be proven wrong over time, but I still do not see the longevity of these small power plants compared to a V8 power plant. I do not think the trucks and suv's will live a long life when compared to what has been built with bigger motors.

[Robert Hall]

NO V6 engine option at all, I think this is wrong as it will not be seen as the luxury people will put towards other auto makers, but time will tell if the sales prove their engine options right or wrong.

Well, the 2.3 makes more power than the V6 in the RDX (perhaps the main competitor of this)...

I'm surprised Lexus hasn't announced a small CUV based on the Rav4 yet..seems like they would be into this niche. I guess the Encore, Q3, X1 and GLA might be considered competitors also..

Edited November 14, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

Per the Ford News Release, http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/press-releases-detail/all-new-2015-lincoln-mkc

When equipped with the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine option, MKC offers a projected 275 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data. Class-exclusive Active Grille Shutters are designed to help improve MKC fuel efficiency at highway speeds.

MKC comes standard with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine, projected to produce 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data. This makes Lincoln MKC an all-EcoBoost vehicle.

NO V6 engine option at all, I think this is wrong as it will not be seen as the luxury people will put towards other auto makers, but time will tell if the sales prove their engine options right or wrong.

I personally am not a fan of these high reving small engines. I will probably be proven wrong over time, but I still do not see the longevity of these small power plants compared to a V8 power plant. I do not think the trucks and suv's will live a long life when compared to what has been built with bigger motors.

These aren't high reving engines. Look at the RPM the torque peak comes in at... 3,000 rpm for both.

To put that in perspective, the new Ecotec 4.3 liter V6 in the Silverado makes its peak 305 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm while the 5.3 makes its peak torque at 4,100 rpm.

The old 3.0 liter V6 in the Lacrosse actually had to be revved way more than either of these Ecoboost engines. It made 255hp @ 6900 RPM and 217 lb-ft @ 5100 RPM and nary a turbo in sight!

Even our 1.4T in the Encore rarely crests 3,200 rpm in daily driving while the 2.4 liter CR-V regularly needs to tickle 4,000.

[G. David Felt]

I do not have an issue with the torque of these motors, just that you have to rev much higher to get all the ponies. This makes me call them a high reving motor.

I personally think that horsepower and Torque should go in parallel so that as you build torque, you also build horsepower and you do not have to go even higher to just get that power.

[Drew Dowdell]

I do not have an issue with the torque of these motors, just that you have to rev much higher to get all the ponies. This makes me call them a high reving motor.

I personally think that horsepower and Torque should go in parallel so that as you build torque, you also build horsepower and you do not have to go even higher to just get that power.

.... the fail here... it makes my head hurt.

Horsepower is a marketing tool and nothing more. Torque is what moves you. More torque at a lower RPM is a good thing. Horsepower is a measurement of torque over time (rpm).... There is no need to spin these engines up because the torque comes on low.

HP = (torque X RPM) / 5252

For the 2.3, that means at 3000 RPM where the engine is making its most torque, the engine is making 171 horsepower.

For the 2.0, that means at 3000 RPM where the engine is making its most torque, the engine is making 154 horsepower.

For the 4.3, that means at 3900 RPM where the engine is making its most torque, the engine is making 226 horsepower... BUT you have to spin it up an extra 900 RPM to get that HP....

At 3,000 rpm however, the 4.3 V6 only makes about 270 lb-ft meaning the horsepower output at that speed is about 154 horsepower.

At 3,000 rpm, the 4.3 V6 produces equal horsepower to a 2.0 Ecoboost and less horsepower than the 2.3 Ecoboost.

You're not after peak horsepower... you're after peak torque.. and you want it as low as possible on the Tach.

BTW, the Tesla Model S makes its maximum torque of 315 lb-ft at ZERO rpm (software limited). No matter what the torque is, at ZERO RPM the horsepower is ZERO..... but 315 ft-lbs @ ZERO RPM (impossible in any internal combustion engine btw) will rip your eyelids out when you let off the brake.

[Drew Dowdell]

I personally think that horsepower and Torque should go in parallel so that as you build torque, you also build horsepower and you do not have to go even higher to just get that power.

BTW... this is mathematically impossible.

[G. David Felt]

Drew, Sorry to make your head hurt, I understand trust me that Torque is what moves an auto. I wish Marketing would not get so hung up on HP. Maybe since I have never run a stock engine, I tend to not think about it, but for all my engines, they tend to go in parrallel the HP and Torque and continue even when HP crosses over the flat torque band. My v8's that I have all tend to give max HP just within 500 to 1000RPMs past max torque and as such when I see an engine that needs to go 2-3K RPM past max torque I just shake my head as to why. Perfect example is how marketing send the message that you have to have so much more HP at high speeds to keep the auto going BS. You see the Italian Pony as one example of an auto with 600+ HP and just barely 400lbs torque.

I think the Corvette shows the perfect blend.

Sorry for hijacking the thread and causing confusion, my head is in a fog today, not feeling well so probably not communicating clearly.

Sorry.

[Drew Dowdell]

The long and short of it is this.... you will not have to rev these Ecoboosts to move them. They are not even high reving engines... both making their peak horsepower 500rpm lower than the Corvette V8.

[riviera74]

OK. So why isn't the Encore with a turbo 4cyl so that the car can actually move? The Encore needs torque right now.

[thedriver]

*yawn* Next.

[daves87rs]

Not bad.....

[Drew Dowdell]

OK. So why isn't the Encore with a turbo 4cyl so that the car can actually move? The Encore needs torque right now.

The Encore lacks direct injection and some displacement, but it moves ok. Buick is still selling more than they expected.

[Cory Wolfe]

I think it looks fine. It's nothing special, but it keeps Lincoln's tweaked look adequately fresh and attractive. The inside is much the same story, except for those wonderful buttons and knobs they've returned to the center stack. Ah... how delightful. Now, please do that across the board, Ford.

I do not have an issue with the torque of these motors, just that you have to rev much higher to get all the ponies. This makes me call them a high reving motor.

I personally think that horsepower and Torque should go in parallel so that as you build torque, you also build horsepower and you do not have to go even higher to just get that power.

.... the fail here... it makes my head hurt.

Horsepower is a marketing tool and nothing more. Torque is what moves you. More torque at a lower RPM is a good thing. Horsepower is a measurement of torque over time (rpm).... There is no need to spin these engines up because the torque comes on low.

HP = (torque X RPM) / 5252

For the 2.3, that means at 3000 RPM where the engine is making its most torque, the engine is making 171 horsepower.

For the 2.0, that means at 3000 RPM where the engine is making its most torque, the engine is making 154 horsepower.

For the 4.3, that means at 3900 RPM where the engine is making its most torque, the engine is making 226 horsepower... BUT you have to spin it up an extra 900 RPM to get that HP....

At 3,000 rpm however, the 4.3 V6 only makes about 270 lb-ft meaning the horsepower output at that speed is about 154 horsepower.

At 3,000 rpm, the 4.3 V6 produces equal horsepower to a 2.0 Ecoboost and less horsepower than the 2.3 Ecoboost.

You're not after peak horsepower... you're after peak torque.. and you want it as low as possible on the Tach.

BTW, the Tesla Model S makes its maximum torque of 315 lb-ft at ZERO rpm (software limited). No matter what the torque is, at ZERO RPM the horsepower is ZERO..... but 315 ft-lbs @ ZERO RPM (impossible in any internal combustion engine btw) will rip your eyelids out when you let off the brake.

Exactly. A good example would also be my Legacy vs. my Avalon. The Legacy with its 2.5L. turbocharger 4-cylinder produced 250 lb/ft @ 3600 RPM (and 250 hp @6000 RPM). The Avalon with its 3.5L. naturally aspirated V6 produces 260 lb/ft @4700 RPM (and 280 hp @6200). Each car weighs roughly the same (3435 lbs vs 3490 lbs). Let's say I'm driving up a moderate incline and trying to maintain 55 MPH. Right off the bat, you will find that the Legacy has no trouble maintaining speed in its top gear. If you switch to the Avalon, you will find that in order to maintain the same constant speed on the same incline, it must downshift a gear. This, despite the extra 2 cylinders, extra 10 lb/ft of torque, and extra 30 hp. That is the difference of torque that is available at low RPMs thanks to turbocharging.

[smk4565]

It isn't as ugly as most Lincolns but at the end of the day it is still a Ford Escape. If MKS is a sedan and MKX is a crossover you would think MKC must be a coupe, but not in Lincoln world.

The 2.3 liter eco boost will be in the Mustang, I could see them dumping all the naturally aspirated V6's across the Ford line up for that that engine.