The American brand Lincoln , belonging to the Ford car company, is in a difficult situation. While the luxury crossover segment is growing, Lincoln 's sales are falling, pushing the manufacturer to the brink of existence. Therefore, it absolutely needs to succeed, to which the MKC crossover, which has just been introduced, should help.
Last night, the Lincoln car company presented the first set of official photos of the new MKC crossover. It is based on the concept of the same name, which was revealed this January at the Detroit Auto Show. The MKC is the second of four all-new models on which the future of the brand depends. The first is the not-so-enthusiastically received MKZ sedan , and two more will follow by 2016.
The press release accompanying the official photos consists for the most part of singing the praises of the exterior design. Lincoln is trying to convince us that we won't find a nicer car in the segment. It is a reaction to the criticism of the car's worn-out appearance, which has descended on the brand in recent years. I personally like the new MKC very much, but the press release seems a bit desperate…
The interior of the car looks very high-quality and luxurious at first glance, expensive leather and real wood decor are installed. The steering wheel is completely new, which will gradually be extended to other models of the brand. The good news is that Lincoln has abandoned the attempt to make the center console one big touchpad and instead returned the good old buttons and rotary controls .
Among the interesting features of the equipment are a quality audio system with up to fourteen speakers , a multimedia system with the ability to pair with a phone and the possibility of voice control , seven standard airbags and more. The option to control the car remotely using a mobile phone through the MyLincoln Mobile application is also unique. You can check the status of the battery, fuel tank and tire pressure, plan engine start and shutdown, possibly heating and more. The application can also be used to call for assistance in the event of a breakdown or accident.
The Approach Detection system, which illuminates the entrance area, illuminates the door handles and also switches on the front and rear lights, when the driver approaches the car, is supposed to induce a feeling of luxury and a connection with the car.
The car's platform is a modified version of that used by the Ford Kuga ( Escape in the US). There are only two engines installed and both belong to the turbocharged EcoBoost family. The basis is a four-cylinder two-liter with an output of 240 horsepower and a torque of 366Nm . Customers can also choose a more powerful four-cylinder with a volume of 2.3 liters , a power of 275 horsepower and a torque of 407Nm .
Both engines are mated to an automatic transmission , and the MKC comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available for an extra charge. With all-wheel drive, the car is automatically equipped with the Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) system, which monitors the road surface and adapts the chassis settings accordingly. The driver can intervene in this via Lincoln Drive Control by preselecting one of the three driving modes – Normal, Comfort and Sport. CCD is also available for front wheels for an additional fee.
From the safety electronic systems, the press release of the automaker mentions the presence of, for example, the Lane-Keeping System , driver attention control, collision warning with the support of the braking system, or the Blind Spot Information System . The comfort system is the parking assistant with the ability to also drive out of the parking space.
The all-new Lincoln MKC will go into production in the second quarter of next year, and customers will be able to meet it in the brand's showrooms from the summer of 2014. The official price list has not yet been published. The car's competitors will include models such as the BMW X3 , Audi Q5 , Mercedes-Benz GLK , Acura RDX and, after its introduction, also the Porsche Macan , Lexus LF-NX or the as-yet-unnamed Cadillac .
##L-MKC2015##
Source: Lincoln
