Lincoln auto news

Opinion: Can rivalry between Caddy and Lincoln heat up again?

Cadillac is getting ready to launch the much anticipated rear-drive ATS and new flagship XTS this year. The Lincoln MKZ concept shown at this month's Detroit Auto Show was very well received, and will be followed by six more new and refreshed vehicles by 2014.

Earlier this year, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson told reporters he thought "holy water" should be sprinkled on the Lincoln brand. Ford's marketing chief Jim Farley dropped the "F" bomb on GM in Bill Vlasic's "Once Upon A Car" book, and says brands like Caddy, Lexus and BMW have become "big box" retailers.

AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley, in his HuffingtonPost Grand Blvd. column, looks at whether the old rivalry between Caddy and Lincoln can be rekindled.

Study: Ford takes top honors in Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards

Polk has handed out its annual Automotive Loyalty Award for 2011, and Ford walked away with a total of six honors, including two of the highest. The Dearborn-based automaker took home the top nod in both the Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer award as well as the Overall Loyalty to Make award categories. The manufacturer received both awards in 2010 as well. Ford also received the African American Market Loyalty to Make, and the Ford F-Series and Ford Escape brought down wins in the Mid/Full-Size Pickup and Compact SUV categories, respectively. Additionally, the Lincoln MKZ drove away with the Luxury Car category.

Polk prides itself on organizing and distributing the industry's only fact-based owner loyalty award, and the organization analyzes over 4.5 million household records and consumer transactions each year to determine the winners. Polk also examines state registration and lease information.

Ford wasn't the only automaker to receive a node from the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. Chrysler took home its fair share of hardware. Polk awarded Jeep its Most Improved Loyalty to Make award, and the Dodge Challenger and Chrysler Town and Country took home trophies in the Sports Car and Minivan segments. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford takes top honors in Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards

Spy Shots: 2013 MKZ first Lincoln to get massive retractable roof?

Our elite squad of spy photographers have managed to take a few quick photos of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ, and from the looks of things, the luxury sedan may have one very special trick up its sleeve when it hits the market: a large, retractable glass roof. Taking a close look at the vehicle's rear glass, we can clearly see a very squared-off window with visible tracks down both sides. That may indicate a mechanism capable of retracting and supporting the roof section as it moves back.

If that turns out to be the case, the 2013 Lincoln MKZ will boast a roof similar to what's found on the Porsche 911 Targa. Unfortunately, the spy shots don't show the roof in the retracted position, which means we'll have to use our imagination until the vehicle gets closer to an official unveil at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

Video: Lincoln MKZ Concept arrives smokin' hot in Detroit

Lincoln dropped plenty of jaws with the company's MKZ Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, but the vehicle may have been a bit hotter than the company intended. Something seems to have gone awry with the showcar's electronics as it sat on the show floor. At some point, thin puffs of smoke began wafting from the driver's side door panel. No actual flames were spotted or damage reported, but something tells us someone is going to have some explaining to do in Dearborn (the screencap above appears to be an unnerved Joel Piaskowski, Ford's exterior design boss).

The Lincoln MKZ Concept heralds things to come from the production version of the vehicle set to debut later this year. The vehicle features the resurrection of the push-button transmission, the likes of which we haven't seen on a production vehicle since the late '60s. Lincoln promises to roll out drivetrain details as we get closer to the 2012 New York Auto Show. Here's hoping they can keep the vehicle from going all flambé between now and then. In the mean time, hit the jump to see the video of the concept smoking on stage.

Continue reading Lincoln MKZ Concept arrives smokin' hot in Detroit

Detroit: Lincoln MKZ Concept looks to kickstart brand renaissance

Lincoln isn't inspiring many purchase decisions these days, as the luxury make sits in dead last in sales. That could change with the introduction of a few key products, starting with the 2013 Lincoln MKZ.

Ford marketing boss Jim Farley introduced the MKZ Concept at the Detroit Auto Show, and we very much like what we see. The concept, which should look a whole lot like the production model that goes on sale later this year, really pops on the elevated turn table. The rakish, full-length glass roof retracts so all four passengers can enjoy open air. We heard the word "bespoke" a few too many times during the presentation, but Lincoln promises a more individualized purchase and ownership experience.

Lead designer Max Wolff poured over the details of the luxurious interior, including unique stitching, individualized seating for four, push-button gear selector and a floating center stack that was inspired by modern suspension bridges. Wolff also pointed out that future Lincoln models will be designed at the automaker's new design studio in Dearborn, which employs 180 dedicated designers and engineers.

We don't have any information on powertrains, but we're expecting the production car to be released with all the info at the New York Auto Show. Hit the jump to read over the Lincoln press release, and feel free to peruse the high-resolution images from the Detroit Auto Show.

Continue reading Lincoln MKZ Concept looks to kickstart brand renaissance

Official: Lincoln MKZ Concept gives sleeker shape to familiar face

The Lincoln brand has been in the doldrums for years now, but Ford's luxury arm is looking to stage a comeback (again) starting with the all-new Lincoln MKZ. The brand's mid-size offering will be arriving in dealerships later this year, and we're getting our first glimpse of what's to come with this, the MKZ Concept that makes its debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

The MKZ Concept features an all-new clean sheet design that head designer Max Wolff calls "simplicity with just a few strokes." The MKZ continues to feature the latest version of Lincoln's split wing front fascia, with a pair of tidy, multi-unit LED lights that flow out out of the grille. The body side design features a sharp crease at the beltline that helps the concept look wider and more athletic, and looking at the MKZ concept in profile reveals a sweeping roofline that looks unique and refined. We're big fans of the svelte side mirrors, which are about as thick as a strip steak and completely independent from the A-pillar. The concept also features a stunning, full glass roof that integrates into the body structure.

The mirrors and the lightly tinted glass roof won't necessarily make their way to production (along with those oversized wheels), but the proportions of this MKZ is likely a spot-on match for the production model. Lincoln tells us that the concept features a 112-inch wheelbase - five inches shorter than the 2012 model. The concept is also wider than the 2012 model by more than an inch.

The extra length should allow for a lot more interior volume, but many concept models show off a cabin that is more Buck Rodgers than production-ready. That's not the case with the MKZ concept, as Lincoln chose to show off duds that are likely very close to the model we'll soon find in dealerships. Among the interesting touches are a dash that features rich materials and beautiful wood accents, a new steering wheel design that features perforated leather and a new take on MyLincoln Touch.

The center IP ditches the analog gauges in favor of a ten-inch thin film transistor LED instrument panel with sharp-looking graphics. The center stack shows of an eight-inch LCD screen with the now familiar MyLincoln Touch graphics, plus a touch-sensitive and knob-free set of HVAC controls. The most interesting part about the center console is the absence of a shift lever. Transmission controls are instead aligned vertically along the left edge of the stack, clearing up oodles of space for front row occupants. The center console also houses the push-button start and glove box release buttons.

Ford hasn't given much information about the mechanicals under the hood of the concept vehicle, but the MKZ will feature the same Lincoln Drive Control and Continuously Controlled Damping adjustable suspension as the 2013 MKT and MKS. Hit the jump to read over the Lincoln press release, and be sure to peruse the high-resolution images in the gallery above.

Continue reading Lincoln MKZ Concept gives sleeker shape to familiar face

Detroit: Lincoln teases 2013 MKZ on Facebook

Lincoln will debut its redesigned 2013 MKZ on Tuesday morning at the Detroit Auto Show, but it's starting the strip tease today by posting a photo of what appears to be the car's rear deck lid and full-width tail-lamp on its Facebook page. The new MKZ will be a real test for how committed Ford is to differentiating Lincoln products from the Blue Oval-badged vehicles with which they share so many parts. We've already shown you a sneak peek of the 2013 Ford Fusion, which will be fully revealed first thing on Monday morning at the Detroit show. We'll have to wait until Tuesday morning, however, to find out how differentiated these two sister cars ultimately are.

Report: How Kim Jong-il's final ride came to be in a Lincoln

The funeral of Kim Jong-il made for a big story internationally, but in true Autoblog fashion, we were just as interested in the classic cars that figured prominently in the procession. Of particular interest was a 1970s Lincoln limousine that carried the deceased leader's casket - but not because it was some sort of rare classic that would fetch millions at Barrett Jackson.

Instead, many wondered how the North Koreans managed to obtain the vehicle in the first place. After all, the U.S. and North Korea aren't exactly cozy, as evidenced by the 58-year old armistice that is still in effect. Was it a Russian ride that was converted to look like a Lincoln? Was it a genuine Lincoln smuggled into the country?

The good folks at TheDetroitBureau.com did some digging, and they think they've found the answer. TDB contacted the former head of Ford of Japan to ask how the vehicle could have ended up in North Korean possession, and the answer could stem from a rogue dealer from Japan. Their source claims that one or more Japanese Ford dealers was rumored to be shipping vehicles to North Korea, in spite of Japanese laws that forbid exports to the communist country.

There is no way of knowing if this educated guess is the definitive explanation of how Kim Jong-il's Lincoln ended up in North Korea, but it's certainly as as good as any we have heard.

Report: Classic cars lead funeral procession of Kim Jong-il [w/video]

The funeral of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il triggered a suitably elaborate procession in Pyongyang. Immense crowds in the tens of thousands braved freezing temperatures to bid the leader farewell as a parade of classic Mercedes-Benz and Lincoln limousines rolled through the city's snow-covered streets. According to news reports, citizens were enlisted to help clear the 40-mile parade route of deep snow ahead of the carefully choreographed procession. Only a few military vehicles were on hand flanking the leader's funeral hearse. An additional artillery salute is scheduled for Thursday alongside a three-minute moment of silence followed by the nation's trains and sea vessels sounding their horns in unison at noon.

Kim Jong-il's youngest son, Kim Jong-un, is expected to take control of the country with his aunt, Kim Kyong-hui, and his uncle, Jang Song-thaek serving in advisory roles. Kim Jong-un is expected to continue to push his father's military-first policy as the country moves toward becoming a legitimate nuclear power. Hit the jump to watch videos of the procession and check out our gallery below.

Continue reading Classic cars lead funeral procession of Kim Jong-il [w/video]

Report: Lincoln getting its own ad agency?

Assuming the Mayans were not correct and there will still be a world in 2013 where people buy cars, Lincoln plans to be there commencing its rebirth: the 2013 MKZ overseen by Max Wolff will be the first model to reset the Lincoln brand. When there's a new story to be told, one often finds a new storyteller, so it's no surprise that Ford is setting up a "luxury-oriented boutique agency" in New York to handle Lincoln exclusively.

The unnamed firm is being assembled in conjunction with Team Detroit, the agency currently overseeing Ford and Lincoln. Heading it will be luxury-car consultant Cameron McNaughton as president with creative duties spearheaded by Chief Creative Officer Jon Pearce, a veteran of ad firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

Intriguingly, the New York branch will be a small ship, just 45 people running account management, creative development, media and strategic planning. Other disciplines like creative production will remain with Team Detroit in Dearborn. From this far out, it looks like they could have a team with right backgrounds; we'll find out soon enough if they can put it all together in the right way - perhaps they can start practicing by lowering the average age of the current MKZ buyer...

Follow the jump for a press release regarding the new agency.

Continue reading Lincoln getting its own ad agency?