LINCOLN’S NEW Z
2013 Lincoln MKZ

Pictures by Roy Nakano The average age of the Lincoln buyer has been getting steadily older, and the number of buyers have been in decline. This has the carmaker worried, and so it’s introduced the most stylish and youthful car in eons. Coinciding with the New York International Auto Show debut, Lincoln chose the J. Paul Getty Museum for its simultaneous, west coast debut of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ. With the new MKZ, Lincoln’s future begins. “The new Lincoln MKZ represents the future of Lincoln in both style and substance,” said Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “It is the first Lincoln created by a dedicated team in its new Lincoln Design Studio.” Among the highlights of the new MKZ, the car incorporates one of the world’s widest-opening retractable glass roofs. The interior includes standard Active Noise Control, genuine wood trim, full LCD instrumentation, heated front seats and SYNC® with MyLincoln Touch™. The new MKZ is offered with a choice of three powertrains, including a new hybrid that can run in pure electric mode in excess of 60 miles per hour. Lincoln is betting that the MKZ Hybrid remains America’s most fuel-efficient premium sedan. The standard MKZ powertrain will be a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine that is said to deliver the performance of a traditional V6 along with expected segment-leading fuel economy. Lincoln says this engine delivers a projected 20-percent increase in highway fuel economy versus the 2012 MKZ. Non-hybrid models now come with a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with Sport and sequential manual modes, and standard paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES The new Lincoln MKZ offers the Lane Keeping System, a suite of advanced driving aids that helps drivers avoid drifting from their lane due to distraction or fatigue. Consisting of Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert and Driver Assist, the Lane Keeping System utilizes a mono-vision camera integrated into the rearview mirror to read the lane markers ahead. Available radar-based (ultrasonic) driving aids further enhance the driving experience. Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support each use a long-range radar system that scans in front of the vehicle, automatically adjusting to traffic speed and providing a visual and audible alert when a potential front end collision is detected. Active park assist, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with cross-traffic alert use multiple short-range wide-angle radar sensors. Each function provides a distinct benefit, ranging from making parallel parking easier to warning of oncoming vehicles while backing out of a parking space.

LINCOLN’S NEW DESIGN DIRECTION Retractable Panoramic Roof The Retractable Panoramic Roof is a new signature feature for Lincoln. The 15.2-square-foot glass panel offers one of the largest openings available on any current sedan. The design maintains the structural strength of a steel-roof vehicle. Click here to view a video on the feature. Throwing out the old Any hopes that Lincoln would return to the iconic designs of the 1960s Continental are dashed for now. The new MKZ carries no design cues from that era. The 1938 Lincoln Zephyr-inpired split-wing grille remains on this Lincoln. Nearly identical to the MKZ Concept shown at the North American International Auto Show in January, the production version leaps into the future with no looking back. “We call it elegant simplicity," said Max Wolff, Lincoln Design director. "We wanted the new MKZ to be inviting and approachable. We moved away from traditional luxury cues and complex designs. A sweeping roofline is reminiscent of the classic Jaguar XKS. Lincoln says the new design is 10 percent more aerodynamic than the model it replaces. “The MKZ shape is a vision completed with just a few strokes,” said Wolff. The crafted headlamp assemblies include bright, energy-efficient LED lighting. The front headlights turn in sync with the steering wheel, providing enhanced visibility. At the rear, LED technology enabled a thin, distinctive full-width taillamp graphic.

THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE Standard luxury amenities include an 11-speaker audiophile entertainment system and cabin air filtration, plus heated front seats (with the driver's featuring 10-way power controls), remote start capabilities and Active Noise Control. To make the MKZ exceptionally quiet, Active Noise Control electronically targets frequencies and reduces their intensity. To improve the refinement of the driving experience, other frequencies are subtly enhanced. The available THX® II Certified Car Audio System is a Lincoln-exclusive that features 700-watts, 14-channels and 14-speakers. THX audio engineers spent more than 200 hours custom tuning the THX-certified equipment to the new MKZ’s interior. The result delivers home-theater surround sound to the road.

LINCOLN AT THE CROSSROADS There is no denying that the new MKZ is a looker. Arguably, it’s the best-looking new car for 2013 (along with its sister car, the soon-to-be-introduced all-new Fusion). Hands down, it represents one of Ford’s best new designs. With the new MKZ, however, Lincoln has virtually abandonment all the vestiges of the iconic Lincoln look of the 1960s. Whether this was the right move, only time will tell. The 2013 Lincoln MKZ enters the midsize luxury segment later this year. For more information about Lincoln products, go to www.lincoln.com