Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ

gregg_vw

And won't have its replacement ready without a big production gap.

driverdm

When they had the Zephyr concept, it was supposed to be introduced with the 3.5 engine. They've been talking about that 3.5 for years.

I worry for Ford. Indeed the Edge will be out this fall but the pricing seems like it will be off. THe Aviator (MDX) does not give a significant reason why to buy it over the Edge and let us not forget that the market is not holding still. Look at the Saturn Outlook, GM Arcadia, and Buick Enclave. It is going to get real hard if the Edge and MDX aren't priced competitively and Ford has made no secret that it does not know what pricing will be.

The Impala is miles better than a 500 and we won't even talk about what the Escalade is going to do to the Navi with 100 more hp and better gas mileage to boot.

Lincoln has good intentions but those pave the way to hell. Their concepts are genuinely beautiful i.e. Aviator, Zephyr, MKS, but production normally falls far shorter. Look at what Buick is doing. They saw the reacton to the Enclave and are bringing the SUV out pretty much the same as the concept.

bigt

About 2 months into it now and I am very happy so far. I pulled up outside a store and noticed a few guys looking at my Zephr, I received a call as I was walking in the store so I stood outside the store around the corner. When I ended my call a group of guys were standing around my car taking a look. I have the light interior with the blonde wood. Everytime I open the door I get a comment. Never had that before with a car. I keep hearing all these comments about power. It appears to have enough for what I want to do!

pmerk28

The idea the any LINCOLN product can compete with the Acura TL is silly. THe Zephyr can't no matter how many times they plan to rename it. THe MKS won't either. Lincoln will be dead in 5 years.

scootertrash

I find it somehow curious that the Zephyr looks so much larger in person than in pictures.

displacedtexan

"The idea the any LINCOLN product can compete with the Acura TL is silly. THe Zephyr can't no matter how many times they plan to rename it. THe MKS won't either. Lincoln will be dead in 5 years."

Care to elaborate?

ace35

I totally agree, this car has a very nice presence in person. I saw it at the auto show about a month ago in Raleigh, NC. It commands respect despite what people say about it, i think it's looks are understated and elegant from any angle especically the front and rear. I also saw one on the interstate one night, and the tailights are awsome @ night time, very very nice. The only thing that i can honestly say i didnt like about this car is the way you feel when you sit in the car, the cowl is set so high, its like you have to sit up to look over the dash. But all in all a very nice vehicle from a design prospective.

gregg_vw

find it somehow curious that the Zephyr looks so much larger in person than in pictures. It is only 2 or 3 inches shorter than the Azera, Lincoln LS, Lexus GS, and Infiniti M, so it is really not a small car. I find it curious that Ford can design so many cars that initially look smaller than they really are.

savetheland

"The idea the any LINCOLN product can compete with the Acura TL is silly. THe Zephyr can't no matter how many times they plan to rename it. THe MKS won't either."

Agree on MKS. MKS will be based on more sophisticated platform than Acura. But in general take into account that Lincoln moved down-marked and now is essentially at the same level as Acura. So as sad it can be but Lincoln now competes with Acura, not with Infinity, Lexus or Cadillac

BTW Honda is going to downgrade Acura RL because it does not sell well.

pmerk28

Read the Car and Driver review on the Zephyr. Just about says it all. The idea that this car will get a younger set of buyers as Ford claims is a pipe dream. Acura is very much not an old mans car and never was. Lincolns are for 60 and over. And trust me I doubt anyone in my age group ( I'm 33) would consider an Acura a "downmarket" move from a Lincoln. Where I live Acura's, especially the TL are very popular and the drivers aren't 70 years old.

The only place I've seen the Zephyr is on a showroom floor. If they would have built the concept car exactly with a better motor and the 20 inch rims it featured it would have competed. If I would pull up in a TL my friends would say wow nice car. If a did the same in a Zephyr they may think I am 63 not 33. The interior in the Lincoln is for old men with the thick ugly steering wheel and dumb looking gauges with that stupid chrome trim.

The Acura RL is a mistake. It's too small for a flagship and a V6 ( no matter how good) doesn't cut it in a price point where buyers want a V8. Plus the 50,000 range buyers likes a more prestigious nameplate such as an E-Class Benz, and Audi A6 or an Infiniti M.

azazel

I'm 26 and love the Lincoln, loved the ls when it came out as well back in 2000. I have driven everything under the sun in the past month charger,300c,maxima,altima,zephyr,camry,avalon,passat,lexus is,bmw 3,benz c,acura tl,cadillac cts,infiniti g35,Audi a4, any ways you get the point just about anything I can think of with 4 doors in the mid 30's range and still find the Lincoln to be the best for me out of all of them. To me the interior build is just as important as the exterior look and the Acura just feels cheap to me on the interior. I have read so many website and consumer reviews that it makes me dizzy, but nothing is a substitute for real world experience behind the wheel of any of these cars. IDK maybe I'm just the exception to the norm not wanting the "it" car for the time being the chrysler 300, and still consider Lincoln to be a luxury model to compete with cadillac or any other foreign brand ie: bmw,benz,lexus. I don't care what my peers think about the vehicle I drive because it is all about what is best car for me, but to each his own

pmerk28

26 and like the Lincoln? Well that's what Ford is trying to do, get younger buyers. I have a feeling you're going to be alone on that Island though. Ford wants the Island to be full of people like you

savetheland

Acura is an Acura. It is a FWD sedan based on plebeian Accord platform. And that’s it. It is not a luxury. Premium FWD car like Zephyr - may be, but not a luxury. I drove Acura TSX and TL. Those are not equal to German luxury cars, even to Audi. Not equal to Cadillac. I dare to say – not even equal to Lexus, and well not even to Infiniti.

Young people choose less expensive sort of cars not exactly luxury cars because are limited on funds and are less demanding. Luxury cars are made for more mature drivers who can appreciate luxury. I mean when I was young I did not care about luxury at all. Now I care more, but still price is very important for me. My son is happy to have Ford Focus and he loves it and I find it too cheap and cramped.

Regarding Lincoln. They chose to abandon RWD platform. But at least they chose Volvo platform. Volvo is not a luxury marque, but Volvo platforms are more solid and more premium than anything from Honda.

displacedtexan

"Read the Car and Driver review on the Zephyr. Just about says it all."

I have, and as I said on the LS forum, I think the "Short Take" is poorly written, and not because I disagree with it. It's short on objective measures and long on subjective opinions of styling. Unfortunately, too many people will be swayed by someone else's opinion instead of deciding for themselves and won't give the car a chance.

pmerk28

the problem is Lincoln (Ford) has press releases saying this car-The Zephyr- will attract younger buyers. The Acura TL is a natural competitor as they are in the same price range and the TL has the younger buyers Lincoln wants. So does the Lexus ES. Lets's face it almost anyone has younger buyers than Lincoln.

The Zephyr in my eyes does really nothing to take a potential purchase away from my wife and I for a TL or an ES or a CTS. Why are they making one in "Dune Pearl" aka brown so some grandpa can ride around in one with a Landau top? Is it because Lincoln really knows it can't get younger buyers and doesn't want to offend it's loyal age 65 and older customer base? Maybe they will offer white walls with the "Dune Pearl" colored model to complete the youth move. Can we have pin striping on it too?

They needed to make the concept car exterior and the 20 inch rims/tires. A more youthful interior, especially the steering wheel, and a motor producing 250 horses.

scootertrash

Your post is very timely.
I saw a Zephyr yesterday with a fake convertible top and those snazzy white and gold Vogue Tyres.-- Sporty as my plaid slacks!
Indeed, it was pinstriped and was what color?--Yep, dune pearl.

buckwheat

Aside from Tony Swan hanging onto a tenuous position at Car&Driver and his opinions notwithstanding he is at least consistent in his bias, this is what he had to say back in Dec. when he wrote about the Zephyr for the Detroit Free Press, http://tinyurl.com/akt53 his latest drivel for Car&Driver is an extension of the same theme http://tinyurl.com/hx9ga

TONY SWAN is a senior editor at Car and Driver magazine. He was executive editor. But in Feb. things changed, in his own words "I am not retiring." I plan to remain on the Car and Driver staff as a senior editor. I was not pushed. As with John Phillips a few years back, I am merely stepping aside as exec. This move has been in the works for months.

He was Detroit Free Press auto critic from 1993 to 2000 and remains a regular contributor

displacedtexan

I saw a Zephyr yesterday with a fake convertible top and those snazzy white and gold Vogue Tyres

Here's what I think of that:
and what it means for Lincoln if they let that go on: :sick:

azazel

Yeah your probably right merk, Lincoln will probably butcher the MKS same as the Zeph to cut costs which is really sad. Lincoln could have some real contenders on their hands otherwise.

azazel

In that same vein if acura is not luxury because it is the sister company of Honda then neither is lexus,infiniti,cadillac,audi,or lincoln since they are just "expensive" toyota,nissan,chevy,vw,ford. The only true luxury brands would be benz & bmw. Or for the super rich rolls royce & bentley

pmerk28

The MKS is already getting lukewarm reviews based on it's looks. Why can't Ford learn from Chrysler and the 300? Make a car that looks bold and give it the option to have a POWERFUL kick butt motor (Hemi) and the American public will look past the reliability of Japan and the Marquee of Europe and buy it. It's not like the 300 reinvented the wheel here people. It has an ok interior and will probably not be very reliable. But it looks wild and has loads of power if you want it.

People like myself WANT to love American cars like a Lincoln Zephyr or the MKS. I loved the concept Zephyr. Loved it. It just seems to me that Ford thinks we are morons. First off the Zephyr is not a great value. With all the goodies the thing is pushing 34-35K. I don't want or need navigation because like 98% of us I drive the same places every day. Even so the Zeph clocks in at about 32-33K with a too soft ride and a motor that doesn't excite anyone. It looks pleasant but it needed to look great or at least be a love it/hate it type like the 300 is or the Charger.

Zephyr's aren't selling because they don't LOOK like the concept car did and they don't have the POWER under the hood. The concept car, not offered in old mans's colors, with a NEW powerful fuel efficient V6 and the 20 inch rim/tire combo WOULD have gotten us into the showrooms. Instead Ford rushed it out as a dressed up Milan/Fusion and expected younger buyers to go for the Lincoln nameplate. Like I said, in it's current form there is no way I'd buy this car over a TL, ES 350 or Caddy CTS. BTW I would buy the Mercury Milan it's actually a good value, looks better to me than the Fusion.

pmerk28

">http://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-Lincoln-Zephyr-RA-Flags-1600x1200.htm

pmerk28

http://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-Lincoln-Zephyr-FA-Studio-1280x960.htm

navigator89

Looks pretty neat.

http://www.fusionunleashed.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=390

savetheland

Acura took design cues from Alfa. Young people may like Acura because it is not as stodgy as normal Japanese luxury car and not as arrogant and expensive as German cars. It has airy bright cabin almost to the point being kitsch. Someone calls it “Tokyo at night”, designed similar to Asian electronics (what I do not like). But young people like it. Also TSX has I4 engine which improves handling.

Mature drivers prefer more restrained and tasteful interiors. BTW TSX’s/TL’s cabin is identical to Accord’s. I actually find Accord interior more tasteful. TL is a barge probably similar to Zephyr. I never drove Zephyr but can believe they tuned it to be barge-like because it is a Lincoln. Lincoln name still is associated with real expensive luxury. Now they want to downgrade it intentionally to attract younger crowd. I do not approve it because Lincoln already has the heritage. They could create a new marque for this purpose or do it with Mercure which do not have image and very uncertain heritage. Image change does not happen overnight anyway.

displacedtexan

"Young people may like Acura because it is not as stodgy as normal Japanese luxury car and not as arrogant and expensive as German cars. It has airy bright cabin almost to the point being kitsch. Someone calls it “Tokyo at night”, designed similar to Asian electronics (what I do not like).

Mature drivers prefer more restrained and tasteful interiors."

I totally agree with you here. "Kitsch" is a good word to describe it.

"...TL is a barge probably similar to Zephyr. I never drove Zephyr but can believe they tuned it to be barge-like because it is a Lincoln."

Actually, one of the things that turned me off of the TL (besides the dealership) was the overly harsh ride. I got the impression they were trying too hard not to be soft, like the Lexus ES330, and more European. IMO they went too far. The Zephyr had a better balance of handling and ride comfort.

"Lincoln name still is associated with real expensive luxury.

...Image change does not happen overnight anyway."

Hmmm - I don't know that the Lincoln name is still associated with real expensive luxury, except perhaps among my parent's generation. I think it lost that reputation, along with Cadillac, in the '80's. You're right, it doesn't happen overnight, and it didn't then. But it happened. Getting it back may be a longer road to walk.

BTW - I've decided I'm glad Lincoln is changing the name of this car. "Zephyr" is too much work to type out. I keep missing the "y."

ANT14

LINK-Ford Media

displacedtexan

In the last two weeks I’ve either seen four or five different Zephyrs, or three different ones several times, on the road or in a parking lot (one at Church – I parked next to it to get a better look and to show my wife, who just rolled her eyes since we parked on the far edge of the lot): a white one, a red one, and a black one. It looks very elegant in a dark color.

heavensoldier

I don't know why people on this forum are talking about the zephyr! It must be a good car lol. Most people who talk about the car probabaly ever drove it, I'm sure I'll get the 2007 zephyr God willing. I test drove it, and it was fine to me. God Bless.

displacedtexan

"I don't know why people on this forum are talking about the zephyr!"

Uh, becuase it's the Zephyr forum?