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Well folks I just visited BON to refresh myself on the emm kay essssss. My take is still:
- Not bad looking outside. I like the front, unfortunately I hear that's the only thing they're going to change. BON Chicago folks say the nose of the emm kay arrrr will be grafted onto the essss. SO will they rename the essss to the arrrr then? And if not, the arrrr will be a bit anticlimactic, no? Or, wait, I just realized that they're going to put the arrrr grille on everything arent they? Just like Ford is putting the Fusion grill on everything. Well, since they've either fired or forced out most of their talent, I guess this would be the thing to do. Take whatever people seem to like and graft it onto everything they sell.
- The rest of the looks are OK, just too familiar, especially as we've all said, the tailights they're getting on the cheap from the defunct Oldsmobile factory.
- The interior is kinda nice. I sorta like the dash, though I'm not crazy about it. I would not call the guages 'retro' but I would not call them interesting, attractive or even sufficient (no temp or oil guage?) I would not choose to buy a car with those guages if I could help it. At least the nav screen will be where it belongs at the top of the center stack, not down where the ashtray used to be like the Milan (and zeee???) (Aside: the very last picture of the Essss interior, which was uploaded by BON staff, is NOT the Essss but is the Exxxx. I can tell quite easily by the cheap looking Tupperware door panel. And the cheap looking Edge-derived instrument pod. Once again, people who should know better are confused about which letter they're dealing with. Lincoln will you PLEASE put an end to this idiotic confusion and give these cars NAMES????
- Last but not least, there are several pictures of the shifter and while the alpha chars are not shown, there are just the right number of detents to screw up this car too and have the same ridiculous granny blue-hair shifter as in the rest of the BOLD NEW FORD products namely P-R-N-D-L Can anyone within the sound of my voice toss a clue as to why ANYONE under the age of 70 would buy a car with a shifter like this? Especially if it really does have an actual engine in it? THough the rumor is they still might put t V8 in it, I have my doubts. Sorry, gimme a G35 with either a paddle-shifter auto or a close ratio 6 speed manual. Lincoln will NEVER offer another manual and I doubt if they'll ever offer a paddle shifter either.
- Net result is that the esssss is totally off my radar. I'll let this company die on it's own. WIth this kind of product, they deserve it. I'll come to the funeral and say 'I told u so'.
To my eye, long overall lengths combined with short wheel bases, like the MKZ, look quite ungainly. Also, with similar suspension tuning, a long wheelbase provides a much better ride than a short wheelbase with no real-world handling negatives.
I have heard a few people talk about how great the MKZ rides. I find that puzzling because I found it to be pretty busy on rough streets. Not harsh at all, but certainly not as smooth as my non-sport LS. The MKZ has a very short wheelbase compared to other mid-size sedans. Even the new Malibu is 112" if I recall correctly.
As for the MKS, it has a wheelbase similar to a Crown Victoria but the overall length is quite a bit shorter so I don't find the MKS proportions to be awful. The front overhang on the concept was out of whack, though, IMO.
Yep, there are still some people swearing that the MKS will get a V8 but, like you, I have seen no hard evidence of that. The upcoming Hurricane is more compact than the modular 4.6/5.4 so I am keeping my fingers crossed. However, if I were to bet, I would say we are looking at a 3.7 V6 with no turbo and around 280-300 HP. Perhaps the TwinForce later down the road.
There's nothing wrong with D-L IF you also have manual control.
Both available at launch? Or the TT a bit later?
Actually, yes there is.
It confirms that a bunch of accountants designed the car and they discovered a way to save 50 cents per unit.
I suppose those same accountants decided a hood prop rod works just as good as struts too. And a way to save money on the Edge/MKX was to make the brake rotors an inch smaller too.
Perception is often more important than reality when it comes to marketing.
If you have manual, direct control of gear selection (manumatic) then why do you need anything other than D and L in automatic mode?
You don't. If the esss has manual controls then D-L or even just D is OK I guess.
If the 'pre-specs' said manumatic or something similar, I missed it. I also am missing any glimmer of anything but D-L in the photos I see. Most manumatics have a way to move the shifter into manual mode. Not the esss proto. I dont see any paddles or anything on the steering wheel either. Doesnt mean they're not there.
I'm now getting more freaked (if that's possible) out that they'll be putting the cowcatcher grille on this any everything they make from now until the cows come home. Does anyone else have any info on this? Have they gone totally insane because some people liked the arrrrr concept that now everything must look like it?
The grille will be a toned down version of the MKR grille from what I've heard. The MKR was designed to show the future styling direction for Lincoln - it wasn't a result of feedback on the MKR concept.
The Lincoln LS manumatic only had D5 and D4 outside of the manumatic mode and I never heard anyone complain about not having 3,2,1 available.
If they decide to use the floor shifter for manual control on the MKS, I would be fine with just D and a slot over to the side with +/- to activate the manual control.
In any case, I am very hopeful that the MKS is worth waiting for. It seems to me that ARM has a pretty good handle on things and is not afraid to make changes.
I'm at a loss as to why you (and others) think this. What has he done besides oversee more layoffs and bring back the name Taurus and (ugh) Sable?
Seriously, the Taurus name change (I like it), his comment that Lexus was the best car in the world, his questioning of current processes, communications between business units, and long established procedures, the comment about past Lincoln concepts never reaching production are a few things that come to mind. I know...words don't mean much unless he backs it up with hardware.
There hasn't been time for him to influence any current products. Maybe when his influence is felt on the products, I will not like it and go buy something else. Meanwhile, I am just trying really hard to stay loyal to the only car brand I have ever owned!
He has the right vision and he's asking all the right questions, and he appears to have the guts to pull the trigger.
Unfortunately you won't see any visible signs of the changes that are being made today for another year or so. The engineers and designers still have to execute but it appears that the stumbling blocks that were holding them back have been removed. So now it's put up or shut up.
With all due respect, and there is a lot due, the only visible change since he took over will be seen soon - the changing of the badges on the volvo ford and mercuries. The mere fact that he bought off on that idiocy and has not done anything about the Lincoln names makes me think he's simply more of the same. Would he have changed the name of the 767 to the biplane if BOeing marketing had suggested it would sell more of them? His Taurus decision suggests the answer may have been yes. (I know, stoopid analogy but u see the point I hope.)
Today in Dearborn 10,000 or so white (collar?) folks are being shown their last paychecks followed by the door. If you think this will help them produce more better product sooner, you are sadly mistaken. It will affect the bottom line, yeah. But their ability to meet market needs will be, if anything, reduced. And it was practically non existent, witness the 500, the Edge, the minivans, and on and on.
European Fords? They might help but remember, they are designed first and foremost for European needs and roads, which are different from American needs and roads.
I cant see thru his eyes like some of you can. I have no idea what his vision is. Except of course for the same meaningless platitudes that Mickey Mouse would have spouted had Bill Ford appointed him. However, AM better be able to see past ONE freaking grille for Fords and one for Lincolns just because everything else has fallen on it's face. And he better soon realize that Mercury is named for the GOd of Speed, not the God of Makeup and high heels, or failing that just take the brand out of its' and my misery.
It took Lutz about what 3 or 4 years to get GM on the right path. I dont think Mulally can do it that fast cause the only thing he appears to really KNOW about Ford is that they once had a winner named Taurus. Is that enough? I seriously doubt it. Wish it were different.
See u in the Caddy/Infiniti/Chevy showrooms for the next few years at least folks.
THe Frinch
http://flickr.com/photos/mikeevteev/111693997/
http://flickr.com/photos/soulposition/309953026/
All true - but the shorter wheelbase usually turns tighter too - a bit of a trade off.
All we're saying is he's doing all the right things internally (along with Fields and Horbury) to give Ford a chance. The engineers and designers still have to come through, but at least now they aren't saddled with bean counters and a board that refuses to spend capital and divisions that operate independently.
I am hoping that the tweaks to the MKS will make it pop more. Certainly, the grill change will help. The one on the concept (and its derivatives on the MKZ and MKLT) was too plain for a Lincoln.
However, that said, I hope they stick with one look or the other, either MKR or MKX, and it sounds like they're going MKR. It'll be interesting to see how they pull it off on the MKS. One of the criticisms of the MKS concept is that it looks smaller than it is. Maybe the MKR look will give it the big-car look.
As for replicating the MKR grill across the Lincoln line, I hope they don't simply glue the MKR grill on the front of every car, but vary the theme, and stick to that theme. Like Cadillac does with their grills. They all look a little different, but you know they're on the front of a Cadillac.
I'm optimistically looking forward to what comes out of Lincoln in the next couple of years.
I say, bring back the waterfall, get rid of the shaver look. And yes, decide on a theme and stick to it now. :lemon:
Anyway, I think the MSK is the best looking Lincoln in a very long time!
Here are some photos... Hope you enjoy!
Photos of the Lincoln MKS
The real MKS (coming next year) will be a bit more of a standout, even if still (like the MKZ) derivative of other brands. Lincoln will hope to get at least 50,000 annual sales out of it. Then the next Lincoln after that, if Lincoln still exists after that, will be more bold.
Sorry, for the invalid post... here are some photos of the MKX... MKX Photos
Any update on the MKS? Next autoshow it will appear in? Photos of any design changes? Time frame when it will go on sale?
I miss my Lincoln LS and I am eager to see the MKS and it's arrival. I may have to lease an MKX, I love the panoramic sun roof, until then.
It seems that Lincoln re-did the interrior comapred to the concept. Thats the biggest downside I saw of the previous version. Very cool though.
If there is no V8 (!) I hope that the V6 is Direct Injected and has more than 300hp...
I'm glad they seem to be moving away from the boxy MKZ interior. It's ok on the MKX but doesn't work for me on the cars.
It's supposed to have a 3.7L V6 standard which would be around 280 hp without any changes from the 3.5L. DI would put it close to 300. Then there's the TwinForce twin turbo V6 - not clear when it will be ready though.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiasts/Spy_Shots_and_Future_Cars/2009_Linco- ln_MKS_Spied.S178.A12231.html
Rocky
Yuup - kinda like introducing the 500 and the MKZ with the old Taurus engine eh?
From the signs we see, Mullaly will not make those mistakes. The advertising I see is aggressive finally. And his about face decisions on scrapping the Panther cars (very profitable still, and good hell, they need PROFIT) and the Taurus name give me hope....that there may be a Future Ford out there - but I don't know what it will look like.
As for Lincoln?? I drive by my L/M dealership every day on the way to work, and I see those grotesque Navigators (electric shavers) and the just ugly MKXs out there facing the street in ranks - and I wonder what the hell happened to Lincoln? My former favorite car.... I just shake my head. These are not Lincolns anymore. Can ARM fix Lincoln in time? I don't know, but it's completely broke to me.
The big question is, what is the next Lincoln sedan after they finally, FINALLY get the MKS to market. (BTW, did you know the 49 Ford was only 19 months from drawings to market??) I still think they would clean up by simply putting the 2002 Continental body (with the new divided grill) on the Panther platform. No one would much care how old the architecture was if the styling was cutting edge and the equipment level sumptuous.
I'm having a hard time visualizing the split grill on the 2002 Conti body, but no doubt it could be interesting, and polarizing (not bad things). Could they do the suicide doors on the Panther platform, though? If doable, I, too, would love to see it.
You're right, and the guys over at GM were having a stroke trying to figure out how the hell Ford did that! It could NEVER be done at GM, with all of their committees, checks, balances, cross-impact statements and division approvals. IT would take 19 months just to get the paperwork done before they ever started in engineering.
I still think they would clean up by simply putting the 2002 Continental body (with the new divided grill) on the Panther platform. No one would much care how old the architecture was if the styling was cutting edge and the equipment level sumptuous.
And, again I totally agree! I'm not sure I like the new divided grill look of Lincoln, but I suppose it's better than the new Remington Shaver look they're using now. That's the look that drove me to Cadillac and LExus.....
That's not sayng much. And it's looking plain to me.
Never thought I would be so excited about a feature that has been around for years. However, with Ford's recent D-L mentality, I didn't know what to expect from the MKS. Since the pic is apparently of the actual production car, it looks like one of my show-stoppers has been eliminated.
I suppose it cost too much to retrofit the LS electric parking brake but that would have been nice. Come to think of it - what do the other luxury brands use on their full size cars? Maybe they use foot brakes also.
I think it looks great - classy, elegant. Much better than the rectangular MKZ interior. In fact I hope the MKZ gets a similar treatment when it's redone for next fall.