2008 Lincoln MKX

Modern Lincoln Design (from Ford Press Release)
Standard features include: Lincoln Sync™ communications and entertainment system; Heated and cooled front seats; Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Power locks; Auto-dimming rearview mirror; 4-power points; Remote keyless entry; Power windows with driver and passenger one-touch up/down; Two-speed rear wiper; Privacy glass; Heated, dual power mirrors with memory; 18-inch machined aluminum wheels; Air conditioning; Premium AM/FM stereo/clock/CDx6/MP3 with 6 speakers and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio with 6-month pre-paid subscription; Auxiliary audio input jack; Floor mats; Overhead console; Manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel; Leather wrapped steering with genuine wood accents, speed control and redundant audio controls; AdvanceTrac® with RSC®; Belt-Minder®; Child safety locks; Height adjustable safety belts; LATCH; Personal Safety System®; Reverse Sensing System; SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system; Perimeter anti-theft alarm; Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Optional features include: 20-inch chrome-clad wheels; Panoramic Vista Roof™; Roof rack side rails; Heated rear seats; Rear seat DVD entertainment system; THX II-Certified audio system with 14 speakers; Voice-activated, DVD-based navigation system. Elite Package adds: Voice-activated DVD-based navigation system; Panoramic Vista Roof™; THX II-Certified audio system.

Limited Edition of 2008 Lincoln MKX includes: Chrome exterior handles; ‘Limited Edition’ vehicle badge; Charcoal Black interior with fineline Ebony wood; Ebony floor carpet and floor mats with logo; Premium leather seating in Charcoal Black with Medium Light Stone inserts and piping; Stitched Lincoln Star on the first-row headrests; all-new 20-inch chrome-clad wheels. Monochrome Limited Edition includes: All features of the Limited Edition plus a monochromatic body color grille.

Ultimate Package includes: 18-inch, 8-spoke chrome-clad aluminum wheels; Adaptive headlamps; EasyFold™ second-row remote seat release; Power liftgate; Universal garage door opener; Premium leather seating with contrast piping; Below floor cargo management system. Class II Trailer Tow/Pre Package includes: Class II receiver hitch; Engine oil cooler; Larger radiator; Upgraded cooling fan; Upgraded battery; Wiring harness with 4-Pin connector.

2009 Lincoln MKS

If you’ve been waiting for the all-new 2009 MKS with quiet patience, then the new Lincoln flagship is for you. This is a car all about refined luxury for the responsible types who want a little pampering and a little power—but it must be guilt-free.Ford will start building the full-size luxury sedan at its Chicago plant next summer.

Volume should be in the 40,000 range annually, with a starting price below $38,000.
On the style spectrum, the MKS lands between the Lincoln MKZ (formerly Zephyr) and the sexy MKR concept that kept bringing us back to the Lincoln stand at the Detroit show in January to double-check that it was really wearing a Lincoln badge.

The MKS will launch with a new 3.7-liter V-6 that won’t be shared with Ford or Mercury brand vehicles, says Derrick Kuzak, group vice president responsible for global product development. It produces 270 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, which is up 20 lb-ft over Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 upon which it is derived. It is similar to the 3.7-liter engine in the Mazda CX-9. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift to manually select gears.

And for the 2010 model year, the MKS will get a new gasoline direct-injection turbo-charged V-6, the start of the rollout of the TwinForce powertrain initiative Ford has promised to boost performance in a fuel-efficient manner. The Lincoln will be the first vehicle to offer the automaker’s new DI technology that we knew was coming, after the automaker threw a twin-turbo direct-injection 3.-5-liter V-6 in the rear-drive MKR concept. That engine was described as producing 415 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The MKS may not be twin-turbo, but the writing is on the wall for future models.

2008 Lincoln Mark LT Review

What's New for 2008
The 2008 Lincoln Mark LT gets a few new features. An optional rearview camera eases parking, while standard satellite radio provides additional audio entertainment. Remote engine start (a dealer-installed option) is also newly available.

Introduction
Americans love pickup trucks. They also like luxury. So it makes sense that there are some people out there who want both. For them, there's the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT luxury pickup. Based on the full-size Ford F-150 pickup, the Mark LT gains a bit of differentiation via its big Lincoln waterfall grille, additional chrome trim, special taillights and flashy wheels. The Lincoln offers a lot of luxury for the money, but it doesn't take much scrutiny to realize that the LT has but one degree of separation from the F-150. Disappointingly, the LT has the same basic interior design and hard plastic interior panels, and doesn't really offer any features that you can't get on the Ford. Look at an F-150 King Ranch and you'll be looking at pretty much the same truck.

Powertrains and Performance
A 5.4-liter V8 that makes 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque is matched to a four-speed automatic transmission. Although it has a smooth power delivery, the Ford-sourced V8 makes more noise than forward progress. With only four widely spaced gears to work with, the Mark LT takes 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, nearly 3 seconds slower than the Escalade EXT.
Although it's not quick, the Mark LT has enough torque to handle typical towing jobs with ease. Towing capacity, at 8,900 pounds, is more than respectable.