Detroit, MI – As Ford unveiled its completely re-designed Lincoln MKZ Concept car at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Jim Farley, Ford Vice President of Global Marketing announced, “the reinvention is underway”. Not just a new vehicle, the Lincoln MKZ Concept represents a new brand for Lincoln. The automaker has a strong case for basing Lincoln’s updates on what Ford President and CEO Alan Mullally called “the new DNA” of the concept MKZ.
The all-new Lincoln MKZ Concept was designed to support the luxury customer base in the U.S., rather than compromising with a car that would have global appeal. The Lincoln MKZ Concept bears little resemblance to prior MKZ model years, its unique styling beginning with a distinctive split wing grill that tips seamlessly into a headlamp shape unlike anything Lincoln has released to date. That difference continues to the concept’s rear styling, with full width LED taillamps. The Lincoln MKZ Concept also sports a glass panoramic roof, fully illuminating the interior.
The interihttp://www.driveclassicford.com/wp-admin/post-new.php#edit_timestampor is reminiscent of the luxury Lincoln represented in prior years, with a champagne color scheme across rich and detailed stitching front to back. The MKZ concept boasts two LCD screens, one outsize eight-inch screen embedded in the center console and a second displaying driver gauges that Ford describes as “intuitive”. Since Mulally indicated that the Lincoln MKZ Concept is the reference point for the seven new or extensively updated vehicles Lincoln plans to release over the next few years, this is a great start for the re-invention.
As for specs, since the Lincoln MKZ Concept is after all only a concept, there were not many details released. Officials did report that once the re-designed MKZ becomes available it will strongly resemble the concept. It’s anticipated that the new MKZ will have a hybrid option as in prior MKZ model years, but it’s unlikely that much else will remain the same. Not only is the styling reminiscent of Detroit’s golden years, but the Lincoln MKZ Concept sports a push button transmission, which hasn’t been seen since the 60′s. It’s safe to say that if it is even available on the final model, push button transmission is likely to be an option. And when will it be available? No release date has been announced, but further details are expected for the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April.
