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33 · Tuesday, December 29, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Refreshed Lincoln MKZ a solid contender in entry-luxury market By Lorne Drury Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine Years ago, when you talked luxury cars in North America, it was the Lincoln and Cadillac brands that first came to mind. However, with the Japanese and German manufacturers taking over a big chunk of the luxury market, these two iconic names began to take a back seat in the minds of consumers. The quality wasn't what it once was and the customer base was, well, getting a bit long in the tooth. Cadillac began its comeback a few years ago by modernizing the brand to appeal to a younger age group, but Lincoln was left trailing the pack. Until just recently that is, thanks to exciting new models like the MKZ and MKS sedans that offer updated designs, the expected Lincoln luxury and improved performance. The new MKZ mid-size luxury sedan has been refreshed for 2010 to the extent it looks like a brand new car. And Lincoln hopes it will begin to appeal to a whole new audience like the Cadillac has been able to accomplish. The MKZ began life in 2007 as a Zephyr, a forgettable, plain looking car that was decent to drive but had no pizzazz to speak of. After all, when you're driving a luxury car, you want people to know it's a luxury car, and the seemed to fall behind on that front. Fast forward to today and the 2010 Lincoln MKZ is a thoroughly modern, up-to-date vehicle available with an important feature here in the Great White North-- all-wheel drive. Its major competitor the Lexus ES 350 doesn't offer AWD so the Lincoln has a leg up in that area. The MKZ starts at $41,699 but my tester was loaded with options, bringing the sticker price up to $51,179 (including a $1,400 destination and delivery charge). The optional goodies included a $4,000 Vision Package (navigation system, blind spot detection system and rear view video camera). A $1,500 Sport Appearance Package included 18-inch aluminum 10-spoke wheels, front and rear floor mats, heated and cooled leather seats, a unique front grille and other appearance items. A power moon roof added $1,600, while a remote start system was $300, for a total options list of $8,080. Power for the MKZ is supplied by a 3.5litre Duratec V6 engine, which delivers 263 hp and 249 lb/ft of torque on regular unleaded fuel. Performance has been improved for 2010 with Lincoln listing a 0-100 km/h time of 7.0 seconds for the FWD version, down from 7.7 seconds for the 2009 model. The engine is mated with a smooth-shifting six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. One thing you'll notice about the MKZ, as you should in any luxury sedan, is the quiet cabin. Lincoln engineers paid particular attention to this as every piece of sound pack- The 2010 Lincoln MKZ is an entry-luxury model, offering front- or all-wheel-drive. Power is supplied by a 263 hp 3.5-litre V6. ing was redone. "The customer definitely should notice how quiet the new MKZ is," said "Chief Engineer J. D. Shanahan. "That's important-- especially in the luxury sedan buyers who perceive that quietness equates to quality." On the design front, the MKZ features two of Lincoln's signature design features-- the split-wing grille and thinner wrap-around headlights. The new front fascia is similar to the look of the upmarket MKS, while the MKZ has a more sculpted hood and ridges flowing to the A pillar. At the rear there is a new decklid and LED taillamps. Inside, the cabin has been upgraded with a more upscale look through the use of more chrome and aluminum and wood accents for a touch of luxury. The instrument panel is new for 2010 and Lincoln is using what it calls "buttery soft" Scottish leather in the cabin for an extra feeling of luxury. Other new interior features include armrest clamshell storage, new door trim with 360-degree door handles, redesigned centre stack with high-mounted navigation system, leather wrapped steering wheel with real wood insert, available perforated suede seat style and new interior colour schemes. Nice touches that make for a more modern, up-todate interior. All the changes in the world, however, don't mean a hill of beans if it doesn't translate into improvements on the road. Here too, the Lincoln experience is a positive one. While the Duratec V6 isn't the fastest in its segment, it is smooth and quiet mated with the six-speed automatic. At cruising speed, you can talk in a whisper inside the cabin and still be heard. But tromp on the throttle and the car springs into action with the appropriate noises coming from inside the engine bay. The sport-tuned suspension and V-rated 18-inch performance tires on the MKZ help in the handling department. It has become a much more pleasing car to drive in back road situations, although the steering is over boosted and provides minimal feedback to the driver. However, it appears much more agile than previous models and Lincoln says the turning radius has been improved. The ride is cushy without the floating feeling you used to get in Lincoln land yachts. Meanwhile, the AWD increases stability and makes for improved driver confidence in bad weather. Of course, all the latest technology has been packed into the MKZ including SYNC, Ford's voice-activated hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system. The navigation system is voice activated and the back-up camera tied into the nav system is a nice feature to have. The 600-watt surround sound audio system has 14 speakers and a 10 GB hard drive, allowing users to store up to 2,400 of their own songs. Add to this, the adaptive HID headlights, which rotate according to speed and steering inputs and an ambient lighting system inside the cabin and you have most of the technology bases covered. This may not be the class leader with so many competent competitors in the market, but the Lincoln MKZ is closer to the target and certainly worth a look for anyone shopping the entry-luxury marketplace. BUY LOCALLY SERVICE LOCALLY SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS