More function, less fashion
By Dan Lyons
|
June 7, 2005
Introduction
We’ve seen this before. A Lincoln pickup truck, that is, but you could be forgiven if you don’t remember it. Lincoln’s first – and last – foray into the land of pick’em-ups was the ill-fated, short-lived Blackwood. That 2002 entry had faux wood sides, a fixed hard cap over the cargo bed, and a fifty-large price tag. It stuck around the marketplace just long enough for a cup of coffee, departing after a brilliantly brief, one-year production run.
The Blackwood never kindled much interest with buyers, but chalk it up to the wrong execution of the right idea – too much fashion, not enough function. Now, Lincoln is back with the 2006 Mark LT: a new truck with a different slant on the pickup segment, and with a much better shot at taking a piece of the market for high-end haulers.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Overview
Overview The Lincoln Mark LT lineup is simple and straightforward. All Mark LTs are four-door crew cabs, with a short cargo box in back. There is just one powertrain: a 5.4 liter V8, coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission.
The Blackwood was based on the old Ford F-150 chassis and was only available with career-limiting two-wheel drive. Likewise, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT rolls on the Ford F-150 chassis, but instead the newest version of those underpinnings is employed. Plus, it’s available with either two- or four-wheel drive, greatly expanding its appeal. The F-150 is a solid platform from which to build the new Lincoln. Ford’s truck know-how gave Lincoln a leg up in developing a luxury ride with a lunch pail work ethic.
Compared to the long menu of many mainstream trucks, the Lincoln Mark LT lineup is simple and straightforward. All Mark LTs are four-door crew cabs, with a short cargo box in back. There is just one powertrain: a 5.4-liter V8, coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Utility
Utility Unlike the poorly conceived and configured Blackwood, the new 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is ready to roll up its sleeves, if you want it to. Beyond the availability of four-wheel drive, a key difference between the Mark LT and the Blackwood is in the cargo box.
Unlike the poorly conceived and configured Blackwood, the new 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is ready to roll up its sleeves, if you want it to. Beyond the availability of four-wheel drive, a key difference between the Mark LT and the Blackwood is in the cargo box.
The Blackwood came equipped with a fixed, swing-up hard tonneau, fitted over a plush, finished pickup bed that was really more of a luxury sedan’s trunk. This design virtually ruled out large loads and discouraged dirty ones. In contrast, the Mark LT has no such limitations. Maximum payload is 1,620 lbs., and the standard, metal bed measures 5.5 feet long, 65.2 inches wide, and 22.2 inches high. There’s 50 inches of width available between the wheel wells, so a standard, four-foot wide sheet of plywood will slide in between.
A standard, metal bed extender swings out over the opened tailgate to accommodate longer loads. Tie-downs are positioned low at the four corners of the box, though having a few mounted higher would’ve been useful. As with the F-150, Ford’s Tailgate Assist feature makes it easy to swing the gate shut, even with one arm full.
Towing capacity for the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is 8,900 lbs., enough to handle anything from a horse trailer to a decent-sized boat.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions If you want to get your tires dirty, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is suitable for moderate off-roading. On the road, the Lincoln Mark LT is a smooth driver, and it benefits from a proven powertrain.
If you want to get your tires dirty, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is suitable for moderate off-roading. A flick of the dashboard switch is all it takes to engage the shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system, and undercarriage skid plates are optionally available.
On the road, the Lincoln Mark LT is a smooth driver. The F-150 chassis that underpins the Mark LT has a stiff, fully boxed frame for better handling and responsiveness. Additionally, the rear shock absorbers are positioned outboard of the frame rails, for added stability. Rough roads will coax some rear end jiggles, especially with an empty cargo box, but overall the Mark LT has a very good, big truck ride. The power steering imparts a good feel for the road, neither under- nor over-boosted, and the disc brakes are responsive. Sailing along in highway traffic, large trucks often feel like they’ve got brakes that are too small for the job, but the Mark LT’s binders breed confidence.
The new Lincoln Mark LT benefits from a proven powertrain. The Triton 5.4-liter V8 is rated at 300 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque, and there’s plenty of power on tap to pass or pull. The gearing of the four-speed automatic transmission matches well with the engine’s powerband. Given the amount of muscle on tap, the Triton is a relatively quiet driver – silent, but with a strong appetite. Tipping the scales at 5,370 lbs. (2WD) and 5,677 lbs. (4WD), the Lincoln Mark LT is no lightweight and it has a healthy appreciation for a pint of petrol. The EPA rates the 4WD at 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. A consolation is that the large, 30-gallon gas tank yields a long cruising range between wallet-sapping fill-ups.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Design
Design With the 2006 Mark LT, function follows Ford, but the luxury side of this truck has definite Lincoln leanings. Front seats are wide and cushy with a handsome cut of leather, wrapped in rugged, refined bodywork.
With the 2006 Mark LT, function follows Ford, but the luxury side of this truck has definite Lincoln leanings. Front seats are wide and cushy with a handsome cut of leather. The center console is armchair width, with a generous supply of cup holders and storage space. It sounds strange to say that there are better and lesser grades of plastic, but when you sample a high-end interior like this one, you realize that this is true.
One reason the Mark LT’s cabin looks good is the company it keeps. Dash and door panels are trimmed in exceptionally rich looking ebony wood. Controls and switchgear are truck-simple in design: a relief in a luxurious vehicle equipped with plenty of electronics on board.
The Mark LT seats three adults in back in good comfort, and over the road the cabin is notably quiet, by truck standards. Of course, if you want to make some noise, you can do that too. The standard stereo comes with a six-disc CD changer with MP3 play capability, offering good tone for your tunes. And, if you want to provide some diversion options for the passengers in back, think in terms of the optional rear seat entertainment system.
All of the above is wrapped in rugged, refined bodywork. The 2006 Lincoln Mark LT’s design shows a family resemblance with both the F-150 and the Navigator. A distinctive waterfall grille highlights the front view, while oversize, wraparound tail lamps brighten up the back. Chrome, 10-spoke wheels dress up the sides, and the whole package is tied together with a broad, chrome band that wraps around the bumpers and rocker panels, encircling the Mark LT in brightwork.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Wrap-Up and Specs
Wrap-Up and Specs With lessons learned from the Blackwood disaster, Lincoln rebounds nicely with the 2006 Mark LT. Competitors include the Cadillac Escalade EXT, Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab, and GMC Sierra Denali.
With lessons learned from the Blackwood disaster, Lincoln rebounds nicely with the 2006 Mark LT. Tapping Ford’s strength in trucks, they’ve added a blue-collar work ethic to the blue-blood landscape of luxury trucks. The result is an upscale pickup with some down-home street credibility. The theory is the same here as with SUVs: The average luxury pickup buyer is no more likely to haul a box full of rocks than the average luxury sport-ute owner is to drive off-road. But, they both want to know that they can if they must. With the Blackwood, they couldn’t. With the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT they can, making Lincoln’s new luxury truck a far more viable proposition.
Specifications:
Test Vehicle: 2006 Lincoln Mark LT 4WD
Price Range: $43,495 to $48,600 (including $795 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 5.4-liter V8
Engine Horsepower: 300 @ 5,000 rpm
Engine Torque: 365 lb.-ft. @ 3,750 rpm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Curb weight, lbs.: 5,677 lbs. (4WD)
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 14/18 (4WD)
Length: 223.8 inches
Width: 78.9 inches
Wheelbase: 138.5 inches
Height: 73.5 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41.3 inches/39 inches
Head room (front/rear): 40.1 inches/39.6 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Payload: 1,620 lbs.
Max. Towing Capacity: 8,900 lbs.
Competitors: Cadillac Escalade EXT, Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab, GMC Sierra Denali
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Overview The Lincoln Mark LT lineup is simple and straightforward. All Mark LTs are four-door crew cabs, with a short cargo box in back. There is just one powertrain: a 5.4 liter V8, coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission.
The Blackwood was based on the old Ford F-150 chassis and was only available with career-limiting two-wheel drive. Likewise, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT rolls on the Ford F-150 chassis, but instead the newest version of those underpinnings is employed. Plus, it’s available with either two- or four-wheel drive, greatly expanding its appeal. The F-150 is a solid platform from which to build the new Lincoln. Ford’s truck know-how gave Lincoln a leg up in developing a luxury ride with a lunch pail work ethic.
Compared to the long menu of many mainstream trucks, the Lincoln Mark LT lineup is simple and straightforward. All Mark LTs are four-door crew cabs, with a short cargo box in back. There is just one powertrain: a 5.4-liter V8, coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Utility
Utility Unlike the poorly conceived and configured Blackwood, the new 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is ready to roll up its sleeves, if you want it to. Beyond the availability of four-wheel drive, a key difference between the Mark LT and the Blackwood is in the cargo box.
Unlike the poorly conceived and configured Blackwood, the new 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is ready to roll up its sleeves, if you want it to. Beyond the availability of four-wheel drive, a key difference between the Mark LT and the Blackwood is in the cargo box.
The Blackwood came equipped with a fixed, swing-up hard tonneau, fitted over a plush, finished pickup bed that was really more of a luxury sedan’s trunk. This design virtually ruled out large loads and discouraged dirty ones. In contrast, the Mark LT has no such limitations. Maximum payload is 1,620 lbs., and the standard, metal bed measures 5.5 feet long, 65.2 inches wide, and 22.2 inches high. There’s 50 inches of width available between the wheel wells, so a standard, four-foot wide sheet of plywood will slide in between.
A standard, metal bed extender swings out over the opened tailgate to accommodate longer loads. Tie-downs are positioned low at the four corners of the box, though having a few mounted higher would’ve been useful. As with the F-150, Ford’s Tailgate Assist feature makes it easy to swing the gate shut, even with one arm full.
Towing capacity for the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is 8,900 lbs., enough to handle anything from a horse trailer to a decent-sized boat.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions If you want to get your tires dirty, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is suitable for moderate off-roading. On the road, the Lincoln Mark LT is a smooth driver, and it benefits from a proven powertrain.
If you want to get your tires dirty, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is suitable for moderate off-roading. A flick of the dashboard switch is all it takes to engage the shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system, and undercarriage skid plates are optionally available.
On the road, the Lincoln Mark LT is a smooth driver. The F-150 chassis that underpins the Mark LT has a stiff, fully boxed frame for better handling and responsiveness. Additionally, the rear shock absorbers are positioned outboard of the frame rails, for added stability. Rough roads will coax some rear end jiggles, especially with an empty cargo box, but overall the Mark LT has a very good, big truck ride. The power steering imparts a good feel for the road, neither under- nor over-boosted, and the disc brakes are responsive. Sailing along in highway traffic, large trucks often feel like they’ve got brakes that are too small for the job, but the Mark LT’s binders breed confidence.
The new Lincoln Mark LT benefits from a proven powertrain. The Triton 5.4-liter V8 is rated at 300 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque, and there’s plenty of power on tap to pass or pull. The gearing of the four-speed automatic transmission matches well with the engine’s powerband. Given the amount of muscle on tap, the Triton is a relatively quiet driver – silent, but with a strong appetite. Tipping the scales at 5,370 lbs. (2WD) and 5,677 lbs. (4WD), the Lincoln Mark LT is no lightweight and it has a healthy appreciation for a pint of petrol. The EPA rates the 4WD at 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. A consolation is that the large, 30-gallon gas tank yields a long cruising range between wallet-sapping fill-ups.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Design
Design With the 2006 Mark LT, function follows Ford, but the luxury side of this truck has definite Lincoln leanings. Front seats are wide and cushy with a handsome cut of leather, wrapped in rugged, refined bodywork.
With the 2006 Mark LT, function follows Ford, but the luxury side of this truck has definite Lincoln leanings. Front seats are wide and cushy with a handsome cut of leather. The center console is armchair width, with a generous supply of cup holders and storage space. It sounds strange to say that there are better and lesser grades of plastic, but when you sample a high-end interior like this one, you realize that this is true.
One reason the Mark LT’s cabin looks good is the company it keeps. Dash and door panels are trimmed in exceptionally rich looking ebony wood. Controls and switchgear are truck-simple in design: a relief in a luxurious vehicle equipped with plenty of electronics on board.
The Mark LT seats three adults in back in good comfort, and over the road the cabin is notably quiet, by truck standards. Of course, if you want to make some noise, you can do that too. The standard stereo comes with a six-disc CD changer with MP3 play capability, offering good tone for your tunes. And, if you want to provide some diversion options for the passengers in back, think in terms of the optional rear seat entertainment system.
All of the above is wrapped in rugged, refined bodywork. The 2006 Lincoln Mark LT’s design shows a family resemblance with both the F-150 and the Navigator. A distinctive waterfall grille highlights the front view, while oversize, wraparound tail lamps brighten up the back. Chrome, 10-spoke wheels dress up the sides, and the whole package is tied together with a broad, chrome band that wraps around the bumpers and rocker panels, encircling the Mark LT in brightwork.
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005
Wrap-Up and Specs
Wrap-Up and Specs With lessons learned from the Blackwood disaster, Lincoln rebounds nicely with the 2006 Mark LT. Competitors include the Cadillac Escalade EXT, Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab, and GMC Sierra Denali.
With lessons learned from the Blackwood disaster, Lincoln rebounds nicely with the 2006 Mark LT. Tapping Ford’s strength in trucks, they’ve added a blue-collar work ethic to the blue-blood landscape of luxury trucks. The result is an upscale pickup with some down-home street credibility. The theory is the same here as with SUVs: The average luxury pickup buyer is no more likely to haul a box full of rocks than the average luxury sport-ute owner is to drive off-road. But, they both want to know that they can if they must. With the Blackwood, they couldn’t. With the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT they can, making Lincoln’s new luxury truck a far more viable proposition.
Specifications:
Test Vehicle: 2006 Lincoln Mark LT 4WD
Price Range: $43,495 to $48,600 (including $795 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 5.4-liter V8
Engine Horsepower: 300 @ 5,000 rpm
Engine Torque: 365 lb.-ft. @ 3,750 rpm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Curb weight, lbs.: 5,677 lbs. (4WD)
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 14/18 (4WD)
Length: 223.8 inches
Width: 78.9 inches
Wheelbase: 138.5 inches
Height: 73.5 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41.3 inches/39 inches
Head room (front/rear): 40.1 inches/39.6 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Payload: 1,620 lbs.
Max. Towing Capacity: 8,900 lbs.
Competitors: Cadillac Escalade EXT, Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab, GMC Sierra Denali
Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005