New York Auto Show: 2013 Lincoln MKZ

The debut of the all-new 2013 Lincoln MKZ took place—appropriately enough—not at the Javits Center with the rest of the New York Auto Show hoi polloi but in the high-toned surroundings of the IAC headquarters. Located in one of the Big Apple’s trendier districts, the Internet conglomerate’s home base, which was created by legendary architect Frank Gehry, made an ideal setting for a vehicle that was developed to likewise be on the cutting edge of design and technology.

New York Auto Show: Highlights of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ

Highlights of Lincoln’s new mid-size luxury sedan—slated to go on sale later this year—include:

• A fresh “elegant simplicity” design language from the new Lincoln Design Studio, showcasing a sleeker, more sculpted overall appearance and a new take on Lincoln’s signature “split-wing” grille
• Among the industry’s widest retractable panoramic roofs, with a one-piece 15.2-cubic-foot glass panel that provides both the thrill of open-air driving and the safety of a steel-roofed vehicle
• Standard Lincoln Drive Control, integrating the functionality of the MKZ’s Continuously Controlled Damping adjustable suspension, electric power-assisted steering, Active Noise Control, traction and stability control systems, and engine and transmission
• Lincoln’s Push Button Shift interface, which eliminates the traditional gear-shift mechanism and replaces it with five simple buttons for Park, Neutral, Reverse, Drive and Sport
• The latest-generation Sync with MyLincoln Touch system, with a 10.1-inch TFT (“thin film transistor”) LCD instrument cluster and 8-inch LCD touchscreen
• An available 700-watt, 14-speaker, 14-channel premium sound system, THX-certified and tuned specifically for the MKZ’s new interior
• Safety measures like inflatable rear seatbelts, Ford’s comprehensive Lane Keeping System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning with Brake Support, Active Park Assist and the Blind Spot Information System

New York Auto Show: Powertrains of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ

In addition, Lincoln used the car’s New York Auto Show launch to introduce three different powertrains for the new MKZ. The standard setup will include a 240-hp EcoBoost I4 engine mated to a paddle-shifting six-speed transmission and capable of developing 270 lb.-ft. of torque, and this combination is projected to achieve EPA ratings of up to 22 mpg city/33 mpg highway—per Lincoln, that’s a 20 percent gain over the 2012 MKZ and some 3 mpg better than the new car’s closest rival. The high-performance engine choice is a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 that gains 37 hp and 28 lb.-ft. of torque over the previous model to deliver 300 of the former and 277 lb.-ft. of the latter, while still bumping fuel economy by about 5 percent. Both all- and front-wheel-drive configurations will be offered with both these engines.

The 2013 Lincoln MKZ family also will return a next-gen hybrid model to the segment, and while the brand didn’t provide many details, it’s worth pointing out that the 2013 Ford Fusion, with a similar hybrid propulsion system, is expected to achieve EPA marks of 47 mpg city/44 mpg highway. Regardless of exact figures, Lincoln is confident that the MKZ hybrid will “remain North America’s most fuel-efficient premium sedan.”

New York Auto Show: Lincoln's New Direction

The party line from Jim Farley, the Ford Motor Company’s group vice president for Global Marketing, Sales and Service: “The new Lincoln MKZ represents the future of Lincoln in both style and substance. It is proof of our commitment to deliver a new breed of Lincolns for a new generation of Lincoln clients—motor cars that are distinctive, elegant, full of technology and a delight to own.” 

The New York Auto Show is open to the public from April 6-15, 2012.