2015 Lincoln MKC Preview: 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

Lincoln is a company in search of a renewed identity, or so goes the trope that has followed (or haunted) the brand for the better part of the last decade. Parent company Ford has invested time, money, and effort in endowing Lincoln with a full lineup of competitive cars and trucks -- a labor that has most recently born fruit in the latest MKZ sedan.

Enter the 2015 MKC sport-utility vehicle, then, as the next step in turning perception of Lincoln away from the company that only produces heavy, body-on-frame Navigators. The MKC will have importance for Lincoln in distracting customers focused only on European brands, and convincing them that there is a compelling option other than the larger, more expensive, and aging Cadillac SRX.

What’s New for the 2015 Lincoln MKC:

• The MKC is a brand-new vehicle for Lincoln in 2015.
• It will offer two four-cylinder engines, with no V-6 option available initially.
• The MKC shares mechanical elements with the Ford Escape crossover sport-utility vehicle, but its exterior and interior styling are unique.

New 2015 Lincoln MKC: Styling and Design

Make no mistake: although the 2015 Lincoln MKC has a similar shape to the Ford Escape, upon which it is based, it is wider and has a lower roofline, allowing for more fluid lines to carry from the front to the rear. Lincoln’s corporate, winged grille makes a prominent appearance, and the wraparound rear taillights are a much more stylish execution than, say, the ones on the MKT. Overall, the MKC shares much with the concept car that preceded it and previewed the shape of the final production car.

The interior of the MKC, however, is a clear departure from the Escape’s, and is highlighted by a floating center stack that prominently features an infotainment screen for MyLincoln Touch. Capacitive touch switches, featured in some other Lincoln models, are replaced in the MKC by traditional buttons and switches. Consider us in favor of this move. Wood and brushed aluminum trim brighten the cabin, which is already bright, thanks to an optional, full-length glass roof.

New 2015 Lincoln MKC: What’s Under the Hood

A choice of two engines will be available for the 2015 Lincoln MKC, both four-cylinders, which displace 2.0- and 2.3-liters respectively. The 2.0-liter engine is shared with the Escape, while the larger engine is there to allow the MKC to compete with luxury SUVs from premium European brands. The smaller engine makes 240 horsepower, and the 2.3-liter four  produces 275.

The MKC will come standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive will be an option.

New 2015 Lincoln MKC: Features and Technology

Technology and luxury-oriented features will be the defining characteristics for the 2015 Lincoln MKC, against a similar but not-too-similar Escape.

As previously mentioned, MyLincoln Touch is integral to the MKC’s interior, and it combines all major interior convenience features into one centralized location. Leather appointments are optional, as is the glass sunroof.

We’re particularly jazzed for the upcoming Black Label treatment, which will debut on the MKZ, that will drive the MKC further upmarket.

But our favorite trick feature is Approach Detection, which is essentially a series of lights that greets the driver upon walking toward the MKC. Lincoln logos projected onto the ground might be a little gimmicky, but the overall LED profile of the MKC is a unique selling point.

New 2015 Lincoln MKC: What Autobytel Thinks

A strong class of contenders awaits the 2015 Lincoln MKC when it finally hits dealers in the near future, including the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK, and BMW X3 -- each of which come with the prestige of a European brand to (perhaps?) justify their cost.

In person, the MKC’s exterior styling meets the expectations set by last year’s concept car, and that’s a very good thing for Lincoln. We’ll wait to reserve judgment on how it all works, however, until afforded time behind the wheel.