What's New With Ford in 2010

With all the hype these days about new models, incentives, Government programs and the like, Ford Motor Company is making an effort to set itself apart from the rest of the pack. From newly designed models such as the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 to the tried and true Ford Taurus, Cincy Ford Dealers want to show the public that they have something for everyone. For well more 100 years, Ford Motor Company has been one of the top selling manufacturers selling mass-produced vehicles in the US and around the globe. Recognized among customers as one of the Big Three, Ford has managed to amass millions of loyal customers with a wide range of dynamic and innovative products offering considerable value for the money.

Back in 2005 when Ford reintroduced the Ford Mustang, it had a major impact on the high end sports car segment. Although Chevrolet and Chrysler have made attempts to come back with their introductions, Ford has not been sitting idle over the years. They have been working on thoroughly revamping its core pony to create the all new 2010 Mustang.

Looking at the all new 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid we see more safety features added to their compact SUV line, not the least of which include Rear View Camera System, Active Park Assist, MyKey, Sync with Traffic, Directions, and Information, and Integrated Spotter Mirrors and much more.

With more and more focus on Hybrids and fuel economy, another great introduction for Ford is the all new 2010 Ford Fusion. Along with its siblings the Lincoln MKZ and Mercury Milan, these great new models are posed to dominate the hybrid world.
With more emphasis on Green technology, Ford has committed to reducing C02 emissions by as much as 90% over the next several years and continuing their efforts to introduce an even larger selection of these fuel efficient vehicles.

For those select few who still need the cargo room and hauling capacity of the truck, the F150 has been completely redesigned and they are reintroducing the Harley Davidson edition. The Ford Special Vehicles Team has introduced the F-150 SVT Raptor which has been title the “ultimate off-road vehicle” for 2010.

Cincinnati Ford Dealers see a market ready for the taking and are loading up their arsenal with everything needed to convince their customers that Ford is the way to go. Dealers are improving customer service, changing their service hours to be more accommodating and looking for every opportunity to prove that they have what it takes to not only survive in today's economy, but to pull ahead of the pack and take the lead in every way.

While there are no guarantees that the automakers will survive their current downward spirals, Ford feels that the battle can be won and with continued efforts to provide the value, price and economy customers are looking for, they will pull out ahead and become the favorite amongst brand loyal customers across the country. Keep your eyes open for yet more great things to come!

2009 Lincoln MKS: Hope for the Hopeless?

Lincoln just let us drive its new 2009 MKS. This handsome five-passenger sedan will be in dealerships in just a few weeks. Our burning question is, Will anybody care? We ponder this sincerely, especially after talking with members of Lincoln's marketing team who told us that "Lincoln" means nothing to the MKS target audience.

This is not a positive thing for one of America's most storied brands. Past leaders of Lincoln should be ashamed. The brand's new leaders have a formidable task ahead of them.

If the market pays attentions to the MKS's arrival, it'll discover a competitive mid-lux offering that Lincoln thinks makes a good alternative to the Cadillac STS, Lexus GS, and Acura RL.

We agree.The Lincoln's distinctive styling works in its favor. The Lincoln MKS is the first production Lincoln to use the division's new grille design that the company previewed on the MKS and MKT auto show concept vehicles. The winged design reaches back to Edsel Ford's 1941 Continental, and gives the newest Lincoln a welcomed bit of character that's grounded in something other than a designer's imagination.

A new 275-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 powers the MKS. The engine is a larger version of Ford's corporate 3.5-liter engine, and it performs adequately with a high degree of smoothness and little noise or fuss. While premium fuel is required to hit the 275 mark, using regular fuel delivers a still healthy 265 horsepower with no change in fuel economy (17/24 mpg for front-wheel drive and 16/23 mpg for all-wheel drive).

The new Lincoln's six-speed automatic is seen in other Ford products such as the Edge, but has been thoroughly recalibrated for this upscale installation. In the MKS, the transmission includes a sport mode as well as manual shift capabilities. Throughout the hills of Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C., with the transmission in the sport setting, the gearbox shifted aggressively. Its performance was close to anticipatory and did an excellent job of keeping the Lincoln in the right gear at the right time—just what an automatic transmission should do.

Another bright spot for the 2009 MKS is its chassis. Gnostics know that the Lincoln is based on the current Taurus, which itself was loosely based on the Volvo S80. However, Ford just didn't plop a new body on an existing platform. The MKS features a totally new multilink rear suspension with coil-over shocks and a retuned front strut suspension, then bolts them both to a reinforced chassis that is 35 percent stiffer than the current Taurus. The resulting ride it Goldilocks taught: not too soft and not too hard, even with the optional 20-inch wheels shown on the car pictured here. Steering response is quick, and driving at street speeds, the understeer one expects from a largish front-wheel-drive sedan is totally absent. The MKS is also available with all-wheel drive.

Pricing starts at around $38,000 for a front-wheel-drive MKS without any fancy options--but including standard features as heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, SYNC, HID headlamps--and runs up to $46,000 for a decked-out all-wheel-drive edition.

Will anyone care? Is there hope for Lincoln? We hope so, but we'll have to wait and see.--Rex Roy

Lincoln MKS

AHEAD OF ARRIVAL IN SHOWROOMS, EARLY SALES ARE STRONG FOR NEW 2009 LINCOLN MKS FLAGSHIP SEDAN

More than 8,600 orders have been placed for the 2009 Lincoln MKS prior to the vehicle's arrival in dealerships such as the Cincinnati Lincoln Mercury Dealers, this summer. The new Lincoln MKS full-size luxury sedan is attracting new buyers with its timeless design, fuel-efficient powertrain and an unparalleled suite of features and technologies. Pricing for the Lincoln MKS starts at just over $38,000, including destination.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2008 - More than 8,600 orders have been placed for the 2009 Lincoln MKS, the full-size luxury sedan that doesn't even arrive in dealerships until this summer - with the high-level "Ultimate Package" accounting for 65 percent of early orders.

"People are very excited about this vehicle because it provides the complete package - a striking exterior design, dynamic performance, advanced safety features and a host of amenities not found on other luxury sedans," said Pei-Wen Hsu, Lincoln MKS marketing manager.
In addition to vehicle itself, strong early sales of the MKS are linked to a unique marketing and education campaign that has been running full throttle since the vehicle was unveiled at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

"The MKS is an all-new vehicle for the Lincoln brand, and it's a game changer for us," said Michael Sprague, Lincoln Mercury group marketing manager. "We knew we had to go to market in a new way and send a signal to our dealers and customers that we're doing business differently," he added.

Breaking tradition, Lincoln announced pricing information and package options at the same time that the MKS debuted at the show, offering customers the opportunity to build and price their ideal vehicle at http://www.lincoln.com/ and then immediately place their order at their local dealership. Simultaneously, the team launched an extensive dealer training program, designed to educate sales consultants about the vehicle months ahead of its arrival in showrooms.

"We wanted to provide dealers with plenty of information early on so that they could talk about the product, generate excitement and engage customers," said Hsu. "Because many lease customers want to compare monthly payments before they decide on a new vehicle, it made sense for us to provide them with detailed pricing and incentives so that they could make an informed decision before the vehicle arrives in dealerships this summer."

The strategy is working, according to Tom Arthur, sales manager at Long Beach Lincoln Mercury in Long Beach, Calif. He already has taken an "unusual" 30 pre-orders for the MKS. While some of those customers saw the vehicle at the L.A. Auto Show, most of them obtained information at http://www.lincoln.com/.

"The interest in this car has been huge, and people have been finding a lot of information online," said Arthur. "I think the MKS is going to be big hit for us."

Billy Vaughn, dealer principal at North Park Lincoln Mercury in San Antonio, Texas, says his customers placed orders for the MKS sight unseen, based on information they received from his educated sales staff as well as the web site.

"All of the customers I've talked to have done their homework. They know what's out there in the marketplace, and they're at the top of their game," said Vaughn. "Having materials available and pricing information early on has really helped us keep our customers interested."

Priced just more than $38,000 including destination, the vehicle is loaded with class-exclusive features and options, such as the industry-exclusive SYNC, Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System, SecuriCode™ Next-Generation Keypad, a premium THX-certified audio system, 20-inch wheels, heated rear seats and the voice-activated navigation system with SIRIUS Travel Link™. The popular Ultimate Package includes all of the popular technology features.

The Lincoln MKS is powered by a Lincoln-exclusive 3.7-liter V-6 engine mated with a fuel efficient six-speed transmission. The powertrain has been derived from the proven 3.5-liter V-6 found in the Lincoln MKX, which was voted one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2007.

2009 Lincoln MKS - First Drive Review

Ford has been beset by tribulations of biblical proportions in recent years, excepting perhaps a plague of locusts. Once one of the world’s most admired and important corporations, its stock has been hammered down to where Ford’s capitalization is about a 10th of Apple’s. And the bad news goes on from there. Among Ford’s many problems is what to do with its ailing Lincoln brand. For whatever reasons—cost, neglect, or both—Ford has starved Lincoln of compelling new vehicles while its competitors (namely, Cadillac) have flooded the market with attractive and competitive rear-drive models that have all but pushed Lincoln out of the luxury category.
Finally, after years of dithering, Lincoln is making a serious attempt to regain its status as a purveyor of luxury automobiles with the MKS, a sedan that’s aimed directly at the so-called mid-luxury segment, in particular targeting such models as the Lexus GS350, Infiniti M35, and Cadillac STS.

Based on the Taurus, but with Convincing Luxury Touches
The MKS is based on Ford’s well-traveled D-platform, which has anchored several Volvo models and is also the basis for the Ford Taurus. According to Ford engineers, this architecture has been substantially modified to increase rigidity, decrease noise, vibration, and harshness, and—most significant—to accommodate an updated multilink independent rear suspension.
As for the MKS’s exterior design, it’s in keeping with current luxo-sedan convention. In silhouette, its look—a truncated hood and deck, an elongated greenhouse, a high tail—is not dissimilar to that of other sedans in its class. What gives it some character is a striking “double wing” grille said to be inspired by the 1941 Lincoln Continental. Subtle modeling defines the beltline, and the brightwork (as chrome-look plastic is more properly called these days) is admirably restrained. The proportions of the car are well balanced, and its styling, although subdued, still manages to suggest the sort of gravitas a car in this class must have.
The interior design is equally low-key. It doesn’t shout luxury, but richness is there in the form of large, well-bolstered seats with just the right degree of firmness and high-quality materials throughout. Lincoln says the leather for the seats comes from Bridge of Weir, the Scottish company that supplied hides for the Continental Mark II 50 years ago. Real wood and a combination of brushed and bright trim are used sparingly to good effect.
The instrument panel is a model of simplicity with large white-on-black gauges. The controls are well placed and reactive to the touch. A worthwhile option is a navigation system that connects with the standard Sirius satellite radio to provide real-time weather and traffic, gasoline prices, and other information. Bundled with Ford’s Sync system, as well as Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity, this is the most advanced and easy-to-use information-technology package on the market, at least for now.
Other interesting technology tidbits include a capless fuel-filling system that will spread to the entire Ford lineup in the coming years, as well as an iPhone-like touch-screen evolution of Ford’s keyless-entry keypad.

Is a V-6 Enough for a Luxury Flagship?
Among other major components from Ford’s inventory are the MKS’s engine and transmission, the former a 3.7-liter V-6—a bored-out version (by three millimeters) of the 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 used in the Lincoln MKX and MKZ—and the latter a six-speed automatic. With an output of 273 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque (on regular fuel), this isn’t the gutsiest engine in the class, but Lincoln figures to correct that disparity in mid-2009 by adding a 340-hp, twin-turbocharged version to the lineup. Front-wheel drive is the default for the MKS, and all-wheel drive is available.
The suspension is tuned toward Lexus-like comfort instead of sharp handling and involvement. Still, the steering is accurate, not overly assisted, and provides sufficient feel and feedback to keep the MKS from being boring on back roads. On interstates, it tracks true, and in city congestion, it’s reasonably nimble for a car its size. At a curb weight of more than 4200 pounds, an all-wheel-drive MKS hardly qualifies as a sports sedan, but as a boulevardier, it has a sufficiently satisfactory full-throttle charge up the rpm ladder.
A solid, well-put-together package, the MKS is on sale now at a base price of $38,465. A fairly well-equipped model—with all-wheel drive, the nav package, and other luxury necessities—is about $46,000. Throw in a few extras such as the THX audio system and 20-inch polished alloy wheels, and the price starts to bump up against 50 grand.

Courtesy Car and Driver

Cincinnati LM Dealers To See New MKS Soon

For the past two decades, the only thing consistent about Ford's Lincoln division has been its inconsistency. To put it lightly, the brand has struggled to find it's place in the automotive landscape. The vehicles from Ford's premium domestic division haven't had a coherent look since the early '80s. Several of its models, such as the LS and the Navigator, have sold well at times, but the absence of a Lincoln DNA hasn't helped. In 2006, North American Design chief Peter Horbury set about changing all that. He gave his team the task of examining past Lincolns to determine what set them apart.

The first new model intended to set Lincoln on it's path to rebirth is the 2009 MKS, which is making its debut in production form at the LA Auto Show later today. The MKS first appeared as a concept at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. It's based on the same platform as the Ford 500/Taurus, which originated at Volvo under the S80/XC90. When the concept first appeared it was reasonably well received as a pleasant if not daring design for the marque. Subsequently, Horbury's team began its quest for the soul of Lincoln and came up with a list of seven elements that would be part of future Lincoln designs. Most of these appeared on the 2007 MKR concept that we saw in Detroit. While most of the MKS was already locked in for production, after the show Ford management made the decision to adopt one of most prominent elements from the new MKR concept, its grille.

One of the keys to the brand's new look was to come up with something that was uniquely Lincoln and recalled the best days of the brand without in any way looking retro. The basic look of the grille dates back to the 1941 Lincoln Zephyr with its bow wave design. The design is unique to Lincoln and doesn't really borrow from any other brands of the moment. One of the advantages of this grille design is the space between the two halves that allows the Lincoln logo to stand on it's own without being lost in the chrome. Moving back from the nose, the basic look of the body remains very true to the original concept, although the larger fender vents that first appeared have now been replaced by smaller units that almost disappear within the Lincoln logos on the front fenders.

Along the sides, a sharp crease extends from the nose to the tail. On future Lincolns this look will be taken further with a chamfer along that character line similar to what was shown on the MKR. The MKS concept's taillights remain largely in tact, but they have been lengthened vertically a bit.

One of the driving forces in this design was to enhance this Lincoln's feeling of quality and fit and finish. To that end, conscious decisions were made to mitigate the impact of misaligned panels and trim pieces. One way this was done was to extend the door panels down under the rocker panels so that the lower edge and it's seam almost disappears. On the inside, a frequent problem is the glove box door. Again the door extends under the dash panel above and around the end of the dash so that there are no visible seams when sitting inside the car. The center console sweeps down from the top of the dash in one continuous surface reprising a look from the MKR but without the floating surface. The seats and dash are covered in leather that is chromium free and provided by the same supplier who that did the original Model T and the 1956 MK II. Overall the whole look is clean and uncluttered. We'll bring you some pics of the interior later today when the car officially debuts, but for now you'll have to use your imagination.

The new MKS will soon be arriving at your local Cincnnati Lincoln Dealers. This is sure to be a boone for the local Lincoln sales among the four Cincinnati dealerships.

At launch the MKS gets a new 272-hp 3.7L version of the latest Ford V6 with 265 lb-ft of torque. About a year later, a new turbocharged, direct-injected V6 will be added to provide V8 power with lower emissions and fuel consumption. Although this matches the specs of the Twin-Force V6 in the MKR, Ford won't be using that nomenclature on the MKS. Filling the fuel tank will be accomplished using Ford's new Easy-Fill cap-less system that debuted on the 2008 Explorer. While this may seem like a silly luxury, the system actually helps to greatly reduce evaporative emissions during filling.

With the MKS, Lincoln hopes to attract loyal customers from the days of the Continental and LS. They also expect the MKS to have conquest sales ten percentage points higher than current models. Right now about 33 percent of Lincoln buyers are coming from other brands, and the brand expects that number to be 43 percent for this car. The MKS goes on sale in summer 2008 at a price of about $38,000 for the front-wheel-drive model and two grand more for the all-wheel-drive version. In all, Lincoln is targeting sales of about 40,000 annually.

This article was courtesy of AOL Autos