Is Lincoln Going to Focus More On Mainstream Than Luxury?

Surprisingly, the answer is “yes”—at least if you believe Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of global marketing, sales and service. Farley was providing some hints about Lincoln’s future direction in a recent Automotive News interview, and he had plenty to say about how the loss of Mercury will be Lincoln’s gain.

The focus will be on providing stronger differentiation between Ford and Lincoln products, a longstanding and ongoing problem exemplified today by a quick comparo between the division’s crossover cousins, the Edge and the MKX. Even with the 2011 models, with their vastly different grille treatments, there’s no disguising their shared roots. And the situation with the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ isn’t that different. (Note that in the accompanying photos, I’m showing a 2010 Fusion and a 2011 MKZ; it was oddly (?) difficult to find similar profile shots of each from the same model year.)


 


2011 Bentley Continental GT Photo Gallery

2011 Dodge Durango Photo Gallery

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid & MKX

2011 Lexus IS Photo Gallery

2011 Hyundai Equus Photo Gallery

0to60 - 9/10/2010 3:13:42 PM

+5 Boost

Do they still make the navigator? Yikes!!!

91z4me - 9/11/2010 7:25:50 AM

0 Boost

Yes, the Navigator is built at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, KY.

wins555 - 9/11/2010 10:30:05 AM

+3 Boost

If they will focus on mainstream, so long Lincoln. Your days are numbered.

rubenkincaid - 9/13/2010 12:01:04 AM

+2 Boost

Good luck. The Lincoln MKT is simply awful-looking... is that a mainstream focus?