Lincoln MKZ A Design Dilemma

I actually like the looks of the MKZ. It has 2 problems though. No V6 and no name. MKZ is not a name it should be called something. Leave the letters to the Germans and name your cars.
T

You can get it with a V6....

I stand corrected, I checked the specs and you can get a 6. Did anyone know it though? I've only heard about the hybrid and the 2.0. The one I drove had the 2.0 , liked the car but was unimpressed with the engine.
T

Totally agree with Tauron that this thing needs a sweet name and a decent engine. I think you can get an MKZ with 300hp but that's V6 Camry and Accord territory so you really need more at this point. As it is, it's overpriced. With luxury options this car pushes $50k and that puts it into dangerous territory where it needs more awesome driveability.

Also the fake engine noise coming through speakers makes me angry.

The 3.5 Ecoboost might fit I would think, the MKZ was the Zephyr before it got alphabetized but I don't know if that is a sweet name.

I do not believe that it is the styling that is keeping the car from selling. However - the car is simply not competitively priced against its competition - the front wheel drive entry level luxury car - especially when you consider the lack of rear seat room in the car. Add to that the fact that Lincoln is not considered a top tier car today by most - more like a Buick - and you get a car that - when equipped well - is far too expensive. I doubt a nice name would change that - although a proper roll out of the car MIGHT have helped - but that was botched too.

Then add in a Lincoln Dealer who is likely just holding on due to lack of worthwhile product - and you get a problem generating traffic in the dealerships too.

the front end design language of Lincoln right now is just plain bizarre. Who thinks "Hey- now THAT'S what I call a good looking grill!."

Asnswer: No one. -except for VP's at Lincoln who want to collect design patents under their belt. The whole front end design is something I just cannot get over enough to walk onto a Lincoln sales lot. And I would be embarrassed at looking back at that as I leave my car in a parking lot.

With a V6 and AWD a nicely optioned MKZ goes for about $45k. That's a lot considering Lincoln has no brand image (or at least not a good one). Comes across as milquetoast. Lincoln needs a RWD halo car, a continental for a new generation, not to mention a Mustange-based Mark 10 and a 5-Series sedan. Without these, FWD-based anonamous and poorly named sedans are hopeless. GM has made a lot of progress w Cadillac; Ford remains at the starting gate trying to fix Lincoln.

The real problem for the MKZ is the Fusion, which when comparably equipped is about $8K less expensive and looks much better. The styling is just ghastly. On one hand it's fussy and bizarre and then simultaneously Camry bland.

Lincoln should return to names: Continental, Town Car, Sentinel...

Ford should call Hyundai and talk RWD platform sharing too.

I agree with many of the comments above. I don't believe this is a design dilemma as this is a nice looking offering from Lincoln. I honestly think that it still could be a branding issue as Lincoln needs a couple of big hits that will separate it from Ford (as I agree that the Fusion is very nice looking too which would take some of Lincoln's customers).

I think the car is great looking and quite distinctive on the road. When an Infiniti goes by, it looks like every other Infiniti, or Nissan. When a Lexus goes by, again, my stomach gurgles, wretches, and then settles... they all look hideously alike. This car is really attractive, but I do hate the horizontal bar grille. Its just seems too "luxury contrived" and made up, not pulling from any Lincoln tradition. Lincoln has tons of tradition, heritage and passion and maybe this comes from a past Lincoln I'm not aware of but they need to pull from their history. The previous grille design language was from the 60's Continental and I preferred that look. That said the look that replaced it, the massive grille I thought was distinctive too... this horizontal look is ehh.... nothing traditional about it. Also this car is based on the Fusion which is a fantastic car for the money, style, mpg, quality.... seems the MKZ needs more to justify its higher price tag. Perhaps Lincoln's front wheel drive cars should ALL be all wheel drive, to grab some Quattro/4 Matic audience?

The next generation of this car should come out first vs the Fusion, this way it can be said the Fusion is based on the MKZ... but hey Ford & Lincoln... MC-Names please... stop it with this ridiculous MK crapola.... differentiate yourselves... use a NAME, not a stupid made up nothing... even Prince went back to a name..

Design wise I like it, and it might be a good car (I trust Ford), but branding is horrible and Lincoln will need years to make its name attractive to buyers again, especially anyone under 40.
I'm simply not optimistic

For Lincoln's sales to break out they will have to adopt a new front end across the whole product line. It just is not working. Until that happens, none of the other constructive feeback mentioned above will matter.

They should have done a scalable RWD platform that could have spawned:

Ford Falcon (Australia and sold in the US as the Interceptor)
Ford Mustang
Lincoln Sentinel (3 series/ATS competitor)
Lincoln Continental (5 Series/CTS)
Lincoln Mark X (lengthened "Mustang" coupe)

The Lincolns and the Falcon and Police Interceptor could have been built in Australia and protected jobs there.

The Fusion front end on the Lincoln would be killer!