Lincoln MKX

Press Release

Page 1: Summary

Page 2: Chassis / Special Features

Page 3: Exterior / Interior

Page 4: Safety

Page 5: Specifications

Chassis: Driving dynamics

New luxury crossover defines effortless performace for Lincoln

• The Lincoln MKX's all-new 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 and smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic deliver powerful, refined performance and impressive fuel economy – expected mid-20 mpg on the highway

• Wide stance, solid structure, luxury-tuned fully independent suspension and responsive steering give Lincoln MKX agility and ride comfort

• Advanced unibody construction marries carlike driving manners, style and efficiency with SUV functionality

• Enhanced AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control (RSC®) and intelligent AWD provide confident handling in all conditions

The Lincoln MKX luxury crossover utility vehicle (CUV) delivers Lincoln’s new signature for driving dynamics – effortless performance.

Thanks to a new powertrain, smooth and powerful in all weather conditions, Lincoln MKX promises to give customers the most rewarding driving experience of any Lincoln yet.

Lincoln MKX’s responsive operation starts with an all-new powertrain package. The 3.5-liter Duratec 35 V-6 engine is mated to an advanced, smooth-shifting 6-speed transmission. Besides its smooth and predictable characteristics, this powertrain is expected to deliver impressive fuel economy – in the mid-20 mpg range on the highway.

"The new Duratec 35 proves performance and fuel economy can go hand-in-hand if you invest in the right technologies," says Barb Samardzich, vice president, Powertrain Operations, Ford Motor Company. "And we put the right technologies – 6-speed automatic transmissions, electronic throttle, variable cam timing – in the new Lincoln MKX."

The 3.5-liter V-6 and 6-speed transmission were designed concurrently to improve overall fuel efficiency and provide a smooth and quiet ride. Powertrain engineers focused on the interface of the engine and transmission as it relates to movement and harshness that occurs in typical engine load dynamics. Engineers were able to diffuse and eliminate the common powertrain bending that occurs under acceleration, resulting in smooth launches and shifts.

Six forward gears means shorter travel between gear changes, lower rpm shifts and overall smoother transitions from one gear to another. But best of all, there’s improved fuel economy. The powertrain is expected to deliver impressive 0-60 performance times while still delivering fuel economy in the mid-20s on the highway.

An aluminum block – the heart of the new Duratec 35 V-6 engine – is the result of advanced design and manufacturing techniques. Extensive computer-aided engineering produced the first-ever high-pressure die-cast aluminum block for a Lincoln V-configured engine.

Lightweight aluminum cylinder heads feature four-valves per cylinder with a dual overhead cam configuration for superb power capability and smooth operation at high engine speed. Lightweight valvetrain components and intake variable cam timing (I-VCT) optimize smoothness and fuel efficiency.

The result of this new engine package is a very well-mannered and responsive 250-horsepower at 6,250 rpm, with 240 lb.-ft. of torque to respond quickly to accelerator input.

Engine Delivers Impressive Fuel Economy, Reduced Emissions

The Duratec 35 V-6 carries forward Lincoln’s commitment to the environment. Computer-aided technology and design optimization have helped deliver a very clean V-6. To achieve impressive emissions ratings, the powertrain team worked diligently on four key areas:

• High 10.3:1 compression ratio combustion chamber improves power and fuel economy and lowers emissions.

• The 3.5-liter is designed with low heat-loss exhaust manifolds and close-coupled catalysts for fast light-off during cold start. This is essential for minimizing cold-start emissions (when emissions are highest) before the catalysts reach operating temperature.

• Optimized fuel injector targeting is used to minimize cold-start emissions by maximizing cold-fuel consumption.

• Centrally located spark plugs increase thermal efficiency.

Lincoln MKX is expected to be rated for ULEV (ultra-low emission vehicle) II tailpipe emissions in California and receive a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rating of Tier II/Bin 5 tailpipe and LEV (low-emission vehicle) II evaporative emissions in other states.

New 6-speed Transmission Provides Smooth Shifts

The wide ratio gear span of Lincoln MKX’s class-exclusive 6-speed transmission delivers up to a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with a typical 4-speed automatic as well as great performance.

The low (4.48) first gear provides tremendous acceleration at launch with short steps between intermediate gears for smooth and quiet operation up to the tall (0.74) overdrive sixth gear that provides good fuel economy at highway speeds.

"When you design a 6-speed, you typically want the step size between the gears to be smaller. And that is generally beneficial to shift quality," says Ram Krishnaswami, manager, 6F Transmission Systems, Automatic Transmission Engineering Operations. "We designed this transmission to deliver the type of refinement expected by luxury owners"

The intelligent transmission, with adaptive control strategy, improves refinement by minimizing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The sophisticated control module has a learning function: Every time the transmission shifts, it measures the response and makes a correction.

Unique software programmed into the 6F’s electronic controller "trims and characterizes" all solenoids and clutches. This compensates for the variances that would normally lead to changes in shift feel, producing smooth, precisely controlled shifts that improve durability and customer satisfaction.

Performance, Refinement and Safety

Lincoln MKX’s confident and comfortable driving dynamics with predictable handling are the result of a solid foundation. Its unibody construction combines carlike ride and handling with durability and dependability.

This solid foundation gave engineers more freedom developing the luxury-tuned four-wheel independent suspension. The MacPherson strut front suspension is mounted to an isolated subframe that uses hydrobushings to reduce unwanted steering wheel vibration.

The all-new four-link independent rear suspension uses stamped steel control blades and monotube shocks for more precise suspension tuning. Lincoln MKX comes standard with four-wheel disc brakes and an anti-lock braking system.

Lincoln MKX’s intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) system is tuned with an emphasis on luxury performance while still offering confidence in all weather conditions. The system actively and seamlessly distributes torque to all four wheels, even before wheel slippage occurs.

Working in harmony with available traction assist and brake assist, available intelligent AWD transfers torque front to rear, dependent on need, with the precise amount of torque automatically delivered to the rear wheels in increments up to 100 percent.

Special Features

MKX delivers impressive quiet comfort

• Interior was designed and tuned for quiet comfort.

• Exterior components were wind-tunnel tested for reduced wind noise.

• Powertrain developed for enhanced NVH characteristics.

The 2007 Lincoln MKX delivers impressive interior quietness for a true luxury driving experience. Engineers spent hours in the wind tunnel, rigorously fine-tuning every inch of MKX – from the antenna to the rear-mounted spoiler, to dramatically reduce wind-related noise.

"Lincoln MKX raises the bar on interior quietness," says Marcos Oliviera, executive director, Unibody Platforms. "The luxury crossover’s ultra-quiet interior allows occupants to enjoy the THX audio system, converse easily or simply relish the silence."

The sound of silence is evident before you even begin driving because the door closes with a solid confidence. This tight seal signals an attention to detail engineers used to ban common wind noise paths into the vehicle.

To achieve driving silence, Lincoln engineers studied every possible contributor to noise, vibration or harshness felt or heard in the cabin. Then they went to the drawing board, designing the chassis, the suspension and the unibody for best-in-class cabin comfort.

The decision to power Lincoln MKX with Lincoln’s new Duratec 35, V-6 engine was an easy one. The all-new 3.5-liter engine was designed concurrently with MKX’s class-exclusive 6-speed transmission as a single package. Extensive time was spent eliminating the typical flex and movement of the powertrain under load conditions, providing smooth and quiet delivery of power.

The 6-speed transmission itself is smoother and quieter than a typical four-speed transmission because of the two additional gears. On acceleration, Lincoln MKX’s 6-speed transmission moves effortlessly through the gear changes. Close gear ratios keep engine rpms lower and smoother.

The next challenge was to isolate road and wind noise commonly caused by exterior components. Outside in the wheel housings, a barrier was added to drop interior wind noise by 1.9 decibels. Mathematical equations were used to design a housing for sideview mirrors that actually create less noise than no mirror at all. Then, clay modelers went into the wind tunnel to shape and sculpt the mirror housings millimeter by millimeter.

Likewise, the radio antenna was shaped and modeled, perfecting the length, diameter and spacing between the wire wrap – even changing the number and angle of the wire wraps.

The tread design on the standard all-whether tires was carefully designed to reduce road noise and vibration. And sound-deadening material was sonic welded behind plastic exterior trim panels.

Inside MKX, acoustic carpet was added to absorb noise and reduce weight. The headliner was improved, and a dashboard insulator was added to further diffuse engine noise. The windshield was changed to laminated glass, and side glass was made thicker – adding to quietness and an extra measure of safety from accidents or break-ins.