Press Release
Page 2: Chassis / Special Features
Exterior / Interior
Luxury crossover with understated elegance, vibrant cues
Exterior
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Lincoln enters crossover segment with understated elegance
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Flowing lines accentuate dynamic stance, grille and rear
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Lincoln-first Vista Roofâ„¢ adds functionality, flexibility for open-air tours
The all-new 2007 Lincoln MKX luxury crossover utility vehicle (CUV) combines an elegant shape with a wide stance, a distinctive grille and unique rear design enhanced by exquisite lighting treatment.
Lincoln MKX builds on the hot-selling new Lincoln Zephyr to continue the brand’s transformation as it enters new segments with appealing designs. Lincoln MKX maintains the heart and soul of Lincoln heritage, while delivering modern styling and functionality in the fast-growing CUV segment.
"The best Lincolns always have had dynamic, yet understated designs," says Peter Horbury, executive director, Design, North America. "The clean, elegant design and attention to detail in MKX is utterly Lincoln."
This Lincoln design philosophy is shaping the brand’s future for a new generation of luxury buyers, those who prefer understated sophistication over brashness. As witnessed in modern high-end hotels, restaurants and clubs of Southern California, simple elegance is in. Showy wealth is out.
"Lincoln represents the luxury of the future," says Horbury. "People’s attitudes about the display of luxury are shifting, as discretion is becoming more required today than ostentation."
Graceful Design and Driving Enjoyment
Lincoln MKX styling closely resembles the critically acclaimed MKX concept presented at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It conveys the American sense of openness with expressive, flowing lines, beginning with the distinctive Lincoln grille.
The Lincoln star is the centerpiece of the Lincoln MKX’s grille, with a stately horizontal and vertical chromed grid reaching out, surrounding the jeweled headlamps.
Lincoln MKX’s smooth lines flow rearward around the wheels, which are pushed out to the corners of the vehicle. The result is a strong, solid stance poised for a dynamic drive.
The high beltline and broad shoulders are appropriately softened with the right touch of chromed accents under the windows and on the side mirror caps. Black rocker panels plant the vehicle and call attention to the 18-inch multispoked machined aluminum or chromed wheels on P245/60R18 BSW H-rated Michelin tires.
The lower front and rear fascias continue the black trim with chrome-accented fog lamps in front and chrome exhaust tips in the rear. The gently sweeping roofline surrounds an available panoramic all-glass Vista Roofâ„¢ for a sense of freedom and open-air cruising.
The Vista Roofâ„¢ is a Lincoln-first, featuring a large 27.3- by 29.4-inch forward sunroof and 15.75- by 31.3-inch fixed rear moonroof. The sunroof offers vent and tilt-and-slide operation, and is conveniently operated by a one-touch-open switch. Dual power sunshades operate concurrently when the driver wants to block out glare.
Interior: Clean and Innovative
Lincoln MKX’s comfortable interior boasts high-quality materials and fine craftsmanship.
The instrument panel flows into a well-organized center stack with optional wood or satin nickel accents on the door panels. Interior controls are bathed in Lincoln’s cool-white light for a pleasant nighttime cabin experience.
Removable dividers in the center console let customers customize their storage space for laptop computers, handbags, CDs and loose change. The center console also features an available concealed power point – for four total throughout the interior – and an optional MP3 audio jack. A small slot molded into the console keep cords neatly organized.
Front seats have eight-way power adjustments, including available two-way power lumbar and available heating and cooling controls. The second row is sure to make all occupants comfortable with ample headroom and class-leading legroom, and available heated and reclining seats.
Innovative Adaptive Lighting Shines for Lincoln
Distinctive lighting has always been a hallmark of modern Lincoln design, offering a balance between art and function.
The new optional adaptive front lighting system in the headlamps improves visibility during cornering. It consists of motor-driven halogen low beams that swivel around curves based on steering-wheel input. When cornering, the headlamps can illuminate up to 36 feet more of the road than conventional headlights.
Functional elegance is also the theme for Lincoln MKX’s exquisite rear lighting treatment. The system uses 16 light-emitting diodes (LEDs), eight outboard and eight inboard, flanking the Lincoln star. The result is an edge-to-edge band of illumination across the liftgate, bending the light across the entire width of the vehicle.
"The Lincoln MKX says everything about modern luxury," says Doyle Letson, Lincoln MKX chief designer. "It brings a distinctive American flavor to the luxury CUV. Its graceful, expressive lines, firm, wide stance and great proportions bring a fresh, new look to the segment."
Interior
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Elegant design, premium materials and “butter-soft� leather trimmed seats for business-class travelers that prefer more than skin-deep substance
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Ultra quiet cabin with such technology as available THX II-certified sound, segment-first heated and cooled front seats, and heated rear seats
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Refined fit and finish on instrument panel and center stack deliver tight gaps
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Optional all-glass Vista Roofâ„¢ opens MKX to the world for relief on increasingly crowded commutes
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Innovative cool white LED lighting gives exclusive evening ambience
The new 2007 MKX interior is elegant, precise and ultra-quiet, delivering "business-class" space, comfort and amenities that reinforce the modern exterior’s fresh new luxury CUV look.
"MKX offers a business-class experience that makes other CUV interiors feel like coach seating" says Peter Horbury, executive director of design, North America. "It’s rich materials, precise execution, ‘butter-soft’ and well-supported leather seats, and openness provide a business-class travel experience for customers who earned premium, substantive luxuries."
MKX helps define Lincoln’s re-energized design strategy that is apparent with the carefully selected interior palette of luxuriously soft premium leather trimmed seats, real wood accents and satin nickel trim.
"The MKX is like stepping into luxury," says Barb Whalen, chief designer, Colors and Materials for Lincoln Cars and Crossovers. "It’s elegant, refined interior was inspired by American furniture design, with light woods and dark woods, nothing fussy, with a well-crafted appearance and attention to detail."
When Lincoln engineers set out to push the luxury CUV segment’s design boundaries, they put significant resources in the design and execution of the interior. Class-leading attention to detail has produced the "business class" cabin with superior quiet and comfort, and Lincoln’s best-ever fit and finish.
MKX seats five in buttery-soft leather trimmed seats. Class-exclusive heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats provide individualized comfort. The cockpit-style front compartment overlooks a clean, well-organized instrument panel designed to tight tolerance standards for fit and finish. The panoramic all-glass Vista Roofâ„¢ gives the feeling of openness, adding to the spacious head and leg room.
"MKX joins the new MKS sedan teaser to set the tone for future Lincoln design," says Doyle Letson, chief designer.
Quiet and comfortable
MKX provides impressive interior quietness. Extra thick carpet and padding, improved headliner and sound-deadening materials have been added to isolate road and engine noise. The new Duratec 35 V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission were designed as a package to reduce noise and vibration. The silky smooth operation and innovative engine mounting have further improved interior sound levels.
Thicker side glass and laminated windshield contribute to the quiet cabin environment. MKX uses a constrained layer barrier fused to the rear wheel housings, and sound-deadening material sonic-welded behind exterior plastic trim panels to further reduce road and wind noise. In fact, during wind tunnel testing of the side mirrors, a clay modeler was brought into the wind tunnel to optimize the size and shape of the mirrors for lowest noise – millimeter by millimeter.
Likewise, exhaustive testing was done on the antenna. Repeated testing and re-testing determined the optimum size and shape of the antenna, down to the number of spiral wraps on the mast, including the angle and spacing of the wrap.
Tight fits, supple yet supportive seats
The first impression for many is the delightful comfort of the seats, with the pleasant aesthetics that come with attention to detail. Front seats are 8-way power adjustable on both sides to accommodate any size adult.
There is a fully flexible center console that employs removable dividers, allowing customization of the storage compartment for items from purses to laptops to CDs. There is also an available, concealed power point (for a total of four throughout the interior) and an MP3 audio jack for convenience. A small slot molded into the side of the console keeps phone and other accessory cords organized and hidden.
Lincoln’s innovative lighting technologies extend inside with cool white LED light that illuminates controls and switches. Instrument panel gauges are softly lit, easy to read and clearly laid out. All instrument panel equipment is intuitive and well-placed for convenience and easy operation.
Genuine wood inserts are available in Ebony or Anigre to compliment the leather and satin nickel surfaces. Unique wood is found on the steering wheel, the dashboard and on door inserts for a pleasing blend of materials. The steering wheel offers a convenient selection of controls for audio and climate.
Standard convenience items include one-touch up and down driver and front seat passenger windows, electrochromic rearview mirror, heated side mirrors with puddle lamps, automatic headlamps, keyless keypad entry and global open for the front windows and moonroof.
In the second row of seats, luxury truly takes a backseat. In addition to the highest level of leather trim and thick padding, the 60/40-split rear seats also offer an optional heating feature for comfort. Spacious head room and class-leading rear leg room, combined with reclining of up to 15 degrees, allow adults to ride in comfort. An easy single-lever action allows the second row of seats to fold flat for the convenience and cargo capacity of an SUV.
From the rear liftgate, the second row seats can be folded flat with the touch of the optional Easy Foldâ„¢ button. Maximum cargo space is accessible through an optional power liftgate. Cargo space is an impressive 68.7 cubic feet with rear seats folded.
Enjoy the view
Whether your travels take you near or far, enjoy the ride with an incredible panoramic view overhead. The gently sweeping roofline of MKX houses an optional panoramic all-glass Vista Roofâ„¢ that offers a forward sunroof and a fixed rear moonroof for a sense of freedom that comes with open air motoring. Dual-power sunshades can be used to block out unwanted glare.
With the sunroof open, wind and wind noise are expertly managed for driving comfort.
Advanced technology that makes sense
Lincoln MKX offers an advanced degree of technical innovations that make sense.
An optional, touch-screen, DVD-based navigation system features a sharp, 6.5-inch-wide screen with text-to-speech technology in English, French or Spanish to keep you on the right road.
Rear seat passengers will get endless entertainment from the available, integrated DVD system with an eight-inch, drop-down screen. But everyone will appreciate the concert-hall sound of the available THX II-certified surround-sound audio system with 14 speakers, two sub-woofers and 600 watts of power. MKX also offers optional factory-installed SIRIUS satellite radio.
