Press Release
MKS SHOWCASES LINCOLN SIGNATURE DESIGN CUES
The dynamic, powerful and clean-lined Lincoln MKS is the first production vehicle to embrace the Lincoln design DNA introduced on the Lincoln MKR concept.
"The Lincoln MKS is a substantial car with a well-proportioned athleticism and several signature design cues we developed after carefully auditing the best Lincoln design elements over time," says Peter Horbury, Ford Motor Company executive director of design for The Americas.
"Lincoln was always much more discreet, exuding a kind of understated luxury," adds Horbury. "The same as today, Lincoln projects a much higher level of confidence in the owner. The Lincoln owner views the MKS as a reward for hard work, not simply an outward symbol of status."
The most striking exterior design feature is the double-wing grille, inspired by the 1941 Lincoln Continental. The grille sweeps up into the jewel-like headlamps forming a single graphic element that further accentuates the face.
A bright chrome Lincoln star rests prominently on the body color separation between the elements of the double wing grille.
"It's a clean execution that gives the badge somewhere to sit without fighting with the grille behind it," said Horbury.
The lower fascia opening is highlighted in a very tasteful grille made of thin chrome strips. Fog lamps are set into recessed areas at the outer edges of the fascia that are defined by delicate chrome trim.
The edges of the grille are drawn into creases over the sculpted hood and flow up the A-pillar, defining the fast-raked windshield and forming the sleek roofline.
Detailed high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps sweep around into the front fenders and into the crease that runs the length of the vehicle forming the base for its broad shoulders. The beltline kicks up slightly over the rear wheels, another modern tribute to classic Lincoln design.
The high beltline is defined by a strip of polished stainless steel that continues around the side windows and finishes with a wide flourish at the front edge of the C-pillar. This elegant graphical detail defines the side window shape and accentuates the tapered cantrail of the cantilevered roof, one of the staples of classic Lincoln design.
Clean flowing side surfaces are only interrupted by the door handles and Lincoln Star displayed on the front fender. The high beltline, chamfered surfaces and clean sides plant the Lincoln MKS to the road and give it a confident and proud stance.
Polished stainless steel strips also run the length of the car from the A-pillar and down the edges of the fast rear glass, framing the available twin-panel moon roof and flowing into the tall decklid.
Body-colored, manual-fold, power adjustable, heated side mirrors with memory also feature security approach lamps and driver side electrochromic auto-dimming.
Exquisitely detailed LED taillamps are accented by a wide vertical white light strip that runs along the edge of the decklid. A horizontal chrome strip inset with a Lincoln star punctuates the rear. Chrome exhaust tips are set into the lower portion of the rear fascia.
The Lincoln MKS comes standard with 18-inch, 10-spoke painted cast aluminum wheels. Two 19-inch wheels are available, a 10-spoke bright machined painted cast aluminum and 10-spoke premium painted cast aluminum. A segment-exclusive 20-inch, 11-spoke polished cast aluminum wheel is also available.
Nine exterior paint colors are available, including a new Tuxedo Black Metallic. The new formula uses tiny glass flakes in place of the mica flakes normally used for metallic paints. The smaller glass flakes allow for the use of more of them resulting in a metallic paint that glistens even more brilliantly in the light.
Additional colors are: Light Ice Blue Clearcoat Metallic; Dark Ink Blue Clearcoat Metallic; White Chocolate Tri-Coat Clearcoat; Cinnamon Clearcoat Metallic; Smokestone Clearcoat Metallic; Brilliant Silver Clearcoat Metallic; Sangria Red Clearcoat Metallic; and White Suede Clearcoat Metallic.
LINCOLN MKS PRECISION CRAFTED, MODERN INTERIOR OFFERS TRUE BUSINESS CLASS LUXURY
The 2009 Lincoln MKS delivers a precision-crafted environment resplendent in hand-wrapped premium leather as well as real wood and metal accents.
"The cabin of the Lincoln MKS is a space you will look forward to spending time in because it is meticulously detailed and built with precision, yet it also is warm and inviting," said Peter Horbury, Ford Motor Company executive director of design for The Americas.
The MKS interior incorporates a modern version of the symmetrical instrument panel design that is also featured in the Lincoln Navigator and MKX crossover.
The instrument panel flows horizontally from door to door. The top portion is hand-wrapped in durable, eco-friendly leatherette, as are the inner door panels. It is double-stitched in a fashion normally found on custom and concept vehicles.
Soft materials are used on all of the touch points on the door trim as well as the A-pillar, instrument panel topper and headliner.
The instrument panel is divided into upper and lower portions by a stripe of sculpted wood highlighted by a line of chrome. The chrome treatment is carried through to the door panels, and customers also can choose to extend the sculpted wood effect onto the door panels by specifying a premium wood door trim option.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel is trimmed at the top in real wood and frames an elegant instrument cluster with gauges circled with delicate chrome rings. The MKS's climate control bezels are surrounded by sculpted aluminum that also is evident on the steering wheel and gear selector. Aluminum trim defines the sides of the flow-through center console.
"The designers really captured modern Lincoln luxury design in the interior execution," said Horbury. "There is nothing on the cockpit that is concentrated only on the driver. With Lincoln, the business class ride is a shared experience for all on board."
Elegant and flowing surfaces create the feeling that the interior has been sculpted, rather than constructed. Careful attention was focused on designing interior components to eliminate seams or interruptions in the flow.
For instance, the glove box is stretched to span the lower portion of the instrument panel, with the left-side seam forming the edge of the center console. Meanwhile, the center console stretches from the instrument panel to the seats in a single piece, eliminating any breaks and providing a clean and uncluttered appearance.
The flow-through center stack is topped with an integrated information screen that also serves as the screen for the available navigation system. The center stack also houses the soft-touch audio and climate control dials.
The center stack flows elegantly down to a large center console that has a split, two-piece, padded upper section that is hand-wrapped in double-stitched leather. Each section slides forward individually to form an armrest.
Standard, all-leather seats are double-stitched and feature an exclusive Lincoln perforation pattern on the inserts. The Ultimate Package adds a color-keyed suede strip to the center of the seat backs and an embroidered Lincoln Star logo on the front seat headrests.
Customers can choose from three distinct interior options, all set off by cool white lighting featured on all Lincolns.
The Charcoal Black interior environment is trimmed in Fine Line Ebony wood. Another option features Light Camel seats with cabin environment fitted with contrasting Sterling and Light Camel materials and trimmed with Olive Ash. In vehicles with Cashmere seats, the interior color scheme is black with Cashmere and the wood is Fine Line Ebony.
 "The two-tone interior exquisitely accentuates the interior design," said Horbury. "The dark instrument panel upper and dark carpet in contrast with the Cashmere seats and lower instrument panel and door trim really bring the interior to life."
An available aluminum appliqué package replaces the wood accents on the on cars with the Charcoal and Cashmere environments. It also includes stylized aluminum and includes a complete leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The MKS environment was developed around a philosophy of "guilt-free luxury." Lincoln designers used materials and processes that would appeal to customers who prize the finer things in life, but not at the expense of the world around them.
"It is clear to us that the tastes of luxury buyers are maturing and becoming more sophisticated. That is why Lincoln is using the finest leathers, rare woods and real aluminum and chrome accents throughout the design," Horbury said. "But we are doing so in a more responsible, environmentally friendly way."
For example, the leather used for the seats is supplied by Bridge of Weir, a Scottish company with a heritage stretching more than 100 years. Bridge of Weir has a long-standing relationship with Ford Motor Company that started with supplying hides for the Ford Model T and the iconic Continental Mark II.
Bridge of Weir leather was chosen for its high quality and its organic, chromium-free tanning to create the softest leather ever used in a Lincoln. A similar process is used to create leather for infants' shoes.
In much the same spirit, the ebony used for some models is reclaimed from furniture makers and others sources to offer a beautiful and rare wood with minimal environmental impact.
Olive Ash, offered as the wood trim on some models, is a distinctive, deeply lustrous shade of burl, darker than that commonly found in Ash wood.
The Luxury of Space
The Lincoln MKS offers an incomparable luxury travel experience.
"The Lincoln MKS ensures a high level of comfort for all passengers, thanks to a class-leading interior package," said Brett Wheatley, Lincoln Mercury general marketing manager. "Abundant space, features and technologies deliver the luxury experience that Lincoln customers want and deserve."
New Lincoln comfort seats, developed first for the Lincoln MKS, feature proper side bolster support for spirited driving. The standard-heated and cooled, 12-way power driver and front passenger seats offer four-way lumbar (up, down, in and out) for added comfort on long trips.
Rear seat passengers also enjoy a luxury experience that begins as soon as they enter the cabin. The Lincoln MKS has the largest rear-door opening of any vehicle in its class as well as segment-exclusive standard heated rear seats.
Storage space abounds with a large glove box, front door storage pockets with cup/bottle holders and two cupholders molded into the center console for front passengers. Rear-seat passengers can utilize large map pockets integrated to the front seat backs. A center console folds down providing access to two cupholders.
The MKS has three 12-volt powerpoints in the center console bin, inside the center console and in the rear of the center console for rear seat access.
The MKS offers best-in-class interior volume of 105.9 cubic feet, and best-in-class luggage space of 18.4 cubic feet, nearly four times larger than some competitors.
The class-leading, spacious cabin also provides first-row headroom of 39.7 inches, first row leg room of 41.9 inches, rear seat headroom of 38.6 inches, rear seat legroom of 38.6 inches and front and rear seat hip room of 55.3 inches.
Both front and rear passengers will find ingress and egress easy as a result of the hidden rocker panels on the MKS.
Recessed into the door opening, the cleverly designed rockers allow for a lower step-over height making it easier to enter or exit the vehicle. The unique rocker design also is hidden from the elements, reducing the likelihood of soiling shoes or trousers when entering or exiting the vehicle.
The integrated dual-panel moonroof enhances travel for everyone. The front panel offers the full function of a standard moonroof, including tilt and vent and slides back under the rear fixed glass. The rear fixed panel or "skylight" brings more of the outside world to backseat passengers.
An integrated power sunshade deploys from the rear package shelf to provide relief from the sun or to control the light in the back seat. The sunshade retracts automatically when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle.
