2006 Lincoln MKS Concept

Taking On the Japanese

If you were expecting something inspired by Lincolns early 60s Continental to replace the current LS and pull back long disenfranchised Town Car buyers back into the Lincoln fold, something along the lines of the gorgeous Continental Concept of 2002, then you may be shocked to see that what Ford North Americas new head of design, Peter Horbury, has dreamed up.

Do you like the MKS? Ford sure hopes you do, because this is "the design direction for Lincoln and its upcoming new flagship sedan," or so says the domestic manufacturer.

I first saw it during a blue-oval (and family) design forum hosted in Dearborn last month, and was immediately perplexed. I suppose the mental hurdle I have to get over in accepting this new design direction is that Ive been in love with the last few concepts that came under J Mays direction. These include the Continental Concept I just mentioned, plus the stunning two-door

Do you like the MKS? Ford sure hopes you do. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Mark 9 Concept from the year prior, as well as the somewhat odd but still attractive Navicross from 2003 and T-Bird-based Mark X of 2004 (not to be confused with the MKX production CUV introduced today).

Dont get me wrong, Mays is still in charge of global operations, but now living in London town he has less influence on what takes place here in North America, and purposely so. He told me, during our conversation, that he had to get out of Dearborn in order to regain a global perspective on design, or something along those lines, therefore he petitioned Fords CEO Bill Ford, to move to London, where most cars dont wear the blue oval (almost

Having fallen for the Continental Concept I (shown) and stunning two-door Mark 9 Concept, its hard to accept Lincolns new less distinctive design direction.? (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

everyone drives a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury in Dearborn).
But no matter about Mays, the MKS is all about Horbury, and therefore Mays needed to stand back and allow the amiable Brit to do his thing. After all, you dont put a head designer of Horburys credentials in place just to watch over him all the time. Still, while Ive been a fan of Horburys work for some time, especially after he gave new life to Volvo with the introduction of the current S80 and all models of the Swedish brand since, I am not warming up to his latest creation at all, and Ive had over a month to consider it.

The

While Ive been a fan of Horburys work for some time, especially after he gave new life to Volvo, Im not warming up to his latest creation at all. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

feelings resonating within Fords Dearborn design centre last month were extremely mixed, mind you, with some feeling even stronger in the negative than I, and others who quite liked the swoopy new styling direction. Horbury, of course, was hardly happy that I immediately shared my contempt for his new MKS, probably akin to insulting ones newborn after a long and arduous gestation period and seemingly longer delivery, but he took my criticisms in stride and was quick to mention that the reason the previous design direction was dropped, yes the one I like so much, is that it appeared too retro and received criticism for such. OK, I can understand why a designer wouldnt want

The first achievement is the cars sumptuous interior, every bit as nice as rivals from Europe and Japan. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

to be pulled into the past when given a clean sheet of paper to sketch on and with it the opportunity to come to market boasting an all-new design language, but Im still a bit choked.

I suppose, if I liked what I saw Id be less perturbed. First of all, before I get branded as a grumbling curmudgeon (or at least more of one than usual) there were many aspects of the MKS that I liked on that first day, all of which once again came to light when seeing it yesterday in Detroit, upon its "official" unveiling.

The first achievement is the cars sumptuous interior, every bit as nice as rivals from Europe and Japan, and in some ways even more luxuriously appointed. The plastics are superb, leather wonderfully soft and pliable, switchgear well executed

But most people dont buy a car because they fall head over heals for the interior, its the exterior styling that gets them down to the showroom. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

and fit and finished well above any previous Lincoln (except maybe the Zephyr which is extremely well done), and on par with those same European and Japanese brands. The rear seat is limousine-like, which seems fitting if this is indeed to be Lincolns flagship, and overall ambience exclusively rich.

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