Hold on a minute. I think there's something that needs to be defined intoday's automotive world, and one that's been waiting to be addressed for quite some time. This subject, which is of great importance, is the definition of American luxury. Of course, it seems like a simple enough answer. Every culture has a key statement or two of what luxury is to them. The Brits like stuff that's tweedily retro, with plenty of wood, leather, and instrument gauges pinched from a grandfather clock. The Germans, alternatively, like a mix of retrospective and modernist styles, in darker tones that are more serious, and have a penchant for displaying their finest technology on their sleeves. The Swedes, of course, are more modern still, with their touch-feely ergonomics and fascination with contorting plywood in curious ways. And perhaps it's just me, but I find that the interiors of Japanese luxury cars, while well crafted, have little soul and therefore don't stick well in my memory. Perhaps they had a computer define what luxury was, or some scientists | | MKZ's changes are significant, and beneficial to this luxury sedan. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
in a lab.
But back to the topic at hand, what about the Americans. When I thinkof American luxury, I seem to draw a big blank in terms of things that are contemporary. Sure, there are numerous buildings that offer modern, luxurious, and very American appeal - some of the world's nicest looking houses can be found in the US, as well as some of the globe's nicest furniture, and there's a lot of activity on the fashion front too, but what about one of the most important luxury statements, automobiles? The last time I checked, the vehicles parked out front of these houses weren't made by American brands, so maybe it's not just me. The last time I 'felt' something from an American luxury | | Conservative, but handsome. Just the way I (and most Lincoln owners) like it. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
car was from a '60s era Lincoln Continental, or Cadillac before the '70s and CRT-obsessed '80s rolled around; it was something about that sense of quality, the thick leather, the shiny (real) metal and that sheer, stark look. I think Lincoln has managed to recapture much of that with the MKZ.
There is skepticism to a certain degree. Americanluxury doesn't have to be built in America. I mean, while the iPod Nano and Herman Miller's finest chairs were designed in the States, they're both assembled somewhere else. On that same token, when Bentley couldn't keep up with orders at its Crewe factory (it's since been upgraded) its Continental lineup was assembled in VW's Dresden factory that builds the slow-selling Phaeton. German luxury or British? There's no question, | | HID headlamps peer through narrow lenses. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
being that the coupe, convertible and sedan are as British in character as any Bentley in previous memory. Much the same (although at a much more approachable price point), the MKZ is a product of American design, but it's stamped out in the same Mexican factory that previously built the Ford Escort, and currently turns out the MKZ's twin siblings, the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. Somehow, though, that image doesn't exactly exude American luxury, especially to UAW bigwigs that could only justify driving an American-made luxury car (Hmmm... the Acura TL is made in the U.S.A. - Ed).
Perhaps American luxury can be defined in the way that a car looks.The MKZ isn't as bold as the Chrysler 300, which, by the way, is also a very good candidate for the American Luxury poster child. The Lincoln is actually rather plain looking, but it's a clean sort of plain, comprising | | Not so much from the back, but the front is elegant, classy, and very Lincoln-esque. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
a three-box design with some glittery chrome draping the new waterfall grille, and new lower valances. The big taillights have ornamental LEDs visibly set into the upper flanks of the lens, which sit on the big, high surfaced trunk lid. A pair of chrome-tipped exhaust pipes finishes the whole package off. On several occasions when approaching at night and watching the interior bask in soft white lighting, and the flood lamps from under the side-view mirrors light up the pavement below, the car looks elegant, and expensive.
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