The 2013 Lincoln MKT now wears the company’s new split-wing grille, a distinctive design cue that will eventually roll out across the entire lineup. Beyond the new look, the one thing that struck me is just how far Lincoln has come in just a few years. Look at the Town Car and it is as technologically moribund as any vehicle on the road today. The MKT, on the other hand, is loaded with leading-edge technologies, all of which are designed to make the driver’s life easier and/or safer.
For example, push a button and the MKT begins to scan the curb for a parking spot large enough to accommodate more than five metres of crossover. When it identifies a spot, it tells the driver to stop, select reverse and control vehicle speed using the brake. The rest of the parking manoeuvre is done automatically — the steering wheel spins left and right as the car is parked to perfection. It is the simplicity of operation that is the most impressive part of the package. Lexus requires all manner of different tasks to be completed before it backs into a space at a snail’s pace.
In fact, the MKT delivers more technology than some of its more expensive competitors. The tester arrived with a voice-activated navigation system, a superb THX-certified sound system, adaptive cruise control, a backup camera, cross traffic alert and MyKey. The latter allows the driver to limit the MKT’s capability when Junior takes the keys. There are also lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring systems. The latter is handy because the MKT’s sightlines are not all they could be — it has as much to do with size as anything.
The rest of the interior is finished with excellent attention to detail. Everything is touch-sensitive, up to and including fan speed and audio volume. Likewise, the screen at the top of the stack, which gives the driver access to the phone, navigation and entertainment functions, is touch-sensitive and a doddle to use. More impressive is the dashboard and the instrumentation contained therein. Flanking the speedometer are two additional screens. The right screen mirrors the information found on the main screen, while the left screen allows the driver to choose as much or as little information as desired. It is very slick and certainly the best way of presenting the information I have yet encountered.
Aft of that are two bucket seats on either side of an onboard refrigerator (overkill) and another two that comprise the third row. In both cases, the seats are powered. Touch a button and the third row is powered down into its well. Likewise, one touch flips the middle row forward and opens up access to the back seat.
Naturally, there is a powered liftgate — it includes a soft button by the licence plate that powers the gate open when it is touched with one’s boot. As for space, there is a ton. A roomy 17.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 39.6 cu. ft. with the third row folded and a whopping 75.9 cu. ft. with the middle row flat.
The MKT is powered by Lincoln’s 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine. With the twin turbos blowing at full gale, it puts forth 365 horsepower and, more importantly, 350 pound-feet of torque. This gives the heavy 2,276-kilogram MKT a spirited launch — enough, in fact, that it scampers to 100 kilometres an hour in 7.5 seconds and manages the more important 80-to-120-km/h passing move in 5.5 seconds.
All of this power is relayed to the road through a six-speed manumatic with paddle shifters and a very competent all-wheel-drive system. In normal driving conditions, the system powers the front wheels; however, the instant it detects a problem, it sends power rearward in just 16 milliseconds. As such, the system is proactive in all but name.
THE SPECS
Type of vehicle All-wheel drive full-sized crossover
Engine Twin-turbo 3.5L DOHC V6
Power 365 hp @ 5,700 rpm; 350 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
Transmission Six-speed manumatic
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P255/45R20 (optional)
Price: base/as tested $50,550/$61,630
Destination charge $1,600
Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km 13.1 city, 8.8 hwy.
The one thing the MKT does very well is balance the ride/handling equation, and it all boils down to the continuously controlled damping. The system monitors the suspension 500 times a second and makes the necessary real-time adjustments anywhere between 20 and 50 times a second to deliver the right damping at any given time. It certainly had the desired effect, as the amount of body roll for such a large vehicle was limited to a handful of degrees, yet it has a very smooth ride. The system allows the driver to select Comfort, Normal or Sport modes. The last does a number of good things including firming the suspension and adding some needed weight to the steering feel. In the end, it was the setting of choice. There’s also a Sport mode for the transmission. When selected, it locks out sixth gear: If the driver forgets to upshift once up to speed this action kills fuel economy. As such, it renders the setting redundant for the vast majority of the MKT’s driving life.
The Pontiac Aztek was dubbed the original SUV — Seriously Ugly Vehicle. The Lincoln MKT gives it a run for its money, at least based upon the reaction to its looks during my time with it. There’s no question it is big, bold and, perhaps, a tad too brash for most tastes. The good news is that the MKT has a ton of inner beauty!
