All American

by Nate Chapnick | Riviera San Diego magazine | December 23, 2011

Although an undeniable player in the American luxury car market, Lincoln had fallen off pace with Mercedes, BMW and Lexus when it came to exciting drivers looking to spend upward of $50,000 on four wheels with equal parts kick and style. For the better part of two decades, Ford had taken its eye off Lincoln when the company was busy managing Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin. But today those marques are somebody else’s problem and Ford is investing big in its most storied brand. The blue oval built a dedicated, multimillion-dollar design studio for Lincoln, and the refreshed MKS is the first in a product revamp that will ultimately include seven new or significantly updated models.

Understanding the critical superficiality of good looks, the 2013 MKS is sleeker than its predecessor. A new slotted grille and chrome trim that wraps around high-intensity discharge headlamps give the car an aggressive appearance up front, while LED tail lamps add high-tech visuals ’round back. Under the hood, the MKS offers two engines. Lead footers will want to opt for the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost, which packs 355 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Aided by all-wheel drive traction, that means a sprint to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.

Once up to cruising speed, dual-pane side glass combined with sound-deadening material in the wheel wells makes the interior as quiet as downtown Detroit after 8pm. Of course, Lincolns are not known for tempting their drivers to get into trouble on desolate streets, but the MKS’ new Continuously Controlled Damping system allows for anger management. Flick the button from “Comfort” to “Sport,” and the dampening, braking, steering and throttle response will most definitely have your back.

Best of all, the MKS is built in Chicago, which means no complicated, European-designed central control knob. Instead, Lincoln uses simple touch areas to adjust audio and climate settings, or for inputting navigation information. True to Lincoln’s DNA, the MKS is a large vehicle, offering plenty of space to stretch for rear seat passengers. Sumptuous Bridge of Weir leather covers the 12-way adjustable front seats, which now have a blessed massage option.

While the MKS may not garner the top spot at the valet or double takes from the drive-through attendant, its approach to luxury provides what is arguably missing in this sector: a large, good-looking sedan that offers real value for the money. And that’s about as American as it gets.