Lincoln MKS

The Lincoln MKS is a full-size, five-passenger, front- or all-wheel drive luxury sedan manufactured by Ford and marketed by its Lincoln subdivision for model years (MY) 2008-2016. Following a 2006 concept vehicle, Lincoln presented the MKS at the LA Auto Show in November 2007. Production began for the MY 2009 at Ford's Chicago Assembly plant in May 2008 with sales beginning a month later.

Sharing the Ford D3 platform with the fifth- and sixth-generation Ford Taurus, the MKS featured front-wheel drive, with optional all-wheel drive and the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6, shared with the Taurus SHO.

Discontinued after 2016 and replaced by the tenth generation Lincoln Continental, domestic MKS production reached 100,248 over MY 2009–2016.

MKS (2009–2016)
Lincoln presented the MKS in November 2007 at the LA Auto Show. Sales began in the summer of 2008 as a 2009 model, featuring leather seating surfaces, dash-top leatherette and olive-ash or ebony wood trim.

Equipment included radar autonomous cruise control system, intelligent access system with a push button start, a flush-mounted keyless entry keypad on the driver's B-pillar with touch-activated buttons and optional adaptive HID headlights. Other features included automatic HID headlights, foglights, capless fuel filler marketed as Easy Fuel, foldable power adjustable mirrors with memory, 18x7.5-inch machined aluminum wheels, 6-speaker audio system with an AM/FM radio and 6-disc in-dash CD changer, Sirius satellite radio with a six-month prepaid subscription, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass, 12-way, heated and cooled power driver and passenger seats, heated rear seats, a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with memory, a universal garage door opener, and Lincoln SYNC.

Safety features included dual front airbags, driver and passenger side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Equipment packages include the Navigation Package (a DVD navigation system, a THX II-Certified, 14-speaker, 600-watt audio system with an AM/FM radio and six-disc in-dash CD player, and a rearview camera); Technology Package (adaptive HID headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a forward-sensing system, a power sunshade for the rear window, and the intelligent access system with push button start); the Ultimate Package included the Navigation and Technology packages and added a dual panel moonroof, premium 19x8-inch painted alloy wheels, Ultimate seating trim with color-keyed suede strip in the center of the seat back, and Lincoln star logo embroidered on the front headrests. An Aluminum Applique Package (aluminum dash trim in the place of wood, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob), is also available, requiring the Navigation, Technology, or Ultimate packages. Individual options included all-wheel drive, 19x8-inch machined aluminum wheels, 20x8-inch polished aluminum wheels, adaptive cruise control, and a PowerCode remote starter.



Active Park Assist, using ultrasonic sensors to measure a parking space and operate the steering wheel to parallel parking the vehicle, became available in mid-2009 for MY 2010. The system used software control of the Electric Power Steering (EPS).

The MKS used Ford's D3 platform with MacPherson struts and rearward-facing lower L-arms with a 26 mm stabilizer bar in the front and a multilink coil over shock setup with stamped steel lower control arms and cast upper control arms in the rear; "Lincoln Drive Control" with continuously controlled damping (CCD) available as optional feature. The car featured four-wheel antilock disc brakes (12.25 in rotors in the front and 12.75 in rotors in the rear) with standard AdvanceTrac traction control and Roll Stability Control (RSC). Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard while all-wheel drive (AWD) was optional. The MKS is powered by an all-aluminum 3.7 L Duratec DOHC V6, a larger bore derivative of the Duratec 35 in Ford's Cyclone engine group. The engine was designed to accept either regular grade, 87 octane gasoline or premium grade, 91 octane gasoline. Using regular grade gasoline, the 3.7 L V6 produces 273 hp (204 kW) at 6250 rpm and 270 lb·ft (366 N·m) of torque at 4250 rpm. Using premium grade gasoline results in a small boost in output to 275 hp (205 kW) at 6250 rpm and 276 lb·ft (374 N·m) of torque at 4250 rpm. The 6F50 6-speed automatic transmission is equipped with SelectShift, simulating the operation of a manual transmission.

A road test of the AWD-equipped MKS model by Car and Driver recorded acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 15.7 seconds at 90 mi/h. Testers noted the MKS' 4300 lbs weight. Ford introduced its EcoBoost V6, an all-aluminum, twin-turbocharged, direct injection 3.5 L DOHC V6, in the 2010 MKS arriving in showrooms in the summer of 2009.

The EcoBoost engine provided 355 hp and 350 lbft of torque.

2013 facelift
The facelifted 2013 model year MKS debuted at the 2011 Los Angeles International Auto Show, with a mildly refreshed exterior and interior (front "Multicontour" seats) as well as safety updates such as auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping system. The new MKS also grew slightly in overall length to 205.6 in, making it the longest domestic production sedan.

For 2015, the deck lid once again received aesthetic changes. A chrome trim section was added, stretching horizontally across the lid. The Lincoln lettering was increased in size and centered above this new trim section following along the length of it. The MKS emblem was moved to the left side corner of the lid.

Reception
A reviewer from Canada's National Post gave the MKS a positive reception in a comparison test with the Cadillac STS and Infiniti M45, two cars that Ford picked to bring along.

The MKS has dimensions comparable to the 2010 Audi A8 4.2 FSI quattro, a sedan with all-wheel drive which is equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.2 L V8 engine with direct gasoline injection. The MKS is almost an inch longer than the A8L (long-wheelbase version), an inch wider and five inches (127 mm) taller, has four more cubic feet of trunk space, and extra 25 lbft of torque, while being 100 lb lighter. The MKS starts at $30,000 less than the base A8. The MKS also undercuts several mid-luxury cars with V8 engines and all-wheel drive by $10,000, such as the Audi A6 4.2 FSI quattro and the Infiniti M45x.

While praised for its large interior and long list of features, the MKS has been criticized for not being as refined as other luxury sedans in a similar price range. It is also noted that the MKS's platform-mate, the Ford Taurus, offers the same powertrain and many available technological features, starting at an MSRP of $10,000 less than the MKS.

End of production
Due to declining sales, the Lincoln MKS was replaced by a new car based on the Lincoln Continental concept in 2016. The Chicago Assembly Plant where the MKS was produced continued to manufacture the Ford Taurus (until March 2019). The plant continued to manufacture the Ford Explorer and Police Interceptor vehicles.

Sales
The MKS made its first appearance as a concept car at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, presenting Lincoln's design direction for their new full-size flagship sedan.

The concept included Lincoln's signature waterfall, cross-hatched grille with a crosshatching. The concept car's headlights featured adaptive lighting that pivoted the headlight projectors with steering inputs. The headlight assemblies incorporated a series of LEDs that would blink in sequence for turn indication. Side vents at the rear of the front wheel wells were adorned with the Lincoln star. The concept featured a large sunroof and moonroof combination that takes the place of a conventional roof. The concept's rear were LED-based parking and brake lamps and dual chrome, trapezoidal-shaped exhaust tips. The concept rode on 20x8.5-inch, ten spoke wheels.

The concept's seats used cream-colored Aniline leather; doors and interior panels used pearl-white suede, and the dash used dark grey suede. Instrumentation and controls featured satin nickel inserts and chrome trim with backlighting provided by white LEDs. An applique of real maple wood ran across the instrument panel, dividing it into upper and lower sections. Features included Bluetooth device connectivity, a DVD-based navigation system, a 14-speaker, 500-watt audio system, a passive entry system that identifies the driver and allows starting the vehicle by carrying its key fob, and a push button ignition system. Safety was provided by dual front airbags, driver and passenger side airbags, and side curtain airbags.

The concept, internally designated model D385, used Ford's front-drive, Volvo-derived D3 platform shared with the Ford Five Hundred, Ford Freestyle, and Mercury Montego, featuring independent suspension with MacPherson struts and rearward-facing lower L-arms with a stabilizer bar in the front and a multilink coil over shock setup with a stabilizer bar in the rear. The MKS Concept featured an active all-wheel drive system. Powering the concept was a Ford/Yamaha 4.4 L DOHC V8 producing 315 hp (235 kW) at 4500 rpm and 320 lb·ft (433 N·m) of torque at 3000 rpm. The engine used a 6-speed automatic transmission.