Lincoln MKT Earns - Top Safety Pick

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• The all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT three-row luxury crossover received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
• MKT offers a high level of crash protection – including state-of-the-art side air bags that are designed to deploy up to 30 percent earlier than traditional air bag systems – while offering a segment-first, forward collision warning system as part of Lincoln’s push into new crash-avoidance technologies
• MKT offers an array of standard driver-awareness features – including a first-in-class Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA)
• Ford Motor Company has more IIHS Top Safety Pick ratings than any other automaker and more U.S. government five-star ratings than any brand

NEW FORD SYNC APPLICATION - TRAFFIC, DIRECTIONS AND INFORMATION - READY FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

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• Current owners of early-launched 2010 vehicles equipped with Ford SYNC now can visit www.syncmyride.com and download and install the latest application – Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) – at home for no additional cost
• SYNC TDI connects a customer’s Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to Ford’s Service Delivery Network voice portal delivering turn-by-turn driving directions, real-time traffic, business searches and favorite news, sports and weather – all through simple voice commands
• Eligible customers can download this latest SYNC application similar to the way they would download a song from an online media store such as Apple’s iTunes
• TDI will be available on all 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with SYNC, including the all-new Ford Taurus, which arrives in dealerships this summer
• SYNC, when available as an option, retains its retail price of $395, and includes a GPS receiver new for the 2010 model year; TDI services come with no monthly subscription fees for the first three years of vehicle ownership

2010 LINCOLN MKZ: MORE STANDARD LUXURY AND SEGMENT-EXCLUSIVE SAFETY, STARTS UNDER $35,000

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• The 2010 Lincoln MKZ offers more standard luxury features compared to other midsize luxury sedans, such as the Lexus ES350 and Cadillac CTS
• A new Sport Appearance Package is available for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ that offers a variety of custom details, including 18-inch chrome wheels
• Base price of $34,965 includes destination and delivery

The 2010 Lincoln MKZ offers customers more standard luxury and segment-exclusive safety features for their money, with a starting price of $34,965, including destination and delivery.

Compared with other midsize luxury sedans – such as the Lexus ES350 and Cadillac CTS – the MKZ comes with more standard luxury features, such as Bridge of Weir leather seats, genuine wood trim, heated and cooled front seats, the popular SYNC entertainment and connectivity system, a reverse sensing system and driver multi-adjustable power seat.

The 2010 Lincoln MKZ also has features not offered by competitors in this segment, such as the all-new Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA).
“Customers universally are surprised when they get into a competing vehicle and find out that they have to pay more for luxury features, such as premium leather seats,” said Jonathan Richards, Lincoln MKZ Marketing manager. “That’s what sets the MKZ apart from the competition. It comes standard with all the features you would expect from a world class entry-level luxury sedan.”

The front-wheel-drive MKZ has a base price of $34,965, and the all-wheel drive model is available for a base price of $36,855. Pricing on both models includes destination and delivery.

Ultra-Quiet Ride
The new MKZ offers an ultra-quiet cabin, a feature that consumers – especially luxury car shoppers – undeniably connect to overall product quality and satisfaction levels, according to vehicle studies from third-party voices, such as J.D. Power and Associates.

According to Ford research, the 2010 MKZ also beats out the current Lexus ES350 in key interior quietness attributes, such as road noise at 30 mph and wind noise at 80 mph.

The interior quietness coupled with the premium THX II Certified 5.1 Surround sound system available in the MKZ offers customers an exceptional in-car audio experience, says Richards.

“This pairing represents one more example of why customers are now equating the Lincoln brand with elegant, modern design, unparalleled comfort, unrivaled features and best-in-class quality,” he said.

Segment-Exclusive Safety Features
The new Lincoln MKZ offers segment-exclusive safety features, including first-in-class Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA), which makes navigating traffic and parking lots safer and easier. BLIS tracks vehicles in the blind-spot zones on either side of the vehicle using two multiple-beam radar modules behind the rear fenders, and CTA uses the BLIS radar sensors to alert the driver to approaching traffic while in reverse and backing out of a parking spot.

New Sport Appearance Package
Luxury car buyers who want a sportier-looking ride can opt for the Sport Appearance Package, which is new for the 2010 model year. It offers special sport suspension tuning with stiffer springs and larger stabilizer bars; 18-inch Euroflange polished wheels; unique grille, body-color door handles and darkened headlamps; and an interior with tuxedo seam seat patterns, contrasting piping, upgraded floor mats and aluminum appliqués.

2010 LINCOLN MKZ DELIVERS CLASS-LEADING BLEND OF INTERIOR QUIETNESS AND POWERTRAIN PURR

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The interior of the new 2010 Lincoln MKZ embodies the near perfect balance of silence and sound, offering entry-level luxury customers the ultra-quiet cabin they expect along with a refined powertrain purr that’s bound to surprise and delight.

MKZ has been among the leaders in the midsize sedan segment for interior quietness, which customers – especially luxury-car shoppers – undeniably connect to overall product quality and satisfaction levels, according to vehicle studies from respected third-party voices such as J.D. Power and Associates and Consumer Reports.

Since the 2002 model year, the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup has consistently improved year-over-year as shown by the reduction in ‘wind noise’ as a complaint by customers during research in ‘things gone wrong’ (TGWs). The company is now head-to-head with other full-line manufacturers in the U.S., including Toyota and Honda, for interior quietness. According to internal Ford research, the 2009 MKZ, in fact, beats the current model year Lexus ES350 in key interior quietness attributes such as road noise at 30 mph.

For model year 2010, the Lincoln MKZ is even quieter.

The new Lincoln MKZ, which launches in the spring of 2009, further benefits from Ford Motor Company’s unwavering commitment to deliver the highest possible product quality in all areas, including class-leading interior quietness. The new MKZ was subject to a variety of aggressive noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) actions that solidly position the midsize luxury sedan among its competitors for road noise, wind noise and overall quality of powertrain sound.

“We took a product that was already a solid performer for interior quietness and added an extra bit of refinement in the areas that help create a world-class interior sound with a balance between road noise, wind noise and powertrain sound,” said Joe Mucha, an NVH specialist on Ford’s midsize vehicle programs. “Even the untrained ear will notice how quiet the new Lincoln MKZ is. Customers will particularly appreciate the quality of the powertrain sound at wide open throttle.”

Quiet Building Blocks
The 2010 Lincoln MKZ attacks interior quietness through several specific NVH actions and improvements, including:

* A new acoustic laminated windshield that features a layer of sound-absorbent vinyl sandwiched between two sheets of glass to soften noise levels
* Thicker rear backlight for improved wind noise
* Improved body/door sealing to reduce wind noise
* New expandable stuffers in the fenders and pillars
* Constrained layer damping material on the entire floor to reduce road noise, especially noise generated by the tires
* A retuned air induction system for a more refined powertrain sound
* An all-new acoustic headliner to further deaden interior noise

These measures are proving their worth. In internal wind tunnel tests, for example, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ was subjected to 80 mph gusts at varying degrees of yaw (to simulate head/cross winds), and bested both the current model year Lexus ES350 and Acura TL across the board for the lowest recorded loudness – regardless of yaw variation.

The 2010 MKZ also ups the ante on road noise against competing models, holding the lowest recorded sound level measurement in internal 30 mph tests, coming in 3.5 dBA quieter than the Acura TL and 1.7 dBA quieter than the Lexus ES350.

“A three or four dBA variance in the 30 mph test results in a noticeable difference that most drivers or passengers would be able to discern without much effort,” said Mucha.

The 2010 Lincoln MKZ also widens the gap with superb powertrain sound at wide open throttle. “The 2010 MKZ delivers on key Lincoln DNA attributes for powertrain sound quality,” added Mucha. “It’s the right balance of loudness and refinement; it’s powerful when it should be, but it doesn’t sound harsh or thrashy. And, since the cabin is inherently quieter, voice articulation and speech intelligibility are greater under heavy acceleration.”

Sound Advantages
A world-class quieter cabin provides Lincoln MKZ customers another added benefit – a more suitable environment for voice-activated technologies such as SYNC and Ford’s next-generation Navigation System with SIRIUS® Travel Link™, as well as for MKZ’s premium THX II Certified 5.1 Surround sound system.

This system delivers 600 watts to 14 strategically placed speakers, and features THX Slot Speaker technology in the dashboard, which allows for unmatched sound distribution.

“The combination of the premium THX audio system and unmatched interior quietness offers
MKZ customers an exceptional in-car audio experience,” said Jonathan Richards, MKZ marketing manager. “This pairing represents one more example of why customers are now equating the Lincoln brand with elegant, modern design, unparalleled comfort, unrivaled features and best-in-class quality.”

LINCOLN BREAKS FROM TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING DURING 51ST GRAMMY® AWARDS, SHOWCASES NEW MKS

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Expect the unexpected from Lincoln during commercial breaks for the 51st Grammy® Awards, which air Sunday, at 8p.m. EST on CBS as it debuts the winners from its “Project Rising Stars: Lincoln Video Music Challenge.”

Lincoln and its creative agency, Y&R Team Detroit, created “Project Rising Stars” in collaboration with Gary Calamar – renowned DJ and Grammy-nominated producer and music supervisor. The team selected 10 songs from some of the country’s top emerging music artists and developed a music video-based competition in partnership with Filmaka, an online community for filmmakers and other artists, to create their own original content.

More than 300 submissions were received from hopeful writers and directors seeking to showcase their own creative videos featuring the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS. The quality of work delivered from entrants throughout the country was so positive that Lincoln – a co-sponsor of the show – decided to air five 30-second trailers of the top original music videos during the Grammys rather than traditional vehicle ads.

“What we’ve learned from research is that the Lincoln MKS is attracting a new group of buyers that are tough to reach with traditional advertising. They’re into technology, film and a wide array of music,” said Thomais Zaremba, Lincoln Mercury Communications Manager. “This opportunity is a great way to create fresh content and put Lincoln in front of a new audience.”

“Project Rising Stars: The Lincoln Music Video Challenge” was designed to showcase new talent, both in front of the camera and behind it.

“Our goal was to create a unique opportunity for undiscovered musical artists and directors and present it in a way that people watching the Grammys would enjoy and appreciate,” she said.

“We provided Filmaka with the song options, a description of the Lincoln MKS’ dynamic design and smart features and asked them to develop a creative treatment for a music video based on the song that best spoke to them,” said Greg Braun, executive creative director, Y&R Team Detroit. “In the end, we were blown away by the submissions. The Filmaka community really jumped in with both feet.”

Jason Haikara, who heads up Marketing and Publicity for Filmaka, says the competition provided an amazing opportunity for the Filmaka community and the musical artists.

“Not only is it a chance to work with a major automotive brand and top ad agency, but it’s an opportunity for them to have their work seen and heard by millions of viewers,” he said.

Though the way in which the Lincoln MKS was portrayed in the videos was significant, Zaremba says it was not the main factor used to determine which videos won the competition. “The primary driver of our decision was, ‘Is it a cool music video? Does it have strong entertainment value? And will it engage the viewer?’ ” she explained.

With that said, Haikara says the filmmakers had a lot of fun figuring out how to incorporate the vehicle in the videos.

“They employed a variety of creative approaches,” he said. “The MKS is a classy, high-tech vehicle, and many of the directors incorporated some of the technology – like SYNC and the SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry system – into the videos.”

Following the Grammy show, viewers will be able to watch the five winning videos – and several additional videos – in their entirety at www.cbs.com/lincoln. Viewers also can learn more about the musical artists and filmmakers at www.filmaka.com/lincoln.

At the end of the day, Zaremba says “Project Rising Starts” follows an entirely fresh marketing campaign for MKS that represents a new way of communicating for Lincoln.

“It is yet another example of Lincoln doing something that no one would expect in a way that no one would expect,” said Zaremba. “We’re very proud of what the MKS is and what it stands for, and we believe that we’re offering a relevant message on an amazing product.”

Ford's Warranty Repairs Costs Decline Further in 2008 as Quality Continues to Improve

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• Ford has reduced its worldwide warranty repairs costs by $1.2 billion in the past two years.
• The warranty repair rate for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the U.S. is now almost 50 percent lower than it was in 2004.
• Since 2005, each new model from Ford has consistently delivered better quality than the models they replaced.

DEARBORN, Feb. 2, 2009 – Ford Motor Company’s steady vehicle quality improvement in recent years is beginning to translate into significant savings for the company and far fewer trips by customers to the repair shop.

In the past two years alone, Ford has reduced its warranty repairs costs by $1.2 billion, according to the latest company figures. These savings can be attributed to four straight years of quality improvements on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Ford’s initial quality is now in a virtual tie with Honda-Acura and Toyota-Lexus-Scion for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.

Ford strives to be best in class in every phase of vehicle development – from design to pre-delivery – internal measures continue to show the company is making significant quality strides.

For example:

• The warranty repair rate for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the United States is now almost 50 percent lower than it was in 2004.
• Ford F-Series Super Duty and Lincoln Mark LT rank atop their respective segments with fewest “things gone wrong” (TGW) and in customer satisfaction.
• Ford Mustang GT500 had the least number of TGWs among sports cars.
• Overall, 18 of 24 Ford domestic brand vehicles posted TGW improvements.

“Ford is following a set of standardized processes around the world in product development, manufacturing and purchasing with a discipline this company has never seen,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality.

Continued Improvements
The drive to improve quality is most evident during a new-model launch. Since 2005, each new model from Ford has consistently delivered better quality – as measured by warranty rates and things-gone-wrong metrics – than the models they replaced.

“The last 24 months have revealed some our best quality results,” said Curt Yun, director, Global Warranty. “Our new models have been achieving continuously declining warranty repair rates and lower warranty costs, as a direct result of our overall quality improvements.”

In the U.S., for example, owners of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles have reported fewer concerns at three years in service for each of the past five years, according to the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) survey, compiled for Ford by the research firm RDA Group.

“We’ve reached the point where our initial quality is second to none among the full-line manufacturers,” said Fowler. “We expect that high quality to be reflected in future high-mileage surveys as our new models age.”

Built-in Design Quality
Ford’s Global Product Development System ensures quality is built-in early in the process. It starts with the company’s commitment to develop and implement consistent standardized engineering processes. By fully utilizing Computer Assisted Design toolsets, Ford is signing off on all aspects of its designs even before the first prototype is built.

Ford’s design and engineering analysis processes makes it possible for problems that previously might not have surfaced until launch to be flagged and corrected in the virtual world. Ford uses cutting edge virtual tools to verify up to 40,000 design standards in its Virtual Engineer Lab. Virtual technology also is used to confirm that the product can be manufactured with quality in the assembly plant for which it is slated.

Manufacturing Quality Process
Ford also provides assembly plant teams the necessary tools to deliver quality in the manufacturing process. For example, the company’s Quality Operating System (QOS) is critical for identifying and correcting problems within the manufacturing facilities.

QOS is implemented in each plant by Variability Reduction Teams (VRT) – cross-functional groups of engineers, plant management and product specialists, including the company’s most skilled problem solvers who’ve been trained through Six Sigma. Each team is assigned to one of 12 vehicle subsystems crucial to customer satisfaction, such as paint or body interior, and examines every detail, looking for imperfections so slight that even the untrained eye, or ear, could not detect them.

For example, Ford’s 2010 Taurus was subjected to rigorous testing for squeaks and rattles at each design phase. Every inch of the vehicle was scrutinized for unwanted noise from the outside in, down to the sound of the Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler door when it’s closed.

Another example includes the development of Ford’s new fuel-efficient 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine. By the time the first twin-turbocharged, direct injection engine is decked to a 2010 Lincoln MKS this summer at the Chicago Assembly Plant, the equivalent of more than one-million grueling test miles will have been logged by EcoBoost prototypes.

Ford also uses a process called Early Claims Binning to help streamline communications about potential quality issues between plants and dealerships. Warranty claims are fed to the assembly plant every day where the issue is dissected and either traced back to the installation process and addressed on-site or fed back to the design engineer for resolution in design.

Customer-driven Quality
Ford’s commitment to deliver the best quality possible for its customers is unwavering and the company is committed to pushing its quality levels even higher.

As Ford’s newest vehicles hit the road, company officials expect warranty claims to continue their downward trend.

“I see the recent $1.2 billion in worldwide warranty cost savings as a compelling reason to continue down this path,” Yun said. “Instead of setting aside those funds to fix cars, we’d much rather invest it in exciting product programs for our customers.”

Ford’s commitment to world-class quality extends beyond preventing things that go wrong. Customer-driven product features, such as fuel economy, craftsmanship, and quiet interiors are designed into the vehicle to deliver an exceptional and affordable ownership experience.

“This is One Ford at its best,” said Fowler. “It has taken thousands of dedicated people, from the plant floor to the executive suite, working together to strive for quality every day.”

DISTINCTIVE NEW THREE-ROW LINCOLN MKT OFFERS LUXURIES OF FUEL ECONOMY, TECHNOLOGY, SPACE

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• All-new 2010 Lincoln MKT enters the luxury crossover segment with Lincoln’s signature design, inviting three-row interior and intuitive technologies that will make customers’ lives easier – including available Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning with Brake Support, Active Park Assist, Blind Spot monitoring – and more
  
• The Lincoln MKT offers two fuel-efficient engine choices in Ford’s proven 268 horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 or the new 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost™ engine that delivers even more performance with estimated 355 horsepower, without compromising its V-6 fuel economy
  
• Joining the all-new Lincoln MKS and new 2010 Lincoln MKZ and further growing the brand’s momentum, Lincoln MKT will be available in dealer showrooms in late summer

Lincoln is offering full-size luxury crossover customers a fresh new choice with the 2010 Lincoln MKT, a three-row tourer that delivers the optimal blend of fuel economy, performance, technology and spaciousness.

“We’re growing Lincoln’s product portfolio with a full-size crossover that offers more of everything luxury buyers want today – including more variety,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Lincoln MKT will help us further build momentum for Lincoln, which has been outpacing its luxury competitors and growing market share in recent months.”

The all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT is larger than the two-row Lincoln MKX mid-size premium crossover and joins the sumptuous and sporty Lincoln MKS luxury sedan launched in 2008 and the new Lincoln MKZ sedan that hits the market in spring.

Standard on every Lincoln MKT is the brand’s signature design – complete with a split waterfall grille, a beveled chamfer along the vehicle’s shoulder line, a flowing cantrail that frames the greenhouse and full-width horizontal taillamps that span the subtly curved weight-saving magnesium liftgate that adds visual character while protecting generous rear cargo space.

Precision Lincoln MKT craftsmanship is reflected in world-class panel margins, and in the high tactile quality of interior surfaces and trim.

Inside, high-quality materials and precision-stitched craftsmanship are evident on every surface – from the leather-trimmed seating surfaces and floating armrests to the optional flow-through second- row center console and jewel-like acrylic instrument cluster with LED white lighting.

Beyond that, customers can choose how to best specify Lincoln MKT, which offers:

• Customers’ choice of a standard fixed glass Panoramic Vista Roof™ with power-assisted front and rear sunshades – or the available Power Panoramic VistaTM roof
• Either six- or seven-passenger variations with two different second-row seating configurations. A standard 60/ 40 split folding rear bench seat features heated outboard seating positions. Power “fold and tumble” bucket seats, with heating, cooling and power-assisted lumbar adjustment are also available. A rear console-mounted five-quart-capacity refrigerator is available in the individual bucket seating configuration
• Second-row footrests and an available dual headrest Family Entertainment System with twin 7-inch DVD playback screens offering individual or simultaneous programming
• A litany of exterior paint colors, including Ingot Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Tuxedo Black Clearcoat Metallic, Red Candy Tint Clearcoat Metallic, Cinnamon Clearcoat Metallic, Steel Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Gold Leaf Clearcoat Metallic, Sterling Grey Clearcoat Metallic and White Platinum Tri-Coat

Balancing power and efficiency
Fuel-efficiency also comes standard on the Lincoln MKT – and customers have a choice of two powerful yet practical V-6 engines.

A 3.7-liter, 24-valve variation of the award-winning Duratec engine family is standard. Delivering an expected 268 horsepower at 6,500 RPM and 267 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,250 RPM, this engine has been tuned to provide brisk acceleration and smooth power delivery.

Significant engineering and development time were invested in the 3.7-liter Duratec V-6 to deliver best-in-class noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) control. Lincoln MKT was benchmarked for interior quietness to allow normal conversation within the vehicle, using an articulation index.

A two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off (ADFSO), combined with optimized transmission and final drive gearing, are designed to allow this engine to deliver segment-leading fuel economy for Lincoln MKT.

For even more performance driving feel, Lincoln MKT also offers a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6. This engine provides the power of a normally-aspirated V-8 with V-6 fuel economy. This advanced engine delivers a class-leading estimated 355 horsepower at 5,700 RPM, while generating 350 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,500 RPM.

EcoBoost is a global Ford strategy to deliver the power that customers want, combined with the fuel economy that they need. Combining gasoline direct injection with twin turbochargers and a smaller-displacement engine, EcoBoost can match the power output of larger, naturally aspirated engines while yielding torque and fuel economy gains.

Pressurized direct injection helps eliminate the “turbo lag” associated with earlier turbocharged engines. And even with the additional horsepower, fuel economy is optimized by an increased compression ratio, enabled by air-charged cooling and sophisticated knock controls.

Lincoln MKT is equipped with a six-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission. This advanced gearbox offers the driver a choice between fully automatic operation and manual control.

In addition, paddle shifters are integrated into the steering wheel spokes. Intuitive to operate, a squeeze back on either paddle will deliver an upshift, while a gentle push forward on either paddle will induce a “matched-rev” downshift.

This capability makes the Lincoln MKT driving experience sporty, yet smooth. Unlike other competitive transmissions, SelectShift won’t “second guess” the driver with an override shift. With SelectShift, manual control is truly manually controlled.

All-wheel-drive is optional in the Lincoln MKT with the standard 3.7-liter V-6. The AWD option enhances the vehicle’s capability in a variety of weather conditions. The sophisticated AWD system is fully automatic, using an advanced array of internal electro-mechanical clutches to efficiently distribute torque between front and rear wheels as needed. AWD is standard in the Lincoln MKT with the EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6.

Quiet, confident motoring

“The Lincoln MKT strikes the optimum balance between capable and driver-engaging handling, while simultaneously delivering a smooth quiet ride in all three rows,” said Chief Engineer Ron Heiser. “It combines a luxury touring experience with an agile ride and available Class III towing strength, as well.”

Key elements of Lincoln MKT suspension development and tuning included minimizing front end lift on acceleration, offering stable and engaging steering and handling characteristics that provide confidence to all drivers, all while delivering a luxurious ride quality consistent with Lincoln brand character.

A new rear suspension system features a “one for one” shock absorber ratio. The resulting linear response gave the engineering team a stable base line for suspension tuning, allowing the team to deliver a better balance between responsive handling and control as well as a smooth ride. It also improves rear suspension isolation and enables the use of 20-inch wheels.

Lincoln MKT delivers a new level of quiet confidence that delivers best-in-class levels of NVH control. Virtual modeling and wind tunnel tests helped engineers optimize the vehicle, influencing everything from side view mirror placement and special sound deadening in the bulkhead to extensive exhaust system isolation and the inclusion of both an acoustic windshield and dual-layer front side glass to specifically reduce A-pillar wind noise.

On the 3.5 EcoBoost V-6 equipped versions, engineers directed additional effort to minimizing induction noise, while still providing a rewarding aural cadence to Lincoln MKT acceleration.

Premium innovations
Lincoln MKT delivers abundant technologies aimed at making life luxurious for both the driver and three rows of passengers. A holistic approach was used to develop these amenities, where ease of use and intuitive operation were key objectives. Nowhere is this focus more apparent than with Active Park Assist.

Lincoln MKT with EcoBoost features advanced Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), which enables the optional Active Park Assist. This innovative Lincoln-exclusive technology employs an ultrasonic-based sensing system, as opposed to video camera-reliant competitive offerings, making hands-free parallel parking a breeze.

Active Park Assist works at the touch of a button, requiring less driver programming, reducing the risk of selecting an inappropriately sized parking space, detecting edges of adjacent objects to calculate optimized trajectory and “steering” the Lincoln MKT while coaching the driver through conventional throttle and braking inputs.

In addition to completing a parking maneuver quickly, Active Park Assist also works in uphill parking situations unlike competitive systems on the market.

Additional Lincoln MKT customer convenience features include:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) allows the driver to set and maintain vehicle speed, while radar monitors traffic ahead of the Lincoln MKT. This optional system automatically adjusts speed and slows the vehicle to maintain the set distance behind traffic ahead.

Intelligent Access with Push Button Start allows the driver to enter the Lincoln MKT and start the engine without using the key. Entry is made easier as drivers simply carry the special fob as they approach the vehicle and start the engine by pushing a button.

SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad allows access to Lincoln MKT by unlocking the driver’s door by entering a pre-set five-digit code in the flush-mounted, backlit keypad integrated into the B-pillar.

Adaptive Headlamps with Standard High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps enhance nighttime visibility. Sensors monitor Lincoln MKT speed and steering wheel input to engage headlamp movement to increase the driver’s field of vision.

Auto High Beams coupled with Adaptive Headlamps enhance nighttime visibility by switching to high intensity when no other vehicles are in range.

Rain-Sensing Wipers use an optical sensing system to gauge precipitation and automatically activate and adjust the wipers.

EasyFuel™ Capless Fuel-Filler System self seals when refueling is complete.

MyKey™ allows parent or other concerned owners to restrict certain Lincoln MKT features when in the hands of a MyKey driver. MyKey encourages safety belt usage, provides earlier low fuel warnings, engages applicable driver aid systems and sounds speed chimes at preset levels while limiting audio system volume and top vehicle speed.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) comes into play when a turn signal is activated. A radar sensor on the outboard rear quarter panel monitors the traditional blind spot area and can notify the driver with a warning indicator light in the corresponding side view mirror if the sensors in this optional system detect a vehicle in the blind spot.

Cross Traffic Alert uses BLIS sensors to help detect traffic when backing out of a parking space. When the vehicle is in reverse and it senses traffic, mirror warning lights illuminate and audible signals sound.

Spotter Mirrors add secondary convex spotter mirror panels in the top outer corner of the side view mirrors, specifically oriented to reflect objects often lost in a driver’s blind spot.

Reverse Camera System, a standard Lincoln MKT feature, uses the centerstack-mounted touch/ navigation screen for projection and activates upon reverse gear engagement.

Lincoln SYNC™ is standard on Lincoln MKT. This award-winning voice activated communications and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft fully integrates Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones and digital media players into the vehicle.

SYNC incorporates 911 Assist, which can notify a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident. SYNC Vehicle Health Report feature can keep the driver notified of scheduled maintenance, service intervals and vehicle system health information.

Lincoln MKT is offered with two audio technology choices. Standard is an AM/FM In-Dash Single CD/DVD/MP3 capable unit with 10 speakers, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio with six-month prepaid subscription, an auxiliary input jack and a USB port.

The available Navigation Package includes an internal hard-drive for map and point-of-interest information storage, THX II® Certified 5.1 Surround Audio System with 14 strategically aimed Premium Audio speakers.

Neural Surround provides the Lincoln MKT audio upgrade a unique new technology for improving the surround sound experience from compressed digital music formats. In addition, a SIRIUS Travel Link™ prepaid subscription is included with the Navigation Package providing coast-to-coast weather data, forecasts, fuel prices, sports scores, movie listings and more.

The available Navigation Package also enables the driver to display personal photos on the centerstack-mounted touchscreen. The system can store and display up to 32 photos, sized 1.5MB or less. The home screen can be personalized, by display or desired information or photos in one, tow or three panel views.

Both systems feature an internal Jukebox hard drive for storage of up to 150 hours of recorded audio entertainment. Users can browse the Jukebox via touch screen or voice control. Gracenote® technology will display the CD cover when a selected track is playing.

Technology under the skin
“The new Lincoln MKT brings together a compelling package of active and passive safety features that work to help protect its passengers,” said Stephen Kozak, safety engineering chief.

The Lincoln MKT features a new technology aimed at helping make driving safer.

Collision Warning with Brake Support, enabled by Adaptive Cruise Control, provides the driver with a “heads-up” display that flashes on the windshield when the system senses slower moving traffic ahead. If the driver doesn’t respond, the system will pre-charge the brakes to prepare the vehicle for a more aggressive stop.

The Lincoln MKT also features an advanced structural safety system that combines octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails, and support members that are designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

Lincoln MKT also features Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE) Architecture incorporated to optimize side-impact occupant protection.

The SPACE system integrates a hydroformed high strength steel tube embedded in the floor that runs the width of the vehicle from B-pillar to B-pillar and along the rocker panels to form a safety cage to help protect passengers in side impact incidents.

Lincoln MKT also features Ford’s enhanced Personal Safety System, combining multiple technologies to tailor the air bag package and safety belt functions to the individual passenger and the accident circumstances. The system can identify variables, such as severity of the crash, weight of the individual passenger and safety belt usage to adjust air bag deployment force.

Additional Lincoln MKT safety technologies include:
Safety Canopy™ is Ford’s exclusive side impact protection system employing side curtain air bags to help protect front and outboard rear passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes.

Beltminder® reminder technology for driver and front seat passenger, persistently taking over after the initial safety belt signal stops chiming.

SOS Post-Crash Alert System automatically flashes the turn signal lamps and sounds the horn following deployment of an air bag or activation of a safety belt pretensioner.

“The Lincoln MKT is all about delivering more for customers – more choice, more premium features and technologies and even more luxury for people in all three rows,” Fields said.

The Lincoln MKT will be built at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, and will be in dealer showrooms in late summer.

LINCOLN C CONCEPT

Lincoln is breaking new ground with the Lincoln C concept, a new big idea for a small luxury car.

Designed with today’s upscale, urban consumer in mind, the Lincoln C concept brings the presence and elegance of a large Lincoln to a smaller, more efficient C-sized car.

“Modern luxury buyers who live and work in large, urban areas want to play their part in helping the environment by moving to a smaller vehicle, but they still want to enjoy the luxuries of life,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas. “The Lincoln C offers sensible indulgence.”

According to Horbury, younger contemporary consumers with slim iPods and pocket-sized cameras have already grown accustomed to the notion of premium quality in a small package.

“During the past decade, people have gotten used to the idea that you could pay more money for a smaller version of the real thing,” said Horbury, citing the evolution of music players from tapes to CDs to MP3 players as an example.

“The same philosophy can be applied to the automobile,” he added. “People will be happy to buy a smaller car that is better for the environment and more maneuverable in the city as long as the vehicle has all the attributes they want.”

The concept’s unique size, lightweight construction and use of sustainable materials make the Lincoln C stand out – along with its fuel economy.

Featuring a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and Ford’s all-new dry, dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission, the Lincoln C concept achieves 43 mpg on the highway, while offering up an impressive 180 horsepower and 180 ft.-lbs. of torque. PowerShift and outstanding driving dynamics make the Lincoln C concept fun for the driver.

Plus, a sophisticated human machine interface (HMI) and forward-thinking in-car connectivity technologies bring a whole new dimension to social networking, an important facet of modern customers’ active lifestyles.

“Connectivity is as much a luxury for today’s younger car buyer as are the traditional luxuries of wood, leather and a comfortable ride,” said Horbury. “It means being able to continue your lifestyle seamlessly while you’re on the move.”

Sporty, Elegant Exterior Design
When designers developed the Lincoln C concept, their goal was to create a C-sized automobile with both presence and elegance. Their vision: a smaller, more fuel-efficient car that could maneuver easily in congested urban areas and compact parking spaces, yet still provide driver and passengers with levels of luxury and comfort usually reserved for larger sedans.

“Lincoln C is about efficiency without compromise,” said Freeman Thomas, director of Ford’s Strategic Concepts Group, who led the Lincoln C design team – David Woodhouse, Jeremy Leng, Andrei Markevich and Matt Edwards.

One of the most distinctive features of the Lincoln C is its unique silhouette. The visual mass of the car is very low to the road. A low-slung shoulder line with a wheel-at-each-corner stance supports a dynamic, slightly formal cabin. The aim was “go kart” visual stability combined with elegant lines and surfaces.

At first glance, the silhouette is immediately distinguished by a bold front profile, low shoulder, high beltline, wide C-pillar and compact bustle back.

The modern appearance of the Lincoln C reflects the timeless, iconic elements of the Lincoln DNA: sheer surfaces bounded by defined creases; a cantilevered roof extending from a strong C-pillar; a confident double-wing chrome grille; full-width tail lamps and rocker brightwork.

The front end of the concept is unmistakably Lincoln. The signature grille encapsulates LED headlamps that – like the taillights – are made with prismatic optical elements that create depth and visual sophistication. A sculpted groove in the top of the front hood – which derives its shape from the Lincoln badge – adds a finishing touch to the grille of the car.

A low shoulder line combines with a strong, high belt line to create a sense of safety and privacy inside and outside of the vehicle.

An aluminum cantrail adds elegance to the concept by extending the beltline to the rear glass and breaking up the otherwise tall C-pillar. Aluminum is also visible inside the door apertures.

The Lincoln C is absent of a B-pillar or center post. The center-opening doors – a classic Lincoln trait that rekindles memories of the 1961 Continental – allow effortless access to first- and second-row bench seats and give the vehicle a limousine-like quality.

Sleek side mirrors house both advanced rear-view camera and blind spot detection technologies. Slit-like LED turn signal indicators are integrated into the mirrors, allowing slim, efficient light.

LED taillamps span the full-width of the Lincoln C’s rear, featuring turn signal indicators that fade toward the center of the car stretch from side to side.

An all-glass roof provides a modern, futuristic look. The expansive opening illuminates the cabin and enhances the sense of spaciousness inside the car.

Designers reinterpreted the presentation of the Lincoln badge throughout the exterior of the Lincoln C in a subtle way, giving it a contemporary “race track” theme. The Lincoln star sits proudly at the center of the front end, and the rear badge is slightly morphed to suit its placement above the taillights.

A more in-depth look at various details of the Lincoln C reveals that the badge motif is repeated in discreet ways in the design of the front lower intake mesh; the shape of the glass roof and structure; the implied illuminated keyholes on the door handles; the shape of the rear-view camera that sits on the back of the roof; the design of the wheels and the pattern in the tire treads.

The exterior of the Lincoln C is bathed in a light, exterior clear coat that hints of yellow metallic.

Modern, Timeless Interior Design
Inside, the Lincoln C concept welcomes driver and passengers to a space that looks more like the living room of a contemporary urban loft than the inside of a car.

Elements of classic Lincoln DNA permeate the cabin, including: a bright, clean, light color palette; authentic materials such as wood and metal; ambient lighting; jewel-like chrome details; bench seating; and the symmetrical design of the instrument panel, which thoughtfully serves both driver and passengers.

The interior’s all-white color palette -- from roof to seats to floor -- is stunning. Subtle chrome accents on the seats, instrument panel, door panels and floor glimmer like fine jewelry. A light gray wood veneer – made from recycled wood – provides a striking contrast against the white leather on the instrument panel and door panels. The headliner is white Alcantara suede.
Because the Lincoln C concept is two inches wider than conventional C-class vehicles, it offers the roominess of a 1961 Continental at almost half the length. In modern terms, the vehicle has the overall length of a Ford Focus and the overall width of a Lincoln MKZ.

Designers took full advantage of the extra space in the interior of the Lincoln C by incorporating luxurious bench seating in the front and back rows. They are crafted from luxurious, chromium-free leather and filled with soy foam. The seats are thin and lightweight, but because they were designed to an ergonomic comfort curve, they are extremely comfortable.

There is a single headrest on the left and a double headrest on the right for passengers in both rows. All the headrests automatically retract without occupants for optimized driver vision. Convenience trays are housed compactly behind the front bench. In the closed position, they are flush with the leather and feature chrome release handles.

One of the most eye-catching elements of the seating is the laser-engraved floral etching on the passenger side seats and floor and on the back of the driver’s seat. It is a light, airy pattern that gives the interior a refined, sophisticated look.

Because of their unique shape and the imperceptible way that they are mounted to the floor, the benches appear to be floating inside the cabin.

The steering wheel and instrument panel also seem to be suspended in air. All of these elements combine to enhance the concept’s futuristic look, openness, and give the impression of dynamic space within the vehicle.

The steering wheel is hubless, lending the driver an unobstructed view of the instrument panel. The glossy white rim rotates around a stationary chrome ring with chrome shifter paddles on both sides. Simple toggles embedded into the left and right sides of the wheel control the vehicle’s navigation system and menu selection.

The instrument panel is leather-wrapped with a chrome bezel. The light, gray wood veneer forms a symmetrical shape that surrounds the center-mounted touch screen and extends out to the right and left sides. Above the center screen is the Lincoln nomenclature and badge, finished tastefully in chrome.

The panoramic instrument panel is divided into three sections and designed with a mixture of digital and analog components. The left side contains Lincoln’s signature HMI menus and driver-related information. The center portion displays a multi-functional screen displaying navigation, SYNC details and a life-like custom avatar to help make everyday journeys more seamless and other helpful, driver-oriented options.

Soft, white ambient lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere inside the cabin. The lighting is integrated into the C-pillar with a front face that displays the Lincoln badge.

The roof also features an integrated rearview mirror and a chrome-trimmed Web camera that rotates to the right or left, depending on whether the driver or the passenger is communicating via the Internet. A chrome air vent follows the shape of the glass roof.

“While the most luxurious and indulgent products often come in the smallest packages, unfortunately this hasn’t been true of most small cars recently,” said J Mays, Ford’s group vice president of Design. “With the Lincoln C, we’ve remixed the traditional small car formula, taking the most engaging technologies and wrapping them in a design fit for today’s urban luxury customer – without sacrificing style or substance.”

ECOBOOST DEBUT: FUEL-EFFICIENT NEW V-6 ENGINE GIVES FLAGSHIP LINCOLN MKS THE POWER OF A V-8

Image via Wikipedia * The 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 engine, the first V-6 direct-injection twin-turbocharged engine produced in North America, makes its debut in the 2010 Lincoln MKS. EcoBoost is one of Ford Motor Company’s key initiatives to deliver significant advancements in fuel economy of up to 20 percent without sacrificing the performance feel customers want
* With the fuel economy of a V-6, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine delivers an impressive 355 horsepower and a responsive 350 lb.-ft. of torque across a broad rpm range. That gives the Lincoln MKS the power of a normally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8
* The new 3.5-liter engine is the first in a wave of EcoBoost engines coming from Ford as part of a strategy to bring affordable fuel efficiency improvements to millions. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford’s North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology

Detroit, Jan. 12, 2009 – Launched last summer, the Lincoln MKS upholds the luxury and comfort standards unique to Lincoln. Now, with the addition of all-new EcoBoost engines, the Lincoln MKS also will deliver a compelling combination of V-8 power and V-6 fuel economy.

The Lincoln MKS is among the first Ford Motor Company vehicle to introduce a premium twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine for the 2010 model year and is expected to deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy of 25 mpg. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford Motor Company’s North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology.

“We are committed to delivering fuel economy leadership in every new vehicle,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “We do this with affordable technology that can be applied to the widest number of vehicles. EcoBoost is an important component of that goal.

“The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power. We’re able to decrease the size of the available engine – such as installing a V-6 versus a V-8 – yet boost the power using turbocharging to deliver similar power and torque of that larger engine.”

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is expected to attain fuel economy numbers of 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway based on preliminary testing of the all-wheel-drive 2010 Lincoln MKS while producing an estimated 355 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 350 lbs.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm.

With its premium EcoBoost engine, the new Lincoln MKS will deliver more power and better highway fuel efficiency than the 2009 Lexus GS460 (24 mpg) or 2009 Infiniti M45 (21 mpg).

“We’re delighted with how well the Lincoln MKS has been received. Customers have really responded to the vehicle’s balanced combination of luxury, comfort and performance,” said Pete Reyes, chief nameplate engineer. “Adding the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is another great enhancement to our luxury sedan. We now can deliver V-8 power without sacrificing fuel economy.”

The Lincoln MKS will be among the first vehicles to receive the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 starting in the summer of 2009, enhancing what’s already a strong package. Standard on the Lincoln MKS EcoBoost series will be 19-inch wheels, steering-wheel paddle shifters to the six-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and an expanded technology package that includes Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, ambient lighting, adaptive HID headlamps with Auto Highbeam, rain-sensing wipers and rear-window power sunshade.

“The Lincoln MKS EcoBoost series provides customers the best combination in style, technology and power,” said Pei-Wen Hsu, Lincoln MKS Marketing manager. “An EcoBoost appearance package also will be available, offering customers a more aggressive and sporty look that further differentiates the Lincoln MKS from other competitors.”

The EcoBoost program is part of Ford’s ongoing and wide-ranging initiative to deliver innovative fuel-efficient powertrain systems with horsepower and torque performance found in larger-displacement engines.

“Our EcoBoost engines offer more power and better fuel economy,” said Brett Hinds, EcoBoost design manager. “It’s all part of Ford’s strategy to bring adaptable powertrain technology to all kinds of vehicles and all kinds of lifestyles. This technology is affordable and applicable to all gasoline engines.”

The turbochargers recover energy from the exhaust that otherwise would be wasted and put it back in the engine to gain efficiency. Simply, the turbocharging system puts more air into the engine for more power. A compressor increases or “boosts” the pressure of the air entering the engine. An intercooler reduces the air temperature before it enters the engine.

The twin parallel turbochargers, which are water-cooled and operate simultaneously, combine with a direct-injection fuel system to produce power when the driver pushes down on the accelerator pedal. The high-pressure fuel pump operates up to 2,175 psi – more than 35 times the norm seen in a conventional V-6 engine. The high-pressure pump is a cam-driven mechanical pump with a single piston and an electronic valve that controls how much fuel is routed into the fuel rails to the injectors.

As demands on the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine are increased, the control system responds to maintain optimal combustion, timing and injection duration.

On each stroke, six individual jets spray fuel directly into the combustion chamber, mixing with the incoming air. “By bringing the fuel injector right into the combustion chamber, there’s no delay from the time you inject the fuel to when it’s used by the engine,” Hinds said.

The fuel injectors are located on the side of the combustion chamber. When the fuel is injected into the cylinder, it evaporates and cools the air that’s been inducted into the cylinder. “Another benefit of our direct-injection method is that it cools the air right where you’re going to burn it,” Hinds said. “This action both improves the breathing of the engine and minimizes knocking.”

The direct injection of fuel into the cylinder also helps provide a well-mixed air-fuel charge, increasing engine efficiency. Direct injection provides several benefits in terms of fuel burn and lower emissions.

“Because the fuel is directly introduced into the combustion chamber, you don’t get fuel wetting the combustion wall like with port fuel injection, you don’t saturate the ports and you don’t get droplets that might recombine and add to saturation,” Hinds said. “By injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber and under high pressure, the fuel can be directed to exactly where we want it to be for a given combustion cycle.”

The spray pattern for the fuel was optimized after extensive computer modeling work, with the angle of how the fuel is sprayed key to the process. “The better combustion process is a big advantage of direct injection,” Hinds said. “In a port fuel system, at key off it’s possible to have fuel on the walls of the intake port, which migrates to the top of the valve and puddles. So when you key on, you get that emissions spike. Direct injection is much cleaner from that standpoint.”

Turbo lag virtually eliminated
The simultaneous turbocharger operation paired with the direct-injection system help to virtually eliminate turbo lag, one of the main reasons turbocharger technology was not previously more widely used.

The dual-turbocharger setup has several advantages over previous turbocharging systems, including:

* The turbochargers are smaller, resulting in more-compact exhaust manifolds, which don’t generate as much heat
* Turbochargers are packaged adjacent to the cylinder block and have improved mounting providing NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) improvements
* The dual turbochargers spool up quicker, allowing the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine to reach peak torque faster. The turbochargers spin at approximately 170,000 rpm. By comparison, the redline for the engine is approximately 6,500 rpm

“The two turbochargers both operate identically over the speed range of the engine – one is responsible for the left bank of the engine and the other is responsible for the right bank,” Hinds said. “Both spin immediately and produce boost, even at low engine speeds.”

The turbochargers are designed for a life cycle of 150,000 miles or 10 years.

“Our testing is far, far more harsh than could be achieved in the real world,” Hinds. “In an extreme situation, a customer might be able to hit peak power for about 10 seconds – probably not even that much. We test at peak power for hundreds of hours to ensure we can reach our durability and reliability goals.”

The turbochargers are only about the size of an orange, but help provide a big performance advantage to customers. Hinds describes the torque response in terms of linear acceleration – power whenever you need it.

“You get peak torque across a very wide engine speed range,” he said. “It’s available when you pull away from a stoplight or pass someone on a secondary road at a comparatively low speed. You don’t need to wind up the engine to get performance out of it. It’s there all the time.”

Turbocharger “whoosh” is mitigated by electronically controlled anti-surge valves, which proactively relieve the boost in the intake, which can range up to 12 PSI. Careful software calibrations manage the pressures in the intake manifold.

“We control the boost to make sure that customers don’t recognize when the boost is building,” Hinds said. “As the turbochargers spool up, the electronic control system takes over. Our active wastegate control along with the throttle controls the boost and torque levels very precisely and the customer perceives a continuous delivery of torque.”

Extensive durability tests on the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine ensure it will excel in all conditions. Start-up tests, with a wide variety of fuels, were made in conditions ranging from minus 40 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Altitude testing up to 12,000 feet in Colorado also was performed.

“The direct-injection fuel system allows us some real opportunities in terms of optimizing cold start for both emissions and robustness,” Hinds said. “We have multiple injections for each combustion event, and we can essentially tune where those injections should take place to deliver the strongest start possible with the lowest emissions.”

Mated to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine is the 6-speed 6F-55 SelectShift automatic transmission, which is dedicated to the twin-turbocharger engine. The 6F-55 transmission was developed from the successful 6F-50 transmission to specifically respond to the increased torque demands of the EcoBoost V-6 engine. Upgrades were made to the transmission’s friction material in response to the higher shift energies, and a new torque converter has been optimized for performance and fuel economy.

Additionally, the 6F-55 transmission operates more efficiently. The transmission team was able to reduce the fluid level in the transmission, which in turn reduced weight and drag torque on the system. Upgrades to the transmission’s thermal valve mean the system warms up quicker, reducing gear-spin losses.

“We’ve upgraded the gear sets to handle the increased torque,” said Joe Baum, powertrain team leader. “We’ve also adjusted the final drive ratio and matched the gear ratios to provide the optimum performance and fuel economy.

“Our final drive ration is 2.73. With a lower final drive ratio, the engine spins lower at highway speeds, which helps save fuel. And with all the torque, the Lincoln MKS still delivers good low-speed launch performance.”

One harmonious system
Careful powertrain system management ensures the engine, turbochargers and transmission work together harmoniously.

The Lincoln MKS team also was careful to give customers an exhaust note from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that was pleasing but not overpowering. A precision-tuned induction sound tube directed into the cabin complements the feeling of power.

“It has the powerful sound Lincoln MKS customers will respond to,” Hinds said.

With the addition of the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, the overall package for the Lincoln MKS is one customers will respond to as well.

“With its elegant styling, wide suite of convenience technology and incomparable ride, the Lincoln MKS is an outstanding luxury sedan,” Reyes said. “We’re pleased and proud to add the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 to an already-great car.”

New 'Active Park Assist' Makes Parallel Parking a Breeze for Lincoln MKT and MKS Owners

The often stressful and frustrating task of parallel parking soon will be as easy as pressing a button for owners of the Lincoln MKS flagship sedan and all-new Lincoln MKT seven-passenger luxury crossover, thanks to an exclusive new technology from Ford Motor Company called Active Park Assist.

Available in mid-2009 as an option on the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and new Lincoln MKT crossover, Active Park Assist uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot.

“With the touch of a button, Lincoln MKS and MKT drivers can parallel park quickly, easily and safely without ever touching the steering wheel,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “This is another example of exclusive Ford smart technology, such as Ford SYNC, that makes the driving experience easier and more enjoyable for our customers.”

Active Park Assist system uses sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle to guide the vehicle into a parking space. The technology is a major leap forward in speed and ease of use compared with the camera-reliant systems offered by competitors, including a video camera-based system offered by Lexus. Ford’s system requires less driver interface and reduces the risk of selecting a parking spot that is too tight. Ford’s Active Park Assist also works in downhill parking situations, unlike competing systems.

Here’s how Active Park Assist works:

• The driver activates the system by pressing an instrument panel button, which activates the ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible parallel parking space.
• The system then prompts the driver to accept the system assistance to park.
• The steering system then takes over and steers the car into the parking space hands-free. The driver still shifts the transmission and operates the gas and brake pedals.
• A visual and/or audible driver interface advises the driver about the proximity of other cars, objects and people and provides instructions.
• While the steering is all done automatically, the driver remains responsible for safe parking and can interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel.

Active Park Assist is enabled by Ford’s advanced EPAS technology. In addition to helping with parallel parking, EPAS improves fuel economy up to 5 percent, while reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing steering performance compared with traditional hydraulic powered-assisted steering systems. EPAS saves fuel primarily because the steering system is powered by an electric motor connected to vehicle’s battery, as opposed to engine-mounted hydraulic pump steering systems. By 2012, Ford plans to fit nearly 90 percent of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup with EPAS.

“As we use advanced technology like Electric Power Assisted Steering to improve the fuel efficiency across our vehicle lineup, we have the opportunity to introduce new comfort and convenience innovations like Active Parking Assist,” said Ali Jammoul, Ford’s chief engineer for chassis engineering and steering systems. “This is technology not for the sake of technology, but technology designed to meet the needs and wants of customers.”

As Ford introduces EPAS in more vehicles, it will be able to offer Active Parking Assist in more models. In addition, Ford is working on using EPAS and other sensors for other smart technologies, including one that could prevent a vehicle from drifting out of lane on the highway.

Active Park Assist works in tandem with other new technologies that will be offered on the 2010 MKS and MKT and other Ford Motor Company vehicles, including Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) and Cross Traffic Alert. BLIS employs a sensor on the outboard rear quarter panel that monitors the traditional blind spot area, and can notify the driver with a warning indicator light in the corresponding side view mirror if the sensors in this optional system detect a vehicle in the blind spot. Cross Traffic Alert uses BLIS sensors to help detect cross traffic when backing out of a parking space.

More details about the new Lincoln MKT seven-passenger luxury crossover will be available when it debuts at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

The Lincoln MKS sedan – which went on sale this summer with strong initial sales that have helped Lincoln gain share in the luxury segment in the second half of this year – raises the bar on exclusive technologies offered in a luxury car. The Lincoln MKS features:

• Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows the driver to set and maintain the vehicle’s speed, while a radar monitors traffic ahead. This optional system automatically adjusts speed and slows the vehicle to maintain the set distance behind traffic ahead.
• Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, which allows the driver to enter the Lincoln MKS and start the engine without using the key. Drivers simply carry the special fob as they approach the vehicle, touch the keyless entry keypad on the B-pillar, open the door and, with the brake pedal engaged, start the engine by pushing a button.
• SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad, which is the next generation of a feature familiar to many Lincoln owners. It allows access to Lincoln MKS by unlocking the driver’s door by entering a pre-set five-digit code. The newest version is now flush-mounted to the B-pillar with backlit numerals that illuminate to the touch.
• Adaptive Headlamps with Standard High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps, which enhance nighttime visibility by illuminating more of the road ahead. Sensors monitor the vehicle’s speed and steering wheel input to engage headlamp movement and increase the driver’s field of vision.
• Rain-Sensing Wipers, which use an optical sensing system to gauge precipitation and automatically activate and adjust the wipers. The Lincoln MKS driver can choose among five sensitivity settings.
• EasyFuel™ Capless Fuel-Filler System, which provides a hassle-free and more consistent seal than a manual fuel cap. EasyFuel self seals when refueling is complete.
• SYNC, which is standard on the Lincoln MKS. This award-winning voice activated communications and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft fully integrates Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones and digital media players into the vehicle. SYNC incorporates 911 Assist, which can notify a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying incident. SYNC Vehicle Health Report feature can keep the driver notified of scheduled maintenance, service intervals and vehicle system health information.