2013 Lincoln MKT shows its toothier grin
The Lincoln MKT has never sold well since it hit the market back in 2010, but Ford is hoping to change that with a refresh for 2013. The three-row Lincoln crossover will receive an all new front fascia with a whole lot more vertical slats in the grille and no more intersecting horizontal bar. The lower fascia has been tweaked to look more rounded at the top, and the fog lamp assembly was made wider and shorter to help give the big ute the appearance of a wider stance.
Engine choices are unchanged compared to the outgoing model, with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and the 3.7-liter V6 providing motivation. The EcoBoost model will still muster up 355 horsepower, but the 3.7-liter engine will now produce 300 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. That's up 32 ponies from the outgoing model, yet the 3.7 will also be more efficient. Ford says we can expect 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway, up 1 mpg from the 2012 model.
The MKT also receives several ride and handling enhancements for 2013, including Continuously Controlled Damping. The system, which is available only on EcoBoost-equipped MKT models, utilizes 46 inputs to feed data to a control unit that monitors 23,000 packets of information per second. This data is calculated 500 times per second, which helps adjust optimal damping force in only 11 milliseconds.
The 2013 Lincoln MKT also features Lincoln Drive Control. This system gives the driver the choice of selecting one of three driving modes. Normal, Sport and Comfort can be chosen using Lincoln Drive Control and the shift lever. In Sport mode, the suspension tightens up 25 to 30 percent to emphasize handling. If a softer ride is your thing, the suspension can adjust to be up to 15 percent softer than the normal setting.
The cabin of the MKT also received several updates, including MyLincoln Touch. The system includes dual 4.2-inch LCD screens in the gauge cluster with five-way steering wheel controls to keep hands on the wheel. The system also includes an eight-inch multi-function LCD touch screen and SYNC.
The 2013 Lincoln MKT will be officially unveiled at the 2011 LA Auto Show later today, and it will go on sale spring 2012.
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