01-11-07: Giving us all a sneak peek last week, Ford pulled the covers of the new Lincoln MKR concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The new concept car is said to signal the future direction of Lincoln design.
It could not come soon enough. Lincoln has been in need of a soul for some time. If this new concept is true to it’s mission, that things might be looking up.
The Lincoln MKR concept introduces what Ford calls a new design language of “elegant simplicity”. Motivating the concept car is another message of future Lincolns, an environmentally friendly 3.5-liter gasoline twin-turbocharged direct-injection V-6. Producing 415 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque on renewable E-85 ethanol, Ford is billing it as a “no guilt“ way to have V8 power.
The new design – created by a team led by Peter Horbury, executive director, Design, The Americas – showcases the visual elements that will influence a new generation of Lincoln products.
“We’ve reinterpreted the best of Lincoln designs over time, preserving the restraint and elegance synonymous with the brand,” says Horbury. “The Lincoln MKR concept is sophisticated and modern, resembling an athlete – extremely strong and fit but looks elegant in a tuxedo.
“This romantic, sporting coupe should turn heads at the show. And, ultimately, this new design language will help lead us forward in the growing premium segment.”
The Lincoln MKR concept’s four doors and body side remain characteristically clean. A button concealed in the chrome door trim springs open the four ‘winged’ doors, slightly inclined for additional sophistication and a touch of drama. From the rear, the coupe concept is instantly recognizable as a Lincoln, thanks to full-width LED taillamps stretching from side to side. From above, this Lincoln proudly showcases its brand heritage with a large structural Lincoln star that punctuates the glass roof spanning the top of the car.
Overall, the car shares it’s basic architecture with the Ford Interceptor concept car which will also debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Both cars have the same roof and door cut lines which mean that an eye for production is likely. The two cars happen to ride on the Mustang’s platform which means that showroom versions are even more likely as engineering time and costs are significantly reduced. The MKR happened to have what Ford calls an "off-the-shelf" independent rear suspension. It is rumored to be the very same that was destined for the 2005 Mustang before the bean counters spoiled the party.
Inside, the Lincoln MKR concept defines a new direction for modern luxury, with ambient lighting and contrasting colors and materials that offer both a new look and philosophy for future Lincoln interiors.
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“The concept’s interior builds on the success of earlier Lincolns but stretches the boundaries even further,” said Gordon Platto, chief designer of the Lincoln MKR concept. “This unique combination of materials gives the Lincoln MKR a rich interior but features the environmentally friendly amenities that luxury buyers expect in premium goods, including vehicles.”
A black oak instrument panel engineered from recycled wood stretches from side to side and carries through to a twin-level floating center console that extends into the rear of the cabin. This expansive ‘T-shaped’ panel houses the passenger information display system seamlessly disguised by the flush touch screen control surfaces and a navigation screen that can be concealed by a powered door.
The instrument cluster provides a jewelry-like focal point. Chrome-trimmed gauges illuminated with Ice Blue lighting can be easily viewed in harmony with the concave spoke steering wheel that includes retractable paddle shifters.
“Lighting is an important design element,” Platto said. “We know customers are paying more attention to the lighting in their homes than ever before, and we wanted to leverage it to create even more ambiance and drama inside the concept.”
Ice Blue lighting is carried throughout the high-contrast interior, emitting from the door panels, mohair-carpeted foot wells, seats, center console and perhaps most dramatically from the large Lincoln star above which is easily viewed from each of the Lincoln MKR concept’s four seats.
Under the Lincoln MKR’s sculpted hood is the exquisitely detailed TwinForce engine, finished in chrome and accented in the cranberry red metallic paint that dresses the rest of the modern exterior. This marks the birth of the new TwinForce engine family that will power production versions of a range of future Ford and Lincoln products. TwinForce uses direct injection technology and turbocharging. These technologies are common in diesel engines but have only recently been combined together in gasoline engines.
The Lincoln MKR’s engine also is flex fuel capable, providing the driver with the flexibility to switch back and forth between gasoline and E-85 ethanol. Combining the high octane found in E-85 or premium gasoline with TwinForce technology allows the MKR’s V-6 to deliver 415 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque – an impressive 118 horsepower per liter.
To achieve this type of performance from a V-8 would require an engine displacement of 6.0-liter or larger, nearly double the size of the 3.5-liter in the Lincoln MKR. As a result of the smaller V-6, the Lincoln MKR concept delivers 15 percent better fuel economy than a V-8 with similar performance. The concept’s engine is mated to a six-speed transmission, and the concept features independent rear suspension for more refined road manners.
The car sits on 21-inch chrome aluminum wheels fitted with unique Michelin tires that feature the Lincoln star in its treads. “The Lincoln MKR concept is important because it marks a new era for the brand,” Horbury said. “This is a showcase of modern design that marries power, performance and, essentially, ‘guilt-free’ luxury.”
