NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2013 – The Lincoln Motor Company’s
reinvention takes a major step forward with the unveiling of the
all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility vehicle.
The Lincoln MKC is a unique creation from the ground
up with an assortment of first-in-class features. Its all-new 2.3-liter
EcoBoost® engine offers excellent performance while its ingeniously
implemented wraparound liftgate is an example of masterful customer
convenience.
The luxurious interior embraces driver and
passengers alike, and its new and innovative technology personalizes the
MKC ownership experience. Lincoln MKC follows the MKZ sedan to become
the second all-new Lincoln in as many years as the brand continues its
reinvention.
“Lincoln MKC is a perfect blend of inspired
automotive design and dynamic driving performance in a segment that has
grown in popularity in recent years,” said Jim Farley, executive vice
president of Ford global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “As a
challenger luxury brand, entering this segment is a natural next step
for us. MKC will do more than just compete – it will change the way
people think about Lincoln.”
Building the Right Vehicle at the Right Time
Lincoln MKC – first introduced as a concept vehicle
at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit –
represents a critical milestone in the company’s plan to expand its
lineup.
Arriving on the heels of the all-new and successful
2013 Lincoln MKZ sedan, MKC becomes the second new vehicle in the
brand’s plans to introduce four new luxury vehicles by 2016.
MKC gives Lincoln a compelling offering in the small
premium utility vehicle segment, the fastest-growing part of the luxury
market. The segment has grown by 25 percent since 2012 and by more than
200 percent since 2009. The segment growth is being driven by new
luxury buyers who are coming into affluence, as well as by current
luxury owners who are moving from larger vehicles to smaller ones as
their life desires change.
With MKC, Lincoln continues its move toward
targeting a younger, more diverse customer. The vehicle also positions
Lincoln to resonate with drivers in desirable markets on the East and
West coasts.
Designed to Inspire Inside and Out
The Lincoln design team faced the dual challenge of
creating a standout vehicle in a competitive field, while further
refining the Lincoln design DNA that started with the 2013 MKZ. From its
signature split-wing grille to its uniquely crafted, hands-free
wraparound liftgate, the Lincoln DNA is evident.
“Our design team worked tirelessly to create a
vehicle that attracts new customers to the brand while meeting the
expectations of longtime Lincoln drivers,” said Max Wolff, director,
Lincoln Design. “The execution of the new liftgate is a prime example of
how a premium design element can create a better customer experience.”
MKC presents a sleek, sculpted body that helps it
stand out among peers. Its high beltline and low shoulders create a
sturdy, athletic presence, while features such as soft exterior
lighting, pedestal side-view mirrors and an available panoramic,
all-glass Vista Roof® give the vehicle a luxurious, sophisticated
personality.
The unique design also carries through to the
interior, where craftsmanship and high-tech combine to offer a warm,
luxurious environment. An architecturally unique instrument panel
showcases Lincoln’s signature push-button gear shifter, which provides
an open, inviting interior space. Plush leathers with French stitching,
and available Bridge of Weir leather and real wood trim accentuate MKC’s
elegance and grace.
“We gave attention to every detail to
convey a stylish, fashion-oriented vehicle,” said Soo Kang, Lincoln
interior design chief. “Our use of colors, materials, stitching – every
detail was considered to create an overall luxurious experience.”
To be more consistent with the Lincoln driving
experience, an all-new Lincoln steering wheel debuts on MKC and will be
available on all future Lincoln vehicles. This highly tactile
leather-wrapped wheel provides better feeling and control and puts the
brand’s new design DNA in the driver’s hands.
The enhanced THX® II Certified Audio System, an
industry-first featuring THX-distributed bass technology and 14 right-,
center- and left-slot speaker assemblies, is available. The
state-of-the-art audio system delivers a rich, immersive surround sound
experience that reproduces music as it was mixed in the studio.
SYNC® with MyLincoln Touch™ enables drivers to
personalize MKC by using voice-activated commands or simple touch
controls on the class-exclusive 8-inch touch screen. Knobs and buttons
on the center console provide additional and easy access to control the
air conditioning and sound system.
Lincoln Luxury Meets Dynamic Performance
When equipped with the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost
engine, MKC offers a projected 275 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300
lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary test data.
Class-exclusive Active Grille Shutters are designed to help improve MKC
fuel efficiency at highway speeds.
MKC comes standard with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost
four-cylinder turbocharged engine, projected to produce 240 horsepower
at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to
preliminary test data. This makes Lincoln MKC an all-EcoBoost vehicle.
MKC comes standard with front-wheel drive and
18-inch wheels. Drivers can upgrade to Lincoln’s Intelligent All-Wheel
Drive and 19-inch wheels for enhanced cornering and handling and an even
sportier look.
The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system also includes
Continuously Controlled Damping. Drivers can use Lincoln Drive Control
to select from sport, comfort and normal drive modes to cater to their
driving mood. CCD constantly monitors the road; the suspension reacts on
average within 20 milliseconds, providing a smooth ride with enhanced
handling.
CCD also is available in the standard front-wheel drive configuration of MKC.
“The width of MKC’s track has been set to allow the
designers the freedom to create a planted stance for the vehicle, and it
provided engineers the opportunity to minimize body roll and give the
vehicle a more sporty feel,” said Lisa Drake, MKC chief engineer.
Technology Provides Protection, Confidence
MKC offers advanced technology such as collision
warning with brake support, a Lane-Keeping System and driver assist to
help drivers avoid common accidents. The collision warning system is
designed to alert the driver if it detects a potential front-end crash.
The system issues an audible alert in the cabin, a visual alert on the
windshield and automatic brake assist sensitivity.
MKC introduces available park-out assist technology,
a class-exclusive feature that enhances the vehicle’s active park
assist capabilities. Where active park assist helps guide drivers into
tight parallel parking situations, park-out assist steers drivers out of
tight parking spots.
The vehicle’s Lane-Keeping System uses rearview
mirror-mounted cameras to identify lane markers and help drivers avoid
unintentionally straying from their lane. Dashboard-mounted cameras
monitor driver alertness. If the system detects a driver’s alertness
level dropping below a given threshold, a warning is issued via a chime
and a pop-up message appears on the left-hand cluster screen.
MKC also offers a standard Blind Spot Information
System, which continuously monitors the vehicle’s blind spots with radar
sensors, and class-exclusive cross-traffic alert, which detects traffic
as the vehicle backs from a parking space.
Driver confidence and safety is furthered by the
inclusion of seven standard airbags, including a class-exclusive
driver’s knee airbag. In preparing MKC for the road, the vehicle was
subjected to 5,000 virtual and real-world crash tests and a variety of
conditions.
Experience Lincoln’s Uniquely Warm Reception
MKC will greet owners with exclusive Approach
Detection, which senses when an owner is near and responds by
illuminating “welcome mats” on the ground next to both front doors.
Simultaneously, headlamps, taillamps and door handles glow with soft
lighting tuned to complement the vehicle’s exterior color.
MKC will be the first Lincoln to have always-on
built-in connectivity, allowing owners to utilize a smartphone app to
control the vehicle. With the MyLincoln Mobile™ app, MKC owners can
start, lock, unlock and locate the vehicle, as well as set interior
temperature gauges.
Drivers also can use the app to place a call for
roadside assistance, monitor the vehicle’s fuel level, check tire
pressure and battery status, and program engine start times to allow the
vehicle to heat or cool to comfortable levels.
Lincoln MKC production is slated to begin in the
second quarter of 2014 at Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky.
Vehicles are due in showrooms next summer.
Source: Ford.com
