Debuting today at the LA Auto Show, the 2013 Lincoln MKS is set to redefine the face and function of the luxury brand. Lincoln has been the luxury wing of Ford since Henry Ford purchased the relatively new automotive company in 1922, and has since become a hallmark of luxury transportation, often serving in lieu of a limousine for presidents, dignitaries, and celebrities of various stripes. The new 2013 Lincoln MKS makes no changes in this regard, as anyone who steps inside, or even better, takes a turn at the wheel, will feel a strong current of royalty coursing through their veins.
With a completely redesigned front end and a partially redesigned rear, the new 2013 Lincoln MKS is not your grandfather’s automotive aesthetic. With 19- and 20-inch aluminum wheels, a new grille reminiscent of the teeth of a bull shark, and a stylish new front and rear fascia, the 2013 MKS is a very different Lincoln altogether. This vehicle, while it screams luxury and refinement, also manages to look a little menacing (not a bad thing).
“The original MK vehicles were, in some ways, deliberately provocative,” said Max Wolff, Lincoln Design director. “The styling of the new MKS adds both refinement and elegance to the car while visually lowering and widening the front end. The continuous bright surround linking the grille and headlamps is particularly rich and adds something significant to what is already an expressive, balanced design.”
The subtle ambient lighting of the plush new interior perfectly displays and compliments the high tech display set before the driver. Complete with MyLincoln touch, Sync, and a full infotainment system, the 2013 Lincoln MKS is a home theater, phone, navigator, search engine, dj, and…pretty much anything anyone could ask out of a modern day smart phone or personal computer, only more.
One of the most interesting and practical new and improved components we find under the hood is the Continuously Controlled Damping. The goal of the engineers who designed CCD was to strike the perfect balance between creating a smooth ride while at the same time allowing a good amount of driver control and sharp handling, often not an easy task.
“CCD makes it possible to provide a smoother, more controlled ride over virtually any road surface in part by reducing body roll by up to 20 percent. CCD also improves handling. Understeer on the MKS has been reduced by approximately 25 percent, so the car feels more eager and ready to respond,” said Brian Naspinsky, Lincoln Vehicle Integration engineer.
The cutting edge design and engineering we find in the new 2013 Lincoln MKS is largely thanks to the leadership of Ford’s current CEO Alan Mulally. Mulally, like many CEOs and other various MBA type heads of industry, started his career as an engineer. What sets Mulally (and now Ford) apart is the fact that Mulally was a succesful engineer. Starting out and spending most of his career at Boeing, Mulally headed up many groundbreaking projects, including serving as leader of the design team that created the worlds first all digital cockpit. Many an engineer moves into management for lack of talent in the design lab. Mulally is different because it is his tallent in the lab that makes him a great leader in the boardroom.
This leadership can be seen in the new models ford has released in subsequent years, and is seen even more clearly in concept models such as the fierce Ford Evos. Now this fresh vision at Ford is displayed most finely in its new 2013 Lincoln MKS.
Phoenix Valley auto and tech enthusiasts should seriously consider taking a road trip out to Los Angeles in late November for the LA Auto Show, a popular platform for the worlds leaders in design, engineering, and electronics to debut their most cutting edge concepts and developments.
Phoenix Valley auto enthusiasts should also plan on attending the Phoenix Arizona International Auto Show to learn about the most recent concepts and innovations from Ford/Lincoln, as well as the rest of the auto industry, taking place at the Phoenix Arizona Convention center over Thanksgiving weekend.
