2010 Lincoln MKS With EcoBoost

The arrival of the MKS sedan last year spurred hopes that it might revitalize Ford’s historically uncompetitive luxury brand, helping Lincoln to better compete with Cadillac, Lexus, and other aspirational marques. Most of the hype stemmed from the stunning MKR concept that debuted at the 2007 Detroit auto show; it floated the idea that future Lincolns wouldn’t be dowdy, livery-service specials like the current Town Car.

As it turns out, the MKS is indeed light-years beyond that ancient Panther-platformed barge in both styling and performance. But the production 2009 MKS came to market lacking the MKR’s exaggerated proportions, rear-wheel-drive chassis, and twin-turbocharged V-6—which then carried the aggressive TwinForce moniker. The reality of the MKS’s front-wheel-drive foundation (shared with the Ford Taurus) and naturally aspirated, 3.7-liter V-6 making 275 hp and 276 lb-ft of torque put it at a disadvantage with more powerful luxury sedans.

But Ford is now upping the big Lincoln’s game, as it will finally be available with a twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6 when the 2010 model arrives in showrooms in mid-summer. Although the engine carries the more marketing-friendly EcoBoost name, its 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque are for real and give the Lincoln the gusto to run with most V-8s. We recently had the chance to sample the new turbocharged model—as well as the 2010 MKT crossover—at Ford’s Michigan proving ground, where the company had a V-8 Cadillac STS and Infiniti M45x on hand for comparison.
Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

BASE PRICE (with EcoBoost V-6): $48,585

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 213 cu in, 3490cc
Power (SAE net): 355 bhp @ 5700 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 350 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.9 in Length: 204.1 in Width: 75.9 in Height: 61.6 in Curb weight (C/D est): 4400 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.9 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 135 mph


FUEL ECONOMY (MFR’S EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 17/24 mpg

Movin’ On Up

Supported by standard all-wheel drive and a beefier six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and revised gear ratios, the EcoBoost MKS proved to be a far more compelling vehicle to pilot than the base car. However, it should be noted that, although the Lincoln handily outpaced the Cadillac and Infiniti in acceleration, technology, and refinement, Ford conveniently chose two of the oldest and least powerful vehicles in the segment for comparison.

With peak torque available as low as 1500 rpm, the direct-injected EcoBoost V-6 is flexible in its power delivery and motivates the 4400-pound MKS with uncanny ease. Acceleration is smooth and linear up to the indicated 135-mph top speed, with the 0-to-60 sprint likely coming in fewer than six seconds. Turbo lag is nonexistent. The exhaust note is hushed but noticeable, with a subdued growl that never gives the impression the engine is being worked too hard. To further promote the EcoBoost technology, Ford recently invited the media out to Michigan's Milan Dragway to run the new MKS down the quarter-mile. While the venue didn't allow for our regular testing regimen, our best run confirmed our 13.9-second estimate to be accurate. Stay tuned for full C/D test results from the next time we get behind the wheel.

Although the prodigious low-end grunt tops that of many V-8s, Ford says the EcoBoost engine’s direct injection, compact turbochargers, and smaller displacement allow it to sip fuel like a proper V-6. Our short stint behind the wheel, with the throttle frequently contacting the floorboard, didn’t give us much of an idea about real-world economy. Still, the EcoBoost MKS’s estimated city/highway mileage of 17/24 mpg beats the EPA figures for the STS and M45x—again, conveniently—which are rated at 15/22 and 14/20, respectively. The front-wheel-drive, 3.7-liter MKS is rated the same as the EcoBoost model; the all-wheel-drive base car gets 16/23 mpg. However, the Lexus GS460 with its 342-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 matches the economy of the boosted MKS, and the more powerful—and less expensive—Hyundai Genesis V-8 manages 1 mpg better on the highway. Although the Lincoln’s ratings are surely influenced by its porky curb weight and have yet to be verified by the EPA, we think it might have been better had Ford kept the cooler-sounding TwinForce name if the primary benefit of EcoBoost is performance.