The second-generation Lincoln MKZ for 2013 debuts this week at the New York Auto Show, as the first Lincoln created by a dedicated team in its new Lincoln Design Studio.
The newest incarnation of Lincoln’s mid-size family-hauler offers a suite of advanced driving aids including lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise, collision warning, active park assist, and BLIS (Blind Spot Information System). All-wheel drive is optional. On the infotainment front, SYNC with MyLincoln Touch is standard.
Also standard is Lincoln Drive Control, an automatic system that monitors suspension settings for better ride and handling characteristics, and also allows drivers to move between Drive and Sport to shift handling, ride, throttle response, shift timing and steering response to suit their taste. A standard Continuously Controlled Damping suspension feature allows drivers to select Comfort for a smoother ride.
Engine choices are a 2.0L 4-cylinder EcoBoost that offers 20% better highway fuel economy than the 2012 MKZ; a 3.7L V6 with 37 more horses and 28 more pounds-feet of torque than the previous model, while offering fuel economy improvement of about 5%. A 2.0L 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain is also available.
The MKZ will also offer a new signature feature: a huge 15.2-square-foot Retractable Panoramic Roof that maintains the structural strength of a steel roof.
Exterior styling is now sleeker, with a 10% improvement in aerodynamics, and features a a modern interpretation of the split-wing grille that first appeared on the 1938 Lincoln Zephyr.