In our September 2011 issue, we presented an in-depth feature about how Ford intends to turn the Lincoln brand around, noting that the plan will begin in November with the debut of the updated MKS and MKT. We now have spy photos of the former, which gives us a first look at a number of the updates.
There’s been a lot of chatter about Lincoln sending its current waterfall grille design to the scrap yard, but new head designer Max Wolff apparently will start by refining—not erasing—Peter Horbury’s work. As you can see through the black cladding on this car, the 2013 MKS grille still features two sections filled with vertical bars. Now, though, they are crowded with more, thinner chrome vanes. Also visible are foglight housings that are smaller and lower on the bumper.
Out back, the taillights, which are currently very linear and vertical, will get new C-shaped LED strips, while the trunk panel between also will be redesigned. What’s the giveaway? Notice that the license plate, which was once centered in the trunklid, is now mounted low on the bumper.
The news inside the cabin is good or bad depending on how you feel about the controversial MyLincoln Touch technology (known also as MyFord Touch) and the touch-sensitive volume- and fan-control strips introduced on the 2011 MKX. Based on our own experiences—we hate the system—this won’t be a positive change.
We don’t know what will change under the hood, but we do at least have starting points to make some guesses. The 2013 Ford Taurus shown earlier this year at the New York show hints at some of the smaller tweaks, like a larger brake master cylinder, as well as bigger brake rotors on the EcoBoost V-6 model. The MKS also will adopt the MKX’s 305-hp version of the 3.7-liter V-6. At this point, we’re guessing that Lincoln will skip the Taurus’s new four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, but we aren’t ruling it out completely. We’ll know for sure in a few months.
