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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 Lincoln MKZ by Cordell Koland Last year, Lincoln introduced a mid-sized sedan called the Zephyr that got off to a good start. Now for some strange marketing reason, the Zephyr has been renamed the MKZ. The newest midsize Lincoln sedan, however, comes to the party with more power, optional all-wheel-drive and modest styling refinements. Regardless of the name, the strategic importance of MKZ is huge. There must be more than a million entry-level luxury cars sold in the US, Europe and Japan each year and Lincoln¹s rivals, such as Audi, Acura, and BMW have gotten fat on this market. Lincoln must compete in this arena to continue to be a presence in the luxury category. Lincoln¹s traditional buyers have been growing older and the brand itself may have to retire to Sunny Acres. The new MKZ¹s size and appointments are aimed to attract a younger urban couple that wants something more contemporary, with a rear seat spacious enough to accommodate family additions. The MKZ offers front-wheel-drive with all-wheel-drive now available. The sedan features the slab-sided styling and signature grille reminiscent of the Lincoln line. Base price is set at $31,050, excluding destination and delivery. As for the name change, the MKZ appears to be in line with the company¹s overall marking nomenclature. 2007 also sees Lincoln launch the MKX, a crossover SUV. As for discontinuing the Zephyr name, that¹s probably a good thing because the original Zephyr, which had a production run from 1936 to 1942, was an outstanding car for its era and remains one of the most important cars in Lincoln¹s history. The latest Zephyr or MKZ is nowhere near as impressive as the original, which even today is highly prized by vintage car collectors for its ground-braking design. And while I¹ll stick with my critique that the MKZ lacks quite the stature of the original Lincoln Zephyr, it is a reasonably attractive car. The front styling with the so-called waterfall grille sets it apart from a lot of other mid-size luxury cars. The lines are quite traditional, but nevertheless clean, avoiding of some of the unnecessary flourishes that seem prevalent in contemporary automotive designs. I am even more taken with the interior design, which deserves credit for charting a different course than its competitors. The MKZ¹s interior is exceptionally attractive with a high-tech visual treatment featuring crisp lines and the strategic use of polished metal and wood accents. The interior in our test car featured blond maple veneers and accents, dark ebony is also available, which combined with silver metallic center console components, render a very contemporary look. The controls are well-marked and easy to find and use. The MKZ was equipped with the optional navigation system. In terms of electronics, the system apparently is an advanced unit in terms of functionality. Unfortunately, there are two problems. As laid out in the MKZ, the viewing screen is small and the placement too low in the center console to be highly useful, Nevertheless, it does provide enough utility to be a recommended option. The MKZ is available in only one version with a 3.5-liter V-6 married to a six-speed automatic transmission. Our test car was also equipped with the optional all-wheel-drive system. Automobile engineers faced with designing a car¹s suspension make a decision whether they want to bias the design toward a good ride or good handling, although some modern set-ups do a decent job of both. The MKZ is biased toward a softer, forgiving ride quality. When you get behind the steering wheel and experience the MKZ, there is no mistaking the quality of its underlying structure. In keeping with its design goals, bumps and road imperfections are absorbed, but the ride is well damped and there is little or no suggestion of secondary bounce. On the other hand, I feel that the car lacks the overall responsiveness to which younger luxury car buyers have grown accustomed. The MKZ¹s V-6 engine offers acceptable power and is well served by its advanced six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is relatively quiet under all conditions, which is something that luxury car buyers crave. Yet here again, the MKZ doesn¹t seem overly responsive or enthusiastic. At $35,000 it represents a reasonable price, but it will have to offer more performance to compete in this hugely aggressive market. Vehicle:
Lincoln MKZ
Price as tested: $34,730 Engine: Type: 3.0-liter V-6 Horsepower: 263 @ 6,250 rpm Torque: 249 lbs.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 18 mpg Highway 26 mpg Curb Weight: 3,410 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
