2009 Lincoln MKS

Not Your Grandpa's Lincoln

Lincoln hopes its Town Car replacement will have the right combination of features to appeal to youthful buyers.

See Lincoln MKS photos

The full-size sedan will launch with a 3.7-liter V6 good for 270 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, but Lincoln hopes to add Ford's new direct-injection turbocharged engine to the MKS less than a year later as a way to offer the performance and power of a V8 but with better fuel efficiency. A six-speed automatic SelectShift transmission has a manual mode. Front-wheel drive is standard. A sophisticated all-wheel drive system is optional and can transfer up to 100 percent of the engine's power to the front or rear wheels.

The MKS will come loaded with technology and convenience features, including SYNC, a hands-free in-car communication system developed by Ford and Microsoft that allows users to control the audio system and a Bluetooth-integrated cell-phone. Other electronic goodies include a surround sound audio system with Sirius satellite radio, real-time traffic updates, and weather forecasts, and adaptive cruise control. An EasyFuel capless gas tank allows for quick refueling.

MKS pricing will start below $38,000, which significantly undercuts competing models from Japanese and European luxury brands. Lincoln expects up to 60 percent of MKS buyers to be new to the brand.

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