JP: You mentioned that the face of a vehicle is its most important design aspect. The rear of this vehicle looks like nothing else on the road, though. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
PS: We have what we call 'zero-offset' bumpers on here, which is where the modernity comes in. In front and rear, you won't see a conventional bumper 'shelf'. It's just a really smooth shape that makes it modern looking.
There's still a bumper beneath it, and the car meets five-star crash ratings and all federal regulations- but we were able to fool you a little bit with a pure, clean and simple shape that looks like it has no bumpers.
JP: So who's buying these? What's the Lincoln MKT customer looking for?
PS: I think it's somebody that wants to give themselves a bit of a reward. They've been successful, they still have a family and they still need to carry a lot of people. So the third row of seats and extra functionality is important. But this buyer doesn't want to compromise, and wants to give themselves a bit of a gift.
JP: How do you come to a conclusion on which paint colors to offer? Why couldn't you order this MKT in bright orange?
PS: This is a long, drawn-out selection process. We argue about it, look at trends, and so on. Color selection has to be what the brand is all about.
You'll see deeper, more burgundy reds than bright reds. You'll see different types of silvers, because silver looks very sophisticated. We're even using a new 'tuxedo black' which has no metallic flakes in it, but glass beads instead, for this unique rainbow effect when the sun hits it. The colors on a luxury vehicle have to reflect the nature of that brand.
photo:Matthieu Lambert, Lincoln
PS: We have what we call 'zero-offset' bumpers on here, which is where the modernity comes in. In front and rear, you won't see a conventional bumper 'shelf'. It's just a really smooth shape that makes it modern looking.
There's still a bumper beneath it, and the car meets five-star crash ratings and all federal regulations- but we were able to fool you a little bit with a pure, clean and simple shape that looks like it has no bumpers.
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| 2010 Lincoln MKT |
JP: So who's buying these? What's the Lincoln MKT customer looking for?
PS: I think it's somebody that wants to give themselves a bit of a reward. They've been successful, they still have a family and they still need to carry a lot of people. So the third row of seats and extra functionality is important. But this buyer doesn't want to compromise, and wants to give themselves a bit of a gift.
JP: How do you come to a conclusion on which paint colors to offer? Why couldn't you order this MKT in bright orange?
PS: This is a long, drawn-out selection process. We argue about it, look at trends, and so on. Color selection has to be what the brand is all about.
You'll see deeper, more burgundy reds than bright reds. You'll see different types of silvers, because silver looks very sophisticated. We're even using a new 'tuxedo black' which has no metallic flakes in it, but glass beads instead, for this unique rainbow effect when the sun hits it. The colors on a luxury vehicle have to reflect the nature of that brand.
photo:Matthieu Lambert, Lincoln
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