But most people buy a car, or at least choose to drive down to the local dealership to take a closer look at one, at which time
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| But most people don't buy a car because they fall head over heals forthe interior, it's the exterior styling that gets them down to theshowroom. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
they can fall head over heals for the interior, because something about its exterior styling has captured their imagination. This is where I'm at a loss. Despite offering up the requisite premium styling cues one would expect to see on a full-size luxury car, such as exquisitely finished metal trim details, large diameter alloy wheels on low-profile tires, and an imposing grille, the car doesn't come off as upscale as an Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or even a Chrysler 300C. Like them or not, these cars have a uniqueness that set them apart in their full-size luxury segment, where the new MKS seems to suffer from Acura RL-itis.
This is especially apparent from the rear, where the MKS' taillights remind me
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| Acura RL-itis is especially apparent from the rear, where the MKS' taillights remind me more of the Japanese brand's flagship than any other car. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
more of Acura's flagship than any other car - other than their Maserati Quattroporte (or Kia Rio5) strip of grey lens plastic adorning their outer edges. They cap off a tapered rear end design, which makes the entire car appear smaller than it really is when seen from behind. This will be a positive to some people, who'd rather be seen as environmentally minded when piloting a full-size luxury ride, but most vehicles in this class seem to try and appear more substantial than their actual size.
Does the shape of headlight clusters seem familiar? I thought so too. Again, I refer to Acura, but this time to the TL, one of my favourite designs in recent years. Yes, I like how they look when applied to this mid-size entry-level Japanese luxury model, but once again find them a bit too racy for a flagship Lincoln.
