Most notable is its horizontal grille, featuring a set of twelve chromed squares with thirty smaller squares in between. OK,
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| The MKX's horizontal grille features a set of twelve chromed squareswith thirty smaller squares in between, similar to the classic '61Continental. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
that's an odd description for sure, but what Lincoln has done by paying homage to its 1961 Continental is created something truly unique, truly American and, once again, truly Lincoln. Its adaptive headlight clusters are also stylish, not drawn as vertically as the Ford Edge, which shares the Lincoln's general architecture, but rather in a more conservative fashion; simple rectangles with slight curvatures at their lower, outside edges that come to symmetrical points and follow seamlessly into both outer edges of the hood. Anything more daring would complicate the design, and draw attention away from the elegant, although rather large Lincoln badge at centre. The entire front end is finished off with a graceful chrome strip dividing the grille from the hoodline, an attractive addition.
Following
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| Following the MKX's form rearward, the minimalist elegance continues. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
the MKX's form rearward, the minimalist elegance continues. The hood appears to be rather short, giving the CUV a slightly more masculine appearance than a Chrysler Pacifica, per se, and shoulder lines, as mentioned, are smooth and free of embellishment. Chrome is affectively applied to the sideview mirrors, the window surrounds, 18-inch alloy wheels, and "MKX" appliqué garnishing the front doors; it's hardly overdone.
The same goes for its rear end styling, which uses chrome merely to highlight its horizontal light bar-style tail lamps, and for the Lincoln badge and designation lettering. A subtle spoiler sits atop the rear window, blacked out like the surrounding rear glass and rooftop. That Vista Roof option is made up of black-glass, appearing as one sheet
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| The leathers are soft, with perforated inserts on the seats that let out cool air in the summer, or heat in the winter. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
when looking from above and double moonroofs when peering upwards from inside the vehicle, just like the familial Land Rover LR3. Overall, the black glass effect offers a sporty profile. And the black glass couldn't contrast the show car's pearlescent white paint scheme any more, with the overall effect sporty, yet distinctively elegant.
"Lincoln MKX appeals to new luxury buyers who express their success through understated gestures," says Peter Horbury, executive director, North America Design. "Lincoln MKX achieves modern luxury with its confident stance, elegant shape and luxurious, comfortable interior."
That elegance carries forward into the cabin, which, like the new Zephyr, moves Lincoln's car division way upscale in terms of materials quality and build quality. The leathers are soft, with perforated inserts on the seats that let out
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| The MKX moves Lincoln's car division way upscale in terms of materials quality and build quality. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
cool air in the summer, or heat in the winter, the latter feature for front and rear seats, while attractive wood trim is laid into the dash, doors and centre console, the latter embellished with stylish satin nickel trim.
That tall, rectangular centre stack features a 600-watt, 14-speaker (with two subs) surround-sound, THX Certified audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer, and a large 6.5-inch-wide information screen that doubles as a navigation system with text-to-speech convenience, if so equipped. Just below, under a row of six ancillary buttons, is a neatly integrated automatic climate control system, with large buttons, easily operable while wearing gloves. All controls are made visible at night via the Lincoln brand's "trademark" cool-white light, which, along with rich interior colours and other embellishments, creates a truly relaxing, upscale ambience.
