Well-heeled soccer moms might check out luxury crossovers contenders by piling the hubby and the kids into three rows of seating, and taking a leisurely ride around town.
Our first ride in the all-new Lincoln MKT was on high-banked high-speed test track at Ford’s proving grounds in Romeo, Michigan.
We’re not complaining. Just putting into context our first experience with this new Lincoln, and with its highly anticipated optional powerplant — the 3.5-litre V6 Ecoboost.
So this will not be the definitive word on all the creature comforts, and there are many, that have been crammed into the cabin of the MKT. The focus of this first-ever press event involving an Ecoboost powertrain was, predictably, about performance and handling.
New powertrain philosophy
Two V6 engines are available in MKT: the 268-hp 3.7-litre V6, and this all-new 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost, which is Ford’s answer to those who would normally need or desire a V8 in their crossover or SUV, but still want the fuel efficiency of a V6. Employing direct injection and twin turbochargers, the engine produces 355 hp at 5,700 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. And those big shovelfuls of grunt are produced through a very large rpm window — 1,500 to 5,250.
Power and quietness
“With this vehicle we thought a lot about harmony,” said chief engineer, Ron Heiser. “We didn’t want to excel in one attribute and not deliver in others.”
So while this engine would predictably deliver the fun-to-drive goods, it also had to fit into another Lincoln brand touchstone — quietness and refinement.
Heiser noted that many customers equate quietness with refinement and luxury. “Some of them are not experts (on good or bad powertrain noises) … they only know how quiet the vehicle is when they’re on the cell phone.”
Heiser showed us data that stipulated that the MKT has the least amount of wind noise in its class, and is better, or is on par, with others when it comes to road noise.
Our first ride in the all-new Lincoln MKT was on high-banked high-speed test track at Ford’s proving grounds in Romeo, Michigan.
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| For far too long, Lincoln was a shadow of its former glory. |
We’re not complaining. Just putting into context our first experience with this new Lincoln, and with its highly anticipated optional powerplant — the 3.5-litre V6 Ecoboost.
So this will not be the definitive word on all the creature comforts, and there are many, that have been crammed into the cabin of the MKT. The focus of this first-ever press event involving an Ecoboost powertrain was, predictably, about performance and handling.
New powertrain philosophy
Two V6 engines are available in MKT: the 268-hp 3.7-litre V6, and this all-new 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost, which is Ford’s answer to those who would normally need or desire a V8 in their crossover or SUV, but still want the fuel efficiency of a V6. Employing direct injection and twin turbochargers, the engine produces 355 hp at 5,700 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. And those big shovelfuls of grunt are produced through a very large rpm window — 1,500 to 5,250.
Power and quietness
“With this vehicle we thought a lot about harmony,” said chief engineer, Ron Heiser. “We didn’t want to excel in one attribute and not deliver in others.”
So while this engine would predictably deliver the fun-to-drive goods, it also had to fit into another Lincoln brand touchstone — quietness and refinement.
Heiser noted that many customers equate quietness with refinement and luxury. “Some of them are not experts (on good or bad powertrain noises) … they only know how quiet the vehicle is when they’re on the cell phone.”
Heiser showed us data that stipulated that the MKT has the least amount of wind noise in its class, and is better, or is on par, with others when it comes to road noise.
 |
| Heiser noted that many customers equate quietness with refinement and luxury. |