And that six-speed automatic mentioned a few minutes ago will do its share to improve performance while reducing fuel
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| In between the engine and the wheels is an all-new six-speed automatic transmission, developed in house. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
consumption as well as emissions thanks to a tall final drive ratio. Takeoff is enhanced due to a low first gear ratio, and thanks to having four cogs in between first and sixth, intervals on the way up through the gears should be smooth and quick, optimizing the engine's power band at all times. Putting this into a quantifiable perspective, the six-speed is expected to reduce fuel consumption by about seven percent; or in dollars and cents, about $3.50 for every 20-gallon fill (U.S. figure: so expect even greater savings in Canada).
Samardzich also promised that the new six-speed will deliver minimized shift hunting and optimize the engine's speed in a given gear, with gear whine said to be dramatically reduced, resulting in "superior NVH characteristics". This is especially important with a luxury car like the MKZ.
And the MKZ isn't merely a dolled up Fusion, but features increased sound deadening materials for a much more isolated experience than its entry-level brand sibling. More so, the MKZ,
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| The MKZ, like the Zephyr, gets a totally unique interior with real wood accents, extremely high-quality leather surfaces, plus Lincoln's trademark satin nickel and chrome highlights. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
like the Zephyr, gets a totally unique interior with real wood accents, extremely high-quality leather surfaces, plus Lincoln's trademark satin nickel and chrome highlights to raise the level of luxury to premium heights. Enhancing the ambient experience, Lincoln adds white electroluminescent lighting to illuminate the MKZ's circular, chrome-ringed primary instruments, complemented by soft white lighting, via white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in backlit controls and switches throughout the rest of the cabin. It's a relaxing experience, in sharp contrast with what is often a more hostile environment outside the car amid congested traffic.
In more detail, the new MKZ offers a choice of either real wood or satin nickel for dash trim, which give the car a warmer, richer ambience or more technical, sportier styling motif. But there's more. A choice
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| Satin nickel dash trim and gives the MKZ's cabin a sportier appearance. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
between two different types of wood, either dark ebony or light maple, can totally change the interior's appearance alone, the former which includes either Dark Charcoal or Light Stone plastic and leather surfaces, while the latter comes fitted with a Sand (beige) interior.
"The figured maple gives the interior a fresh and exciting look," commented Peter Horbury, executive director, North American Design. "The dark ebony is classic elegance for a traditional sense of luxury. The satin nickel, with its lightly raised
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| Living up to the brand's limousine heritage, more than three feet of rear seat legroom comes standard. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
ribbing, is technical and modern. We were able to establish three completely different ambient settings through use of these materials."
And despite being Lincoln's entry-level car, the MKZ is hardly small. Living up to the brand's limousine heritage, more than three feet of rear seat legroom comes standard, while passenger room is further enhanced by an increase of 30 millimeters in width over the Mazda6 architecture it was initially derived from, and a wheelbase stretch of 55 millimeters.
