From the Detroit News
Posted by Greg Piatt on Mon, Jan 14, 2008 at 8:22 AM
Lincoln introduces MKT premium utility vehicle
Greg Piatt
Lincoln, continuing to overhaul its model lineup, today unveiled a luxury concept vehicle its chief designer called "a Learjet of the road."
The MKT is based on the same platform as the Ford Flex crossover, and is expected to join the Lincoln lineup in 2009.
"We envisioned this concept as a modern grand tourer," said Peter Horbury, executive director of design for the Americas at Ford. "With the Lincoln MKT concept, you find a premium utility that could as easily accommodate a businessperson slipping into the back seat on the way to his or her next meeting ..."
The MKT is all about pampering occupants - front and rear.
The seats mirror those found in first-class aircraft cabins. Four executive-sized chairs offer leg room. Backseat heated and cooled thigh supports deploy from under the seats, while footrests deploy rearward from the front seats, allowing passengers to fully recline.
"The Lincoln MKT concept offers the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a full-size utility and the performance of a sporty roadster," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas.
The Lincoln MKT concept has a 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine with turbocharging and direct injection that produces the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6.
EcoBoost engines deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy, the automaker said. Ford is expected to introduce EcoBoost in the Lincoln MKS sedan next year.
The Lincoln MKT concept features an EcoBoost engine that's flex-fuel capable, providing the driver the ability to switch between premium gasoline and E85 ethanol-gas blend, the automaker said. It is capable of switching between ront and all-wheel drive.
The MKT concept's V-6 engine delivers 415 horsepower.
