Lincoln MKX

Infobox Automobile


name=Lincoln MKX
manufacturer=Ford Motor Company
production=2007–present
predecessor=Lincoln Aviator
class=Mid-size crossover SUV
body_style=4-door Crossover
assembly=Oakville, Ontario, Canada
layout=Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
platform=Ford CD3 platform
related=Ford Edge
Ford Fusion
Mercury Milan
Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln Zephyr
Mazda6
Mazda CX-9
engine=3.5 L "Duratec 35" V6
wheelbase=111.2 in (2825 mm)
length=186.5 in (4735 mm)
width=75.8 in (1925 mm)
height=2007: 67.5 in (1715 mm)
2008-present: Auto in|67.3|0
transmission=6-speed "6F" automatic

Lincoln MKX, a premium mid-size luxury crossover SUV marked by Lincoln, went on sale in December 2006 as a MY 2007 model. As a slightly modified version of its sister vehicle the Ford Edge, the MKX uses unibody construction rather than the body-on-frame construction of its predecessor, the Lincoln Aviator.

The name

The MKX is the first Lincoln to use a combination of letters and/or number combinations rather than traditional names.

The MKX was originally to be named Lincoln Aviator, [ [http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied_vehicles/112_0510_2007_lincoln_aviator/index.html MotorTrend.com - "Spied: 2007 Lincoln Aviator"] 10 May 2007 ] replacing that vehicle in the Lincoln lineup, and was first shown in concept form as as the "Lincoln Aviator Concept" at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. [ [http://www.cars.com/go/features/autoshows/vehicle.jsp?autoshow=&vehicletype=concept&autoshowyear=2004&vehicle=concept_Lincoln_Aviator Cars.com - "Lincoln Aviator Concept"] ] The name was changed to "MKX" shortly before the vehicle was shown again at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. During the auto show circuit, the name MKX was originally pronounced "Mark X", but widespread confusion (and even refusals) at the dealership level during sales and marketing training sessions resulted in the dropping of that pronunciation. [cite web|url=http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060724/AUTO01/607240320/1148|title=What's in a name?|work=Detroit News|accessdate=July 24|accessyear=2006] Ford officially referred to the vehicles with the "Mark-Ex" pronunciation from January to June 2006, but changed to the phonetic "em-kay-ex" in July 2006.

Honda filed a lawsuit against Ford in January 2006, claiming that the MKX name is too close to that of Honda's Acura MDX, eventually settling out of court [cite web|url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109081|title=Honda Takes Ford to Court Over SUV Name|publisher=Insideline.com] .

Also using the Mark X name, Lincoln had shown in 2004 its Mark X concept vehicle based on the Ford Thunderbird platform featuring a retractable hardtop [cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=16655|title=Mark X is Lincoln's First Convertible Roadster Concept|publisher=Ford.com] .

Features

Developed under the internal codename "U388", the MKX, along with the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKZ, are the first vehicles to use Ford's 3.5 L "Duratec 35" V6 engine. This new engineis mated to the new "6F" six-speed automatic transmission co-developed with General Motors.

Optional equipment includes Ford's Vista Roof and heated rear seats.

The MKX is built alongside the related Ford Edge at Oakville Assembly in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, the first Lincoln built in Canada since 1936. According to the official Lincoln website, prices for the 2007 MKX range from $39,495 to $58,885.

For 2008, the MKX was updated. Lincoln badges now appear near the front doors.

Engines

External links

* [http://lincoln.com/reachhigher/default.asp?sReferrer=B_ReachHigher_aviatorHome_RHHome_20060111 Official Lincoln 2007 Lineup Page]
* [http://www.lincoln.com/mkx/home.asp Lincoln MKX Main Page]
* [http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=1373&press_subsection_id=421&make_id=93 2007 Lincoln MKX Updated Press Kit with Specifications]

References