Lincoln MKZ
Encyclopedia
The Lincoln MKZ, initially named the Lincoln Zephyr, is a mid-size
, entry-level luxury car from the Lincoln
division of the Ford Motor Company
. Lincoln revived the Zephyr name
in the fall of 2005 as a platform-mate for the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan
; the vehicles were based on the CD3 platform
, which was derived from the Mazda 6. The Zephyr's sole powertrain was a 3.0 L DOHC Duratec
V6
mated to an Aisin
6-speed automatic transmission
; identical to the V6 powertrain that was optional in the Fusion and Milan. Visually, the Zephyr could be easily distinguished from its Ford and Mercury siblings thanks to unique fascias
and other stylistic elements, but as much as 35% of its body panels were shared with the other cars. However, the interior is entirely unique to the Lincoln, and this, along with different equipment packaging, helped differentiate the brands. Reflecting its entry-level luxury position, the 2006 Zephyr started at a base MSRP
of $29,995 USD
, ranging up to $35,575 USD
when fully optioned.
Though slightly smaller and natively front-wheel drive
, the Zephyr was marketed as a replacement for Lincoln's previous entry level mid-size, the rear-wheel drive
, V8
-equipped Lincoln LS
. To facilitate a smooth transition, the Zephyr and LS were sold parallel to each other during the 2006 model year, the first model year of the Zephyr and the last for the LS. Ironically the Zephyr's first model year was also its last, in name. For 2007 the car was renamed MKZ, and took over the LS' market with sales beginning in September 2006. Lincoln's decision to resurrect the Zephyr name refers to the very early days of Lincoln before World War II. At that time, the only Lincoln manufactured was the Lincoln K-series
which was a full-size sedan, and Lincoln, under the direction of Edsel Ford
, Henry Ford's only son, hoped to introduce a smaller product to compete with the LaSalle, a smaller sibling offered at Cadillac dealerships.
The Zephyr moniker was discontinued after a year, switching to MKZ to align with Lincoln's alphanumeric naming strategy. Previously during the early 1980s, the Zephyr name reappeared on a compact sedan called the Mercury Zephyr
, a twin of the Ford Fairmont, however the Mercury Zephyr was replaced after a short period of time with the Mercury Topaz
, itself a twin of the Ford Tempo.
Highlighting the MKZ for 2007, other than the new name, was a mild exterior refresh, optional all-wheel drive
, and a larger displacement engine with more power. The MKZ name followed a new nomenclature
used at Lincoln for new vehicles beginning in the 2007 model year (existing models such as the Navigator
and Town Car
have been unaffected thus far). Ford initially intended the "MK" to represent an abbreviation of its traditional "Mark
" naming series, but has since abandoned that in favor of simply reading the letters. The Lincoln MKZ (and the Zephyr before it) is built at Ford's Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
, plant.
The MKZ was the first in this series of new "MK"-named Lincolns, and has since been followed by the MKX
, MKT
and MKS
. For 2010 the MKZ was revised with new exterior and interior styling along with other new features. A version hybrid was launched in the U.S. market in September 2010. The MKZ Hybrid is also the first (as and of July 2011, the only) hybrid in the market priced the same as its conventional gasoline-engine version (although the hybrid model's engine has two fewer cylinders than the gasoline-engine model).
as a new entry-level luxury sedan intended to appeal to a younger generation of luxury car buyers. The car was based on Ford's CD3 platform
which is shared by the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan
, and other vehicles. Many of the design elements of the Zephyr concept made their way into the production model, albeit with some revision. The front fascia of the Zephyr's exterior was adorned with Lincoln's signature waterfall grille and jeweled quad projector beam headlights (HID headlights
were available). Chrome trim extends along the Zephyr's beltline while the car's rear fascia features wing-shaped LED
taillights and dual chrome exhaust tips. All Zephyrs featured low-profile tires on 17x7.5-inch wheels with painted aluminum versions standard and chrome versions optional. In spite of unique styling relative to the Zephyr's siblings, the Fusion and Milan, a little over one-third of the car's body panels are shared.
Inside the Zephyr was an interior design that was thoroughly distinctive relative to the Fusion or Milan, almost shadowing the 2005 to 2009 Ford Mustang. The upscale design featured rectangular shapes in the dashboard surfaces and door panels with real ebony
or maple
wood inserts (depending on desired trim) in metallic frames. These surfaces were contrasted with chrome-bezeled gauges, circular, chrome-finished vents and a metallic center stack where the radio and climate controls are housed. The Zephyr's steering wheel was leather-wrapped with real wood grips and satin-nickel audio, climate, and cruise control buttons. White LED backlighting was used for the Zephyr's controls and instrumentation. Leather seating surfaces were standard in all models.
In terms of luxury and convenience features there was little that distinguished the Zephyr from the Fusion or Milan. Most of the features that were optional in the Fusion or Milan were simply standard in the Zephyr. Some of these standard features in the Zephyr include: cruise control
, automatic headlights, fog lights, power door locks, "global" power windows (all windows can lower simultaneously at the push of a button), power adjustable and heated mirrors with puddle lamps, remote keyless entry, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio and climate controls, dual-zone automatic climate control, a universal garage door opener, 10-way power driver and front passenger seats, rear-seat reading lamps, and a six-speaker audio system with an AM/FM stereo radio and a six-disc, MP3-compatible CD changer. Optional in the Zephyr was a power moonroof, a DVD-based satellite navigation system, HID headlights
, heated and cooled front seats, and an industry-first THX
II-Certified audio system with a six-disc, MP3-compatible CD changer and ten speakers. Safety features include standard dual front-side airbags, front seat-deployed side airbags, and curtain airbags that extend from the front to rear seats.
Mechanically the Zephyr was closely related to the Fusion and Milan. As mentioned, all three cars were based on Ford's CD3 platform
, which was in turn derived from the Mazda 6
. Like these cars the Zephyr is natively front-wheel drive
(FWD). The Zephyr uses a coil-over damper, short- and long-arm (SLA
) front suspension with double-ball-joint control arms while the rear suspension is an independent multi-link design with lower control arms and a 17 mm (0.669291338582677 in) stabilizer bar. Spring rates, bushings, and dampers have been specially tuned for the Zephyr to provide excellent ride comfort without compromising handling. All Zephyrs feature standard four-wheel anti-lock
disc brakes with traction control
. The sole engine offered in the Zephyr was an all-aluminum 3.0 L DOHC Duratec
V6
producing 221 hp (165 kW) at 6250 rpm and 205 lb·ft (278 N·m) of torque at 4800 rpm. This engine was mated to an Aisin
6-speed automatic transmission
and had a final drive ratio of 3.46:1. This powertrain was identical to the V6 powertrain available in the Fusion and Milan from 2006-2009. With this powertrain the Zephyr could accelerate from zero to 60 mi/h in 7.5 seconds. The Zephyr came with a 17.5 US gal (66 l; 15 imp gal) fuel tank and is rated to deliver 17 miles per US gallon in city driving and 26 miles per US gallon on the highway based on the revised 2008 EPA
fuel efficiency measurement standards.
For 2007, just one year after its introduction, the Zephyr was refreshed and, unexpectedly, renamed. Following a new nomenclature
developed by Lincoln that mimics the alphanumeric
naming schemes used by other luxury automakers like Mercedes-Benz, the Zephyr was renamed MKZ. Management at Lincoln originally announced the MKZ with a "Mark-Zee" pronunciation during the 2006 auto show circuit, but eventually changed it to the phonetic "em-kay-zee" due to confusion observed among focus groups and dealership personnel.
The 2007 MKZ was first shown at the Chicago Auto Show
in February 2006. Other than its new name, the MKZ gained a number of substantial changes over its predecessor. Stylistically, the MKZ's grille was revised, with the "waterfall" becoming longer. The lower front fascia below the grille was also redesigned. The standard and optional versions of the MKZ's 17x7.5-inch wheels were restyled. An intelligent all-wheel drive system was now available, seamlessly distributing power to each wheel for optimum traction. Powering the MKZ, and taking a large step toward further differentiating the car from the Fusion and Milan, was Ford's new, all-aluminum 3.5 L DOHC Duratec
V6
. The engine was tuned to produce 263 hp (196 kW) at 6250 rpm and 249 lb·ft (337 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm. Significantly, the new engine needed only 87-octane regular grade gasoline to achieve its output. Also, in spite of the MKZ's power advantage over the 3.0 L DOHC V6-equipped Zephyr, the fuel economy of the MKZ rivals that of the Zephyr at 17 miles per US gallon in city driving and 25 miles per US gallon on the highway in front-wheel drive models. A road test by Motor Trend
found that an MKZ equipped with all-wheel drive could accelerate from zero to 60 mi/h in 6.8 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 15.2 seconds at 93.4 mi/h thanks to the more powerful engine and extra traction. One of the few other changes that was applied to the 2007 MKZ was a revision to the available THX
II-Certified audio system to increase its speaker amount to 14 and its peak output to 600 Watt
s. Beyond the MKZ's changes, the car remained positioned as an entry-level luxury sedan with base models still starting at just under $30,000 USD
and fully optioned models remaining well below $40,000 USD
.
For 2008 the MKZ received new standard features as a part of Lincoln's continued effort to refine the car. Sirius satellite radio
, perforated leather seats, a reverse sensing system, a tire pressure monitoring system, and Lincoln SYNC
(late availability) were all newly standard. For 2009, Ford's AdvanceTrac stability control
system became standard while a special edition "Midnight Black" package was available, featuring black leather seating surfaces and panels contrasted with maple
wood and satin nickel inserts.
The 2010 MKZ was unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show, revealing an extensive update with a revised interior and exterior in addition to new features. The MKZ's exterior was updated with an emphasis on the front and rear fascias. In the front, the MKZ's headlights are new while its fascia and split-wing grille closely resembles that of the Lincoln MKR
concept, a new approach towards giving all Lincolns a shared appearance inspired by Lincolns during the late 1930s, as demonstrated by the 1936 Lincoln-Zephyr
. In the rear, the taillights have been revised to be longer and thinner, similar to the original Zephyr concept. The MKZ's standard and optional 17-inch wheels have been restyled again and are supplemented with a new 18-inch wheel option. Inside, the MKZ's interior is all-new stylistically but continues to extensively use real wood accents and metal surfaces. Higher quality Bridge of Weir
leather seating surfaces are standard. Other features new for 2010 include a reverse camera system, Sirius
Travel Link, a DVD-based satellite navigation system updated to accept voice commands, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a cabin air filter, and adaptive HID headlights
. Mechanically, the MKZ features new suspension tuning to further improve ride quality and handling and a new SelectShift 6-speed automatic transmission
that improves acceleration. The 2010 MKZ was released during the Spring of 2009.
and sales began in September 2010. It is the first Lincoln hybrid electric vehicle
and the first Lincoln model with a 4-cylinder engine and delivers an EPA city rating of 41 mpgU.S. (17.4 km/L) and a highway rating of 36 mpgU.S. (15.3 km/L), which made it the most fuel efficient
luxury sedan in the U.S. until the release of the 2011 Lexus CT 200h
in March 2011. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid carries over the hybrid powertrain from the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids
, including the 2.5 L Duratec
I4 with electric motor producing a total of 191 hp.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid has an E.V. mode
that allows the car to travel short distances on electricity alone, at speeds up to 47 mph (21 m/s). The MKZ Hybrid offers an improvement of Ford's Smart Gauge with EcoGuide, first introduced in the 2010 Fusion Hybrid.The MKZ Smart Gauge version offers a new "Flower" design compared to the "Leaf" design of the Fusion. In essence, the car rewards you with flower blossoms for economic driving/driving habits.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is marketed by Ford as a competitor to the Lexus HS 250h, and as of July 2011 it is the only hybrid in the market with the same price as its conventional gasoline-engine version of the car. Ford reported that until June 2011, about 20% of 2011 MKZ sales have been hybrids, and the market share is even higher in markets where hybrids in general sell well, such as the Los Angeles region
, where sales of the hybrid model represent 44%, and the San Francisco area
, with a market share of 66%. The MKZ Hyrid base price is , and with popular options including a sunroof
, navigation system
, blind spot monitors, a THX
surround-sound stereo and a backup camera
the price rises to .
A complete redesign of the Ford Fusion line-up is schedule for model year
s 2013. Both the Lincoln MKZ and the Fusion Hybrid are expected to use a new compact lithium-ion battery pack and an updated powertrain that is expected to deliver a higher fuel economy
of up to 47 to 48 mpgUS (4.9 to 5.0 L/100 km; 56 to 58 mpgimp) highway. The next generation Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is expected to be launched by mid-2012. The 2013 MKZ concept car
is scheduled to be unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show
.
The MKZ Hybrid was one of the five finalists for the 2011 Green Car of the Year
awarded by the Green Car Journal
in November 2010, which was won by the Chevrolet Volt
. In its 2011 Hybrid Scorecard
, the Union of Concerned Scientists
(UCS) ranked the MKZ Hybrid, together with the Lexus CT200h, as the top luxury hybrid models in the scorecard’s environmental improvement category, an achievement the UCS attributed to their relatively small gasoline engines. Nevertheless, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ranked higher than the Lexus on all factors: consumer value, hybrid technology, fuel efficiency and pollution reduction. Also, the UCS praised the MKZ Hybrid, together with the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, because both hybrids are available with few or no forced features that inflate the cost without adding to fuel savings or reducing emissions. The UCS's Hybrid Scorecard ratings for the MKZ Hybrid are higher than the non-luxury Toyota Prius
for environmental performance, and hybrid vale; both are rated the same for forced features; and the Prius scores higher in fuel economy.
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
, entry-level luxury car from the Lincoln
Lincoln (automobile)
Lincoln is an American luxury vehicle brand of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln vehicles are sold mostly in North America.-History:The company was founded in August 1915 by Henry M. Leland, one of the founders of Cadillac . During World War I, he left Cadillac which was sold to General Motors...
division of the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. Lincoln revived the Zephyr name
Lincoln-Zephyr
Lincoln-Zephyr was a marque for the lower priced line of luxury cars in the Lincoln line 1936-40. Lincoln-Zephyr and Mercury, introduced 1939, bridged the wide gap between Ford's V-8 De Luxe line and the exclusive Lincoln K-series cars. This served a purpose similar to Cadillac's smaller LaSalle...
in the fall of 2005 as a platform-mate for the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan
Mercury Milan
The Mercury Milan is a mid-size sedan based on the Mazda designed Ford CD3 platform built by Ford Motor Company and distributed by the Lincoln-Mercury division. It is a twin of the Ford Fusion, while being slotted below the luxury-spec Lincoln MKZ sedan...
; the vehicles were based on the CD3 platform
Ford CD3 platform
The Ford CD3 platform is a Ford global midsize car automobile platform. It was designed by Mazda. The original Mazda chassis code for the CD3 platform is Mazda G platform, which Ford Motor Company has used every evolution of since 1983...
, which was derived from the Mazda 6. The Zephyr's sole powertrain was a 3.0 L DOHC Duratec
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
mated to an Aisin
Aisin Seiki Co.
, also known as Aisin , is a Japanese corporation which develops and produces components and systems for the automotive industry. Aisin is a Fortune Global 500 company, ranked 347 on the 2007 rankings....
6-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
; identical to the V6 powertrain that was optional in the Fusion and Milan. Visually, the Zephyr could be easily distinguished from its Ford and Mercury siblings thanks to unique fascias
Fascia (car)
Confusingly, fascia is used for several different things in the automotive world. Many of these meanings are related to the appearance of the car....
and other stylistic elements, but as much as 35% of its body panels were shared with the other cars. However, the interior is entirely unique to the Lincoln, and this, along with different equipment packaging, helped differentiate the brands. Reflecting its entry-level luxury position, the 2006 Zephyr started at a base MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
of $29,995 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
, ranging up to $35,575 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
when fully optioned.
Though slightly smaller and natively front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
, the Zephyr was marketed as a replacement for Lincoln's previous entry level mid-size, the rear-wheel drive
Automobile layout
In automotive design, the automobile layout describes where on the vehicle the engine and drive wheels are found. Many different combinations of engine location and driven wheels are found in practice, and the location of each is dependent on the application the vehicle will be used for...
, V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
-equipped Lincoln LS
Lincoln LS
The Lincoln LS is a mid-size, rear wheel drive sedan from Lincoln. For its production run from 1999 until 2006, it was based on the Ford DEW98 platform, which was shared with the Jaguar S-Type and Ford Thunderbird...
. To facilitate a smooth transition, the Zephyr and LS were sold parallel to each other during the 2006 model year, the first model year of the Zephyr and the last for the LS. Ironically the Zephyr's first model year was also its last, in name. For 2007 the car was renamed MKZ, and took over the LS' market with sales beginning in September 2006. Lincoln's decision to resurrect the Zephyr name refers to the very early days of Lincoln before World War II. At that time, the only Lincoln manufactured was the Lincoln K-series
Lincoln K-series
The Lincoln K-Series was a line of luxury vehicle produced by Lincoln from 1931 to 1942. While the original K-Series featured a 385 in³ V8, a V12 became standard in 1933...
which was a full-size sedan, and Lincoln, under the direction of Edsel Ford
Edsel Ford
Edsel Bryant Ford , son of Henry Ford, was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was president of Ford Motor Company from 1919 until his death in 1943.-Life and career:...
, Henry Ford's only son, hoped to introduce a smaller product to compete with the LaSalle, a smaller sibling offered at Cadillac dealerships.
The Zephyr moniker was discontinued after a year, switching to MKZ to align with Lincoln's alphanumeric naming strategy. Previously during the early 1980s, the Zephyr name reappeared on a compact sedan called the Mercury Zephyr
Mercury Zephyr
The Mercury Zephyr is a compact car sold by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company for the North American market. Introduced as a replacement for the Mercury Comet, it was produced from 1978 to 1983...
, a twin of the Ford Fairmont, however the Mercury Zephyr was replaced after a short period of time with the Mercury Topaz
Mercury Topaz
The Mercury Topaz is a compact car that was manufactured by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company for model years 1984 to 1994 as a slightly upscale variant of the Ford Tempo...
, itself a twin of the Ford Tempo.
Highlighting the MKZ for 2007, other than the new name, was a mild exterior refresh, optional all-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
, and a larger displacement engine with more power. The MKZ name followed a new nomenclature
Nomenclature
Nomenclature is a term that applies to either a list of names or terms, or to the system of principles, procedures and terms related to naming - which is the assigning of a word or phrase to a particular object or property...
used at Lincoln for new vehicles beginning in the 2007 model year (existing models such as the Navigator
Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV built by the Ford Motor Company for its luxury division, Lincoln. Introduced as a 1998 model, production began May 14, 1997 with sales beginning in August. The Navigator was Lincoln's first SUV as well as its first four-wheel drive capable vehicle...
and Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
have been unaffected thus far). Ford initially intended the "MK" to represent an abbreviation of its traditional "Mark
Lincoln Mark series
The Continental Mark II was a personal luxury car produced by a newly formed Continental Division of the Ford Motor Company for only two model years: 1956 and 1957....
" naming series, but has since abandoned that in favor of simply reading the letters. The Lincoln MKZ (and the Zephyr before it) is built at Ford's Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, plant.
The MKZ was the first in this series of new "MK"-named Lincolns, and has since been followed by the MKX
Lincoln MKX
The Lincoln MKX is a mid-size luxury crossover from Ford's Lincoln division and a de facto successor to the Lincoln Aviator luxury SUV. It debuted as a 2007 model in December 2006 as a production version of the Lincoln Aviator Concept shown at the 2004 North American International Auto Show...
, MKT
Lincoln MKT
The Lincoln MKT is a full-size luxury crossover utility vehicle, first unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. It entered production at the Oakville Assembly plant in July 2009 as a 2010 model. It shares the same crossover D4 platform as the Ford Flex and...
and MKS
Lincoln MKS
The Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. The MKS first appeared in concept form at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006 with the production version, a 2009 model, appearing later at the Los Angeles International Auto...
. For 2010 the MKZ was revised with new exterior and interior styling along with other new features. A version hybrid was launched in the U.S. market in September 2010. The MKZ Hybrid is also the first (as and of July 2011, the only) hybrid in the market priced the same as its conventional gasoline-engine version (although the hybrid model's engine has two fewer cylinders than the gasoline-engine model).
Zephyr (2006)
The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr was initially unveiled in concept form at the 2004 New York International Auto ShowNew York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in New York City in late March or early April. It is usually held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Sunday after Easter...
as a new entry-level luxury sedan intended to appeal to a younger generation of luxury car buyers. The car was based on Ford's CD3 platform
Ford CD3 platform
The Ford CD3 platform is a Ford global midsize car automobile platform. It was designed by Mazda. The original Mazda chassis code for the CD3 platform is Mazda G platform, which Ford Motor Company has used every evolution of since 1983...
which is shared by the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan
Mercury Milan
The Mercury Milan is a mid-size sedan based on the Mazda designed Ford CD3 platform built by Ford Motor Company and distributed by the Lincoln-Mercury division. It is a twin of the Ford Fusion, while being slotted below the luxury-spec Lincoln MKZ sedan...
, and other vehicles. Many of the design elements of the Zephyr concept made their way into the production model, albeit with some revision. The front fascia of the Zephyr's exterior was adorned with Lincoln's signature waterfall grille and jeweled quad projector beam headlights (HID headlights
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
were available). Chrome trim extends along the Zephyr's beltline while the car's rear fascia features wing-shaped LED
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
taillights and dual chrome exhaust tips. All Zephyrs featured low-profile tires on 17x7.5-inch wheels with painted aluminum versions standard and chrome versions optional. In spite of unique styling relative to the Zephyr's siblings, the Fusion and Milan, a little over one-third of the car's body panels are shared.
Inside the Zephyr was an interior design that was thoroughly distinctive relative to the Fusion or Milan, almost shadowing the 2005 to 2009 Ford Mustang. The upscale design featured rectangular shapes in the dashboard surfaces and door panels with real ebony
Ebony
Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but ebony may also refer to other heavy, black woods from unrelated species. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. Its fine texture, and very smooth finish when polished, make it valuable as an...
or maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
wood inserts (depending on desired trim) in metallic frames. These surfaces were contrasted with chrome-bezeled gauges, circular, chrome-finished vents and a metallic center stack where the radio and climate controls are housed. The Zephyr's steering wheel was leather-wrapped with real wood grips and satin-nickel audio, climate, and cruise control buttons. White LED backlighting was used for the Zephyr's controls and instrumentation. Leather seating surfaces were standard in all models.
In terms of luxury and convenience features there was little that distinguished the Zephyr from the Fusion or Milan. Most of the features that were optional in the Fusion or Milan were simply standard in the Zephyr. Some of these standard features in the Zephyr include: cruise control
Cruise control
Cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
, automatic headlights, fog lights, power door locks, "global" power windows (all windows can lower simultaneously at the push of a button), power adjustable and heated mirrors with puddle lamps, remote keyless entry, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio and climate controls, dual-zone automatic climate control, a universal garage door opener, 10-way power driver and front passenger seats, rear-seat reading lamps, and a six-speaker audio system with an AM/FM stereo radio and a six-disc, MP3-compatible CD changer. Optional in the Zephyr was a power moonroof, a DVD-based satellite navigation system, HID headlights
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
, heated and cooled front seats, and an industry-first THX
THX
THX is a trade name of a high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems. The current THX was created in 2001 when it spun off from Lucasfilm Ltd...
II-Certified audio system with a six-disc, MP3-compatible CD changer and ten speakers. Safety features include standard dual front-side airbags, front seat-deployed side airbags, and curtain airbags that extend from the front to rear seats.
Ford CD3 platform
The Ford CD3 platform is a Ford global midsize car automobile platform. It was designed by Mazda. The original Mazda chassis code for the CD3 platform is Mazda G platform, which Ford Motor Company has used every evolution of since 1983...
, which was in turn derived from the Mazda 6
Mazda Atenza
The Mazda6 or Mazda 6 is a mid-size car produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Mazda since 2002...
. Like these cars the Zephyr is natively front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
(FWD). The Zephyr uses a coil-over damper, short- and long-arm (SLA
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
) front suspension with double-ball-joint control arms while the rear suspension is an independent multi-link design with lower control arms and a 17 mm (0.669291338582677 in) stabilizer bar. Spring rates, bushings, and dampers have been specially tuned for the Zephyr to provide excellent ride comfort without compromising handling. All Zephyrs feature standard four-wheel anti-lock
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
disc brakes with traction control
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
. The sole engine offered in the Zephyr was an all-aluminum 3.0 L DOHC Duratec
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
producing 221 hp (165 kW) at 6250 rpm and 205 lb·ft (278 N·m) of torque at 4800 rpm. This engine was mated to an Aisin
Aisin Seiki Co.
, also known as Aisin , is a Japanese corporation which develops and produces components and systems for the automotive industry. Aisin is a Fortune Global 500 company, ranked 347 on the 2007 rankings....
6-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
and had a final drive ratio of 3.46:1. This powertrain was identical to the V6 powertrain available in the Fusion and Milan from 2006-2009. With this powertrain the Zephyr could accelerate from zero to 60 mi/h in 7.5 seconds. The Zephyr came with a 17.5 US gal (66 l; 15 imp gal) fuel tank and is rated to deliver 17 miles per US gallon in city driving and 26 miles per US gallon on the highway based on the revised 2008 EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
fuel efficiency measurement standards.
MKZ (2007–2009)
Nomenclature
Nomenclature is a term that applies to either a list of names or terms, or to the system of principles, procedures and terms related to naming - which is the assigning of a word or phrase to a particular object or property...
developed by Lincoln that mimics the alphanumeric
Alphanumeric
Alphanumeric is a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters, and is used to describe the collection of Latin letters and Arabic digits or a text constructed from this collection. There are either 36 or 62 alphanumeric characters. The alphanumeric character set consists of the numbers 0 to...
naming schemes used by other luxury automakers like Mercedes-Benz, the Zephyr was renamed MKZ. Management at Lincoln originally announced the MKZ with a "Mark-Zee" pronunciation during the 2006 auto show circuit, but eventually changed it to the phonetic "em-kay-zee" due to confusion observed among focus groups and dealership personnel.
The 2007 MKZ was first shown at the Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
in February 2006. Other than its new name, the MKZ gained a number of substantial changes over its predecessor. Stylistically, the MKZ's grille was revised, with the "waterfall" becoming longer. The lower front fascia below the grille was also redesigned. The standard and optional versions of the MKZ's 17x7.5-inch wheels were restyled. An intelligent all-wheel drive system was now available, seamlessly distributing power to each wheel for optimum traction. Powering the MKZ, and taking a large step toward further differentiating the car from the Fusion and Milan, was Ford's new, all-aluminum 3.5 L DOHC Duratec
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
. The engine was tuned to produce 263 hp (196 kW) at 6250 rpm and 249 lb·ft (337 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm. Significantly, the new engine needed only 87-octane regular grade gasoline to achieve its output. Also, in spite of the MKZ's power advantage over the 3.0 L DOHC V6-equipped Zephyr, the fuel economy of the MKZ rivals that of the Zephyr at 17 miles per US gallon in city driving and 25 miles per US gallon on the highway in front-wheel drive models. A road test by Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
found that an MKZ equipped with all-wheel drive could accelerate from zero to 60 mi/h in 6.8 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 15.2 seconds at 93.4 mi/h thanks to the more powerful engine and extra traction. One of the few other changes that was applied to the 2007 MKZ was a revision to the available THX
THX
THX is a trade name of a high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems. The current THX was created in 2001 when it spun off from Lucasfilm Ltd...
II-Certified audio system to increase its speaker amount to 14 and its peak output to 600 Watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s. Beyond the MKZ's changes, the car remained positioned as an entry-level luxury sedan with base models still starting at just under $30,000 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
and fully optioned models remaining well below $40,000 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
.
For 2008 the MKZ received new standard features as a part of Lincoln's continued effort to refine the car. Sirius satellite radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
, perforated leather seats, a reverse sensing system, a tire pressure monitoring system, and Lincoln SYNC
Ford Sync
Ford SYNC is a factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows users to make hands-free telephone calls and control music and other functions using voice commands...
(late availability) were all newly standard. For 2009, Ford's AdvanceTrac stability control
Electronic stability control
Electronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
system became standard while a special edition "Midnight Black" package was available, featuring black leather seating surfaces and panels contrasted with maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
wood and satin nickel inserts.
MKZ (2010–present)
Lincoln MKR
The Lincoln MKR concept car was a premium four-door coupe design, as introduced during the 2007 North American International Auto Show. It's chassis was based on the Ford D2C platform as used in the Ford Mustang. The MKR signaled the next-generation of premium Lincoln vehicles, introducing the...
concept, a new approach towards giving all Lincolns a shared appearance inspired by Lincolns during the late 1930s, as demonstrated by the 1936 Lincoln-Zephyr
Lincoln-Zephyr
Lincoln-Zephyr was a marque for the lower priced line of luxury cars in the Lincoln line 1936-40. Lincoln-Zephyr and Mercury, introduced 1939, bridged the wide gap between Ford's V-8 De Luxe line and the exclusive Lincoln K-series cars. This served a purpose similar to Cadillac's smaller LaSalle...
. In the rear, the taillights have been revised to be longer and thinner, similar to the original Zephyr concept. The MKZ's standard and optional 17-inch wheels have been restyled again and are supplemented with a new 18-inch wheel option. Inside, the MKZ's interior is all-new stylistically but continues to extensively use real wood accents and metal surfaces. Higher quality Bridge of Weir
Bridge of Weir
Bridge of Weir is a village in within the Renfrewshire council area and wider historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
leather seating surfaces are standard. Other features new for 2010 include a reverse camera system, Sirius
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
Travel Link, a DVD-based satellite navigation system updated to accept voice commands, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a cabin air filter, and adaptive HID headlights
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
. Mechanically, the MKZ features new suspension tuning to further improve ride quality and handling and a new SelectShift 6-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
that improves acceleration. The 2010 MKZ was released during the Spring of 2009.
MKZ Hybrid (2011)
The 2011 MKZ Hybrid was unveiled at the 2010 New York International Auto ShowNew York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in New York City in late March or early April. It is usually held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Sunday after Easter...
and sales began in September 2010. It is the first Lincoln hybrid electric vehicle
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
and the first Lincoln model with a 4-cylinder engine and delivers an EPA city rating of 41 mpgU.S. (17.4 km/L) and a highway rating of 36 mpgU.S. (15.3 km/L), which made it the most fuel efficient
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
luxury sedan in the U.S. until the release of the 2011 Lexus CT 200h
Lexus CT
The Lexus CT 200h is a hybrid electric automobile introduced by Lexus and is an entry-level luxury hatchback. It made its debut at the March 2010 Geneva Auto Show, six months after the unveiling of the LF-Ch concept car; it is primarily targeted at the European market but will be sold worldwide and...
in March 2011. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid carries over the hybrid powertrain from the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids
Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a gasoline-electric hybrid powered version of the mid-size Ford Fusion sedan developed by the Ford Motor Company, and launched to the U.S. market in March 2009 as a 2010 model, together with its twin the Mercury Milan Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid is manufactured at Ford's...
, including the 2.5 L Duratec
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
I4 with electric motor producing a total of 191 hp.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid has an E.V. mode
All-electric range
All-electric range is the driving range of a vehicle using only power from its electric battery pack to traverse a given driving cycle. In the case of a battery electric vehicle, it means the total range per charge. For a plug-in hybrid , it means the range of the vehicle in charge-depleting mode...
that allows the car to travel short distances on electricity alone, at speeds up to 47 mph (21 m/s). The MKZ Hybrid offers an improvement of Ford's Smart Gauge with EcoGuide, first introduced in the 2010 Fusion Hybrid.The MKZ Smart Gauge version offers a new "Flower" design compared to the "Leaf" design of the Fusion. In essence, the car rewards you with flower blossoms for economic driving/driving habits.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is marketed by Ford as a competitor to the Lexus HS 250h, and as of July 2011 it is the only hybrid in the market with the same price as its conventional gasoline-engine version of the car. Ford reported that until June 2011, about 20% of 2011 MKZ sales have been hybrids, and the market share is even higher in markets where hybrids in general sell well, such as the Los Angeles region
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
, where sales of the hybrid model represent 44%, and the San Francisco area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, with a market share of 66%. The MKZ Hyrid base price is , and with popular options including a sunroof
Sunroof
An automotive sunroof is a fixed or operable opening in an automobile roof which allows light and/or fresh air to enter the passenger compartment. Sunroofs may be manually operated or motor driven, and are available in many shapes, sizes and styles...
, navigation system
Navigation system
A navigation system is a system that aids is navigation. Navigation systems may be entirely on board a vehicle or vessel, or they may be located elsewhere and communicate via radio or other signals with a vehicle or vessel, or they may use a combination of these methods.Navigation systems may be...
, blind spot monitors, a THX
THX
THX is a trade name of a high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems. The current THX was created in 2001 when it spun off from Lucasfilm Ltd...
surround-sound stereo and a backup camera
Backup camera
A backup camera is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up. Backup cameras are alternatively known as 'reversing cameras' or 'rear view cameras'....
the price rises to .
A complete redesign of the Ford Fusion line-up is schedule for model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
s 2013. Both the Lincoln MKZ and the Fusion Hybrid are expected to use a new compact lithium-ion battery pack and an updated powertrain that is expected to deliver a higher fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
of up to 47 to 48 mpgUS (4.9 to 5.0 L/100 km; 56 to 58 mpgimp) highway. The next generation Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is expected to be launched by mid-2012. The 2013 MKZ concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
is scheduled to be unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
.
The MKZ Hybrid was one of the five finalists for the 2011 Green Car of the Year
Green Car of the Year
The Green Car of the Year is an award from the Green Car Journal.The winner is selected by an 11-member panel comprising automotive and environmental experts...
awarded by the Green Car Journal
Green Car Journal
Green Car Journal is a quarterly publication created in 1992 that focuses on green vehicles and environmentally friendly energy and technologies...
in November 2010, which was won by the Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
. In its 2011 Hybrid Scorecard
Hybrid Scorecard
The Hybrid Scorecard was created by the Union of Concerned Scientists to give consumers a comprehensive comparison of hybrid electric vehicles available in the U.S. market. The UCS Hybrid Scorecard ratings take into considerations fuel economy as rated by the U.S...
, the Union of Concerned Scientists
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit science advocacy group based in the United States. The UCS membership includes many private citizens in addition to professional scientists. James J...
(UCS) ranked the MKZ Hybrid, together with the Lexus CT200h, as the top luxury hybrid models in the scorecard’s environmental improvement category, an achievement the UCS attributed to their relatively small gasoline engines. Nevertheless, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ranked higher than the Lexus on all factors: consumer value, hybrid technology, fuel efficiency and pollution reduction. Also, the UCS praised the MKZ Hybrid, together with the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, because both hybrids are available with few or no forced features that inflate the cost without adding to fuel savings or reducing emissions. The UCS's Hybrid Scorecard ratings for the MKZ Hybrid are higher than the non-luxury Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
for environmental performance, and hybrid vale; both are rated the same for forced features; and the Prius scores higher in fuel economy.
Sales
| Calendar Year |
U.S. sales (2005 - 2011 CYTD) | ||
| Total (gas & hybrid) |
Hybrid-only | Hybrid share |
|
| 2005 | 4,985 | ||
| 2006 | 33,114 | ||
| 2007 | 34,363 | ||
| 2008 | 30,117 | ||
| 2009 | 22,081 | ||
| 2010 | 22,535 | 1,192 | 5.3% |
| 2011(1) | 16,785 | 3,407 | 20.3% |
| Note (1): CYTD - Calendar year to day, as of July 31, 2011. | |||