The Lincoln Motor Company’s Re-Invention

Non-car nerds: Over the last year, Lincoln re-invented themselves, starting by reverting to its original 1922 name, The Lincoln Motor Company.

The cars got a fresh new design, look & feel.  So did the website. 

Les Clefs d’Or, the world’s premiere concierge service, was hired to re-train the entire sales staff, inside all the newly renovated dealerships.  What I like best about this re-invention, is the air of class they’re pumping in.

This MKZ was their first “tada! This is the new us” car.

The Lincoln MKZ Luxury Sedan
Starting at $37,460

Sharp, exacting lines, a very flat interior, a long roofline to a solid rear.

Huge panoramic roof, heated everything, LEDs, and all the driving aids, features and infotainment that’s expected in a luxury sedan.

Do you notice it?

Aside from that I forgot to wipe the screen, but notice what’s missing?

A gear shift.

Look to the right of the steering wheel, the buttons running down, those are Park, Drive, Neutral, I know!

The push button transmission is back!  Once in vogue back in 1960s, it’s here again.

Watch.

Neat eh.

The lack of gearbox beneath the shifter, is how the interior design is so clean and open.

There’s another fancy photo of this car, in my Auto Art Collection.

(Lincoln just launched their luxury SUV at the LA Auto Show, the Lincoln MKC)

 

 

The all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC

Lincoln has been re-inventing their image, “we haven’t committed this much money or people to the brand in decades”, said Jim Farley, Executive VP of Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Lincoln.

This includes a brand new design studio, an all-new styling, and reverting to their original 1922 name, “The Lincoln Motor Company”.

I think it’s working, it’s classy, elegant.

The automaker is also focusing on improving their service. All their dealerships were renovated this year, and they hired the world’s best concierge organization – ‘Les Clefs d’Or’ of Paris France – to re-train all their sales staff.

Their all-new luxury crossover.

2.0L Turbo EcoBoost AWD – 240 hp & 270 ft.lbs
2.3L Turbo EcoBoost AWD – 275 hp & 300 ft.lbs

2015 Lincoln MKC starting at $39,940

See the 5 buttons running down the left of the screen? That’s the gear shift! It’s a new shift-by-wire system, which frees up a lot of space in the centre console area.  Here’s a video I made of the same system in the MKZ.

Lincoln LA Auto Show Hoberman

All soft-touch materials; sharp stitch lines on the doors; paddle shifters are standard; the wood detail is porous and gorgeous; transmission is a conventional auto not a CVT;  3 adaptive suspension settings (comfort / normal / sport); volume knobs NICE; and the liftgate is one piece of metal, formed by water, difficult to do, a Canadian company figured it out (AMINO in St. Thomas, Ontario).

Designed and engineered by the ladies!

Lisa Drake, Chief Engineer MKC and Soo Kang, MKC Chief Interior Designer

2015 Lincoln MKC on sale next summer.