Ford’s new sweet-shifting six-speed automatic transmission has a good bit to do with the great fuel-economy numbers we saw during our hour with the car. The company is using low-viscosity fluid inside the box in conjunction with a taller final-drive ratio cog to eek every last mpg out of the car. The Ecoboost/six-speed combo seems to be a winning combination.
The box shifts quickly but smoothly, offering up cog swaps that are nearly imperceptible while tooling around. Really hop on the accelerator and the transmission chooses the correct gear without any hesitation. Ford’s included a set of nifty paddle shifters that do more than look good. Drop the transmission into manual mode and it will bang the rev limiter all day long until you select the next gear. Paddle-commanded shifts are quick enough to be actually useful, too – a nice touch in this segment.
Ford seems to have realized it struck a chord with last year’s model, and as such the 2010 stays true to the same song and dance. Trust us when we say that’s not a criticism in any way. The car is massive despite its diminutive exterior appearance, serving up leg room that could easily be measured in acreage front and rear. A truly attractive dash and comfortable seats for everyone inside keep the MKS competitive against the best Europe and Japan have to offer.
The only real criticism I can come up with for the car is in the suspension department. Come into a corner with a vengeance and the MKS will list noticeably to the outside. The wallow is easily as pronounced during hard acceleration and braking, as well. The flip side of that coin, of course, is that the ride is as sweet as can be during normal driving.
Ford says the MKS with Ecoboost should hit your wallet for around $47,760, though the naturally-aspirated 3.7-liter V6 will still be available for less. That figure puts it in play with the likes of the Lexus GS, Infiniti M and BMW’s 5-Series – all hefty competition, but for the first time Lincoln may actually have a shot at sniping buyers away from those marks.
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Posted By: Zach Bowman | 6 Comments »
Tags: 2010 2010 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost EcoBoost Green Lincoln MKS Ecoboost MKS MKS Ecoboost
Please fix the engine displacements:
3.7L Duratec V6 (base)
3.5L EcoBoost Duratec V6
Hey Allen! Thanks or the catch. I guess that’s what I get for scribbling notes!
That is a gorgeous car… and I can’t get the commercials out of my head.
When do I get invited to the proving grounds?
I don’t think I’ll ever warm up to the current Lincoln grille.
That said, that interior looks like a good place to spend some time.
Ford Marketing – you should do a cutaway down to just the interior on this think and scatter them around high-end retail stores about the country.
You should also encourage your Lincoln dealers to update their showrooms to match the quality of the cars they’re selling.
Another classic example of why American automakers are failing.
this is a beautiful car, tightly put together, with no doubt above average performance, BUT why does it have 355 hp. why does it have a V8 option?
putting a V8 in a car this size screams lack of innovation and total ignorance of social trends.
Yes, v8’s are fun and ballsy, but what is the point of sticking an eco minded engine in a V8??? why not put that in a well tuned well breathing v6 and get a clean 270hp at 38 plus mpg? now THAT would be an attention getter.
Honda tried this with their hybrid accord, but it only got 28mpg and look at what happened to that car. anything with the tern eco in it, needs to surpass 30mpg or it will be laughed at. period.
so here’s whats going to happen, gas will creep back up to 3 dollars, and no one will give this car a second look. another failed american product that I woulnt even consider buying.
for the record i’d still take a base v6 5 series over this car any day of the week, and i bet it gets better fuel economy. This product makes NO sense.
Gregory Grigoriou:
This car does not have a V8. It has a V6. It is a turbocharged V6.
Also, the 5-Series doesn’t have a V6. It has an inline six.