Lincoln

J.D. Power Releases 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study – Lincoln Tops List

In this current economy, when our money and investments could mean if we are able to pay for the roof over our head or a meal on our dining room table, everyone wants to make a sound choice when it comes to purchasing an automobile. Each year J.D. Power and Associates help determine that choice by releasing their annual Vehicle Dependability Study. The study scores each auto make by the number of problems per 100 vehicles.

For 2011 the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study reveals Lincoln as a leader for the first time with only 101 problems per 100 vehicles. Lexus comes in at a solid second place with 109 problems per vehicle with Jaguar, Porsche and Toyota following behind but still ranking considerably well. Read more…

Car Review: 2011 Lincoln MKX

With Mercury dead, hundreds of former Lincoln-Mercury dealerships will be forced to rely on Ford’s 93-year-old luxury brand to bring home the bacon alone. These dealers are nervous about their future, and rightfully so.

Every Lincoln on sale today is a gussied up version of a Ford. True, most mainstream automakers with luxury divisions, like Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura and Volkswagen/Audi, use a similar strategy of platform and technology sharing to save costs, but U.S. domestic automakers have never been particularly good at it. A Volkswagen is usually praised for being Audi-like, but a Lincoln is usually decried for being too similar to a Ford. Sharing can so easily become rebadging, and Lincoln dealers are wondering how they’ll live off a lineup of simply “more expensive” Fords.
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2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid boasts luxury plus efficiency, but is it enough

Earlier this week we reported that Ford had plans to repurpose its very well-received hybrid powertrain in the Lincoln MKZ. Makes sense, right? Both the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan (sister cars of the MKZ) benefit from the fuel-sipping mill, and by adding a bit of electric power to the Lincoln lineup, Ford is hoping to attract more buyers into its luxury division’s showrooms. What’s more, since Lincoln vehicles carry higher price points than comparable Ford or Mercury products, the return on this hybrid investment means a larger profit margin for the automaker as a whole.

Well, now it’s official. For the 2011 model year, the Lincoln MKZ will offer the award-winning 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline/electric powertrain from the Fusion and Milan hybrids, good for up to 41 miles per gallon in the city. In doing this, Lincoln aims to compete directly with the recently introduced Lexus HS250h, and since the MKZ will net six more MPGs than the HS, it can safely take the title of most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America. What’s more, the MKZ is slightly larger than the Lexus, and if Ford plays its cards right, we wouldn’t be surprised if the MKZ Hybrid is less expensive than the HS, as well.

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