Last week on my flight back from DC -> socal, they had a commercial looping for the the MKZ. It was a comparison test vs. the new GS and A6. So they're beginning to market it, it does exist.

 

The car was quite quiet. Most of the noise heard in the cabin was engine noise with a little bit of noise from the optional 19" wheel/tire combination on this particular car. Perhaps not the quietest but impressive IMO.

Really? The are making a grave mistake if they are comparing this to the GS instead of the ES IMO.

 

The MKZ is based on the Ford Fusion, a midsize sedan. The MKS is based on the Ford Taurus, which is a full size sedan. If the MKZ is supposed to compete with the GS and the A6, where does that leave the MKS?

 

The MKZ used to be called the Zephyr. They changed the name to MKZ in the last 2000's. It is rare to see this car on roads on the West coast.

 

I had an 07 MKZ lease car. It had no reliability issues and drove OK - except on mixed ice / dry pavement. Their FWD-based AWD system is terrible in those conditions and the car is very hard to control. The car was comfortable, but a bight tight. The interior looked too Fusion-esque with a bunch of added wood.

I recommended the car to my in-laws, but they decided on a Chevy Equinox instead.

 

Ford has to regroup their Lincoln design team and start from scrap.

the Avatar / butterfly looking grille is not happening at all.

 

I saw this car recently and thought the exterior design is just awkward. Not luxurious or impressive. Like it was trying way too hard. The front end is just a big hot mess. The waterfall grille motif is just too forced. Sometimes a brand's grille doesn't work for a particular design and they should just give up on making it work.

Look at Lincoln. Look at Acura? Notice they both have ugly front ends? Notice they both are tanking as brands?

At the luxury level, you want your car to look.

 

Here are the prices for the 13 MKZ and the competition

Lincoln MKZ----36K
Lexus ES3550-36k
Infiniti G37-------37k
Cadillac CTS---39K
Audi A6-----------42K
Lexus GS--------47K
Acura TL---------48K

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid--36K
Lexus ES350 Hybrid-36K

Those are the cars Lincoln considers the competition. The prices might not be 100% accurate, but I think they are close.