Test Drive of Lincoln MKZ 2013

It's been a harsh road for Lincoln. After Ford killed Mercury in 2010, the company position out to reinvent its comfort brand as a player in the upscale market once more. But like Mercury, Lincoln endures from one irritating problem: It's basically a fancy Ford with a faintly different face. Unable to stay aggressive with other luxury car makers, Lincoln's sales have plunge to 85,643 units in 2011, down from a company elevated of more than 200,000 in 1990.

Now we contain the 2013 MKZ, the first all-new produce from the all-new Lincoln. As with the last-gen MKZ, the latest iteration rides on the same global design as the 2013 Ford Fusion and has an identical 112.2-inch wheelbase. But that's where the structural similarity ends. The MKZ is 2.4 inches longer, 0.1 inch taller, and partially an inch wider than the Fusion. The car is extremely close to the MKZ concept Lincoln first showed off last year in Detroit, characteristic the same silky roofline, an overstated, steeply raked split-wing grille, and a definitely European rear.

Lincoln also upgraded the MKZ's interior, with leather, wood appliqué, and styling that imitate the car's exterior design cues. The MKZ's new bridge center comfort replicate the car's roofline and houses two secreted drink holders, a rear section, and two different open-air storage cubbies underneath the arch and under the dash. This extra storage area is made probable by conduit a typical shifter setup for a push-button system on the rush, located to the left of the typical 8-inch LCD screen with MyLincoln Touch.

Engine Power:

2.0-liter four-cylinder Ecoboost, 240 hp, 270 lb-ft; 3.7-liter V-6, 300 hp, 277 lb-ft; 2-liter, four-cylinder hybrid, 188 hp, 129 lb-ft; FWD/AWD.

Below the screen is a CD player, two touch responsive chrome bars that let you regulate volume and fan speed, and other HVAC capacitive controls. The leather-wrapped steering has reins for a Bluetooth-connected phone, adaptive glide control (part of the $2250 Technology Package), and customizable digital information screens in the 10.1-inch collect display, which satisfactorily balances innovative and classic design themes.

Under, the MKZ comes standard with Lincoln Drive Control, a customizable incessantly controlled moist system that adjusts the movement of the MacPherson parade and aluminum control arms up front and the multilink deferral in the rear every 2 milliseconds. Engine options consist of an entry-level 2.0-liter Ecoboost, a 3.7-liter Ecoboost, and, most fascinatingly, a no-extra-cost hybrid choice. Both gas-engine alternative come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission though the hybrid gets a CVT.