It's different

The 2009 Lincoln MKS has a Japanese feel to it. It's Lincoln's answer to the Japanese and Korean cars that are flooding the American market, says Philip Shane.

My initial impression and assumption before stepping inside and taking the MKS for a spin was that regardless of the looks, this was a real American car both in driving feel and ride comfort. The kind that you remember taking rides in all those decades ago when you were growing up. The kind of car you knew was really big and strong. It wasn't about fuel efficiency and cutting corners and making it all 'to the point'. Instead it was about abundance of space, comfort and fuel costs. If it wasn't big, it wasn't an American car. But that's not what this car is. It's Lincoln's answer to the Japanese and Korean brands that are trying to invade American road space. There you go.

This is a car built at Lincoln's Chicago Assembly Plant and aims to pursue the Lincoln-car image of the past, but it's kind of doing it by taking the lead from the Japanese and Koreans in terms of body design and market segment. Sure it's big, but there's something very Japanese about this car. Something very Korean too.

The MKS is not a bad car by any standards, it kind of lives up to what you might expect from a car in this segment a noiseless and effortless drive that gives maximum passenger comfort. The Lincolns of the past were presidential vehicles, built to last the long haul and go the distance. The Town Car was and still is the favourite ride of many including Warren Buffett.

The 2009 MKS makes up for and corrects a lot of bad press that American vehicles have gathered in the recent past regarding their fuel economy and passenger safety. It has been built with fuel economy and safety as the absolute and utmost priorities.

The MKS' 3.7-litre V6 engine, which was derived from the 3.5-litre power train of the MKZ and MKX, was voted one of the best engines of 2007 by Ward's Auto World magazine.

In addition to being very responsive, it also features an aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off system, which shuts off fuel flow into the engine when the driver takes his foot off the throttle when driving in the fifth or sixth gears.

It also has a two-speed fuel pump, which switches to the low speed setting that requires lesser energy whenever conditions are favourable. Quite a decent effort in the fuel economy department.

The steering feel is good enough, and so is the handling, which is well balanced for a car in this segment. I wouldn't exactly say it was race-car-like in its handling, but neither is it 'boat-like' (which used to be a discerning feature of these cars in the past). Taking U-turns brings about a sense of 'under steer' which is quite common in most 'front-wheel-drive' cars such as the MKS. An 'all-wheel-drive' option is also available.

Inside story

The layout of the gadgetry on the dashboard of the MKS is quite appealing. But it lacks a navigation system which I think should have been standard for a car in this kind of price range.

The multimedia system 'Sync' developed by Microsoft is standard on all 2009 model Lincolns and provides seamless connectivity and integration between media players and Bluetooth enabled phones in the vehicle. The multimedia controls are well laid out, although the system could be a little more driver oriented in terms of ease of access to the various controls.

Interior build quality is well above average and befits a car in this price segment. The heating/cooling enabled seats have well-stitched and supple leather upholstery, which enhances ride comfort and the overall luxury factor of the MKS. The tonal balance of the accents inside the car project a rich feel.

Other features on the MKS include an adaptive cruise control system, which is radar based and helps maintain a chosen distance between the vehicle in front of it. It also features adaptive headlamps, auto high beams, rain sensing windshield wipers and a cap-free fuel filler system.

The enhanced ride comfort experience in the MKS is owed to the fully independent rear suspension, which is strategically placed at the outboard end of the suspension arms near the rear wheels and the MacPherson front suspension. The suspension design helps accommodates 20 inch wheels without compromising on ride quality. Rear seat passengers have not been overlooked in the MKS. It has the largest rear doors in its class, a lot of legroom as well as standard heated rear seats. The heating is not a necessity in this region, but it's there if you need it.

On the safety front it features 'Space' (side protection and cabin enhancement architecture) to enhance side impact protection. It also features an adaptive collapsible steering column, and advanced Stability programme and a safety canopy that provides roll-over protection.

On the whole, this is an eye-catching car. It is refined in character. It offers a lot of space and is a relatively quiet ride compared to many of its competitors. It has evolved considerably from the Lincolns of the past. It is more mainstream for these days and it relates to a much larger audience in terms of design and functionality.