Lincoln Mkz, the Zephyr’s Successor

For the 2006 model year, Lincoln’s entry to the midsize luxury car segment is the Zephyr. But the Zephyr was introduced first way back in 1942.

The use of the name Zephyr was stopped when Ford participated in the manufacturing of war-related vehicles. It was only in the year 2006 that the name again was used. After only a year though, the Zephyr name is once again shelved by Lincoln in favor of the name MKZ.

The 2007 sees the new MKZ as the Lincoln brand’s entry to the midsize luxury car market. The MKZ is regarded as one of the most fun cars to drive in its class. Different car enthusiasts agree with this not only because the MKZ packs a mean punch but it also has one of the most sophisticated car audio systems in the industry today.

Starting on the outside, the MKZ’s conservative styling is regarded as a breath of fresh air since it is facing competition with bold exterior styling. In this regard, the MKZ stands out in its class. The MKZ’s exterior is accented by conservative style cues such as rectangular headlights. Currently, one can find aggressive looking headlamp configuration on luxury cars. The MKZ departs from this by using conventional design cues and, at the same time, it also exudes luxury. Looking at the rear of the vehicle, one can see a horizontal and elongated taillight that is the one giving the MKZ its uniqueness.

The car’s exterior is perfectly complemented by its interior. Just like Volvo’s “Scandinavian luxury” concept, the MKZ’s interior is characterized by simple yet functional and good looking design concepts. To start with, the Lincoln MKZ is filed with comfort and convenience features. It has a dual climate control, heated front seats and driver memory seats. The driver’s seat is tailored to provide maximum comfort and convenience. It has a ten-way adjustable configuration plus a memory feature so that one can save his or her driver seat adjustment and activate it when it is time to drive.

Another notable feature that the Lincoln MKZ has is its dashboard that is added with a soft material called the “Soft Touch”. This gives the cabin a luxurious feel. Another strong selling point for the MKZ is its powerful audio system. Music lovers would love the THX-II - the MKZ’s audio system. It uses 14 speakers in total as well as 600 watts of pure listening pleasure. While the THX-II is an optional feature for the MKZ, the addition of this would surely increase the vehicle’s overall value.

Looking under the MKZ’s hood, one can find the 3.5-liter V6 engine that drives it. The said engine can produce as much as 263 horsepower which is enough for the car to have a good performance on the road. Its fuel efficiency power can be increased too with the use of aftermarket parts like Lincoln cold air intake systems. The 263 horsepower produced by the engine is transmitted to the drive wheels via a six-speed transmission which is engineered to get the most out of the engine’s power. The engine provides the car with good acceleration, thanks to its torque rating of 249 lb-ft at 4,500 revs per minute. The transmission shift gear ratios before the engine reaches its limit and the smooth transfer of the gear gives the MKZ a good push and acceleration.