Wild-Ass Rumor Of The Day: Lincoln Drops Compact Car To "Focus" On Compact CUV

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: November 3rd, 2011

wild ass rumor of the day lincoln drops compact car to focus on compact cuv

According to two independent sources within FoMoCo, FIN has learned that Lincoln has killed off plans for the MkC. Instead, Lincoln will focus all compact energies upon their new CUV, which is internally named the MkD. According to one source, Ford feared that the MkC would cannibalize sales of the larger MkZ sedan… According to a source who has seen the “MkD,” the Escape based CUV sports a design that is more of a tall hatch rather than a traditional CUV. When it comes to interior dimensions, it will be slightly less than that of the Escape

OK, let’s get this straight: a Focus-based “MKC” competes with the MXZ but a next-gen Escape-based CUV doesn’t compete with the MKX? It’s good to see Lincoln trying to focus its efforts, but it’s hard to say that a reborn Mercury Mariner is the place to be focusing. Meanwhile, this wasn’t the only spooky news coming out Ford’s struggling luxury brand over Halloween weekend…

FIN adds:

According to a separate Ford supplier source, the 2013 Lincoln MkZ has been pushed back yet again. Originally scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2012, and then for June 2012, the MkZ is now set to arrive in late 2012. The all-new 2013 Ford Fusion is supposedly still on track for a mid-2012 launch.

Two delays and in danger of competing with a Focus-based Lincoln… does this sound like the car that will revive Lincoln’s flagging fortunes? No? Luckily it doesn’t have to be: there’s a real flagship coming! Maybe.

FIN has been able to confirm with two independent sources that Ford is considering the development of a Lincoln flagship sedan. Both sources state that the car under consideration would be rear-wheel drive and be the pinnacle of Ford’s technology prowess. One source suggested the car would reside on a heavily modified variant of the Mustang platform.

Wait, were the phrases “heavily modified Mustang platform” and “pinnacle of Ford’s technology prowess” just used in the same paragraph? That’s it, I’ve got to stop reading the fanboy sites…

#Branding #FutureVehicles #Luxury #ProductPlanning #WAROTD

Edward Niedermeyer

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2 of 23 comments

GS650G on Nov 04, 2011

Ford should make unique cars as Lincolns and quit the rebadging game that killed Mercury, and most of GM off. Even Chrysler figured this out years ago when Plymouth went away. If GM can recreate Cadillac as a brand with unique identity then so can Ford. Or they can be content to sell ordinary cars and trucks and leave the luxury market to others.

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Dolorean on Nov 08, 2011

"Wait, were the phrases 'heavily modified Mustang platform' and 'pinnacle of Ford’s technology prowess' just used in the same paragraph?" Lincoln Continental Mark VII anyone??

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