Lincoln MKC Debuts 2.3L Ecoboost
Much like Jeremy Clarkson and the Vauxhall Vectra, the Lincoln MKZ will forever live in infamy in TTAC lore, but I’m a little more optimistic for the MKC, whch is set to bow at next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
As we discovered on the Jeep Cherokee drive, the 2.0L Ecoboost Ford Escape is a wonderful drive – and the MKC, which shares its underpinnings with the Escape, will get the two-point-oh as its base engine. Optional on the MKC will be the long-rumored 2.3L version, making 275 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque (this engine is also expected to appear in the 2015 Mustang).
An all-new interior (including a funky-looking angled center stack) and the bespoke engine help differentiate the MKC from the Escape – unlike the MKZ, which many felt to be a visual downgrade from the Fusion, the Lincoln design language appears to work quite well with the crossover shape. A good thing, since this car will be crucial in China, Lincoln’s next big expansion target.
More by Derek Kreindler
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I like it. The Escape's interior is a little funky and probably won't age well. The Lincoln's reworking looks classy. This segment of the car market is a tremendously important one for all auto makers. For Ford, Having an upscale version of their popular compact CUV is a very wise offering as customers continue to eschew traditional sedans and migrate to smallish CUVs instead. I know this drives many TTAC posters insane, but the market goes where it goes and this looks like it could be an excellent step for restoring Lincoln's battered image.
Winner! Already on the shopping list. I'd like Sajeev to hold it up to the new Lincoln design language (thank goodness "krill mouth" is being phased out) and perhaps compare-contrast to the Ford donor vehicle. My wife (the good doctor) is a petite size zero and doesn't like to drive big cars - they don't fit her. Not that she doesn't like midsize and up, it's just she doesn't like to drive 'em. For instance, she found our recent rental, a Maxima, to be just a tad too large for her comfort. Decided a small AWD CUV is her next ride, and she's seen the new Cherokee in the flesh and likes it (it truly is better in person - and please, no "not a real Jeep" comments. I had moderately lifted YJ for years. My wife wants nothing to do with "real Jeeps" after that.) This little number from Lincoln will join the Cherokee on the consideration list this summer.