2010 Lincoln MKZ
- 2010 Lincoln MKZ is more than a half-second quicker from 0-60 mph
- The 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine delivers 263 horsepower and 249 ft.-lbs. of torque while remaining among the class leaders in fuel economy
- Extensive exterior changes, including an all-new front end, new decklid with LED taillamps, and reduced margins to sharpen overall exterior appearance
- All-new interior design features upgraded materials, better fit-and-finish and redesigned seats with premium Bridge of Weir leather
LAGUNA BEACH, CA, March 18, 2009 – Increased luxury and power are readily apparent and available in the 2010 Lincoln MKZ, as customers pampered with signature high-end features will enjoy a faster-accelerating and noticeably quieter luxury sedan. The 2010 model boasts a wide range of exterior and interior refinements – including premium Bridge of Weir leather-wrapped seats – as well as a new sport version for those desiring an even more-engaging driving experience.
“The new MKZ improves on the success of the current vehicle with Lincoln’s new signature look, appointments that amplify and expand the Lincoln portfolio and a faster, more-refined powertrain,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas.
Faster engine performance, strong fuel economy
The award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine powers the 2010 Lincoln MKZ, delivering 263 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 249 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,500 rpm on regular gasoline while still remaining among the leaders in fuel economy in its segment with 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway projected for the front-wheel drive MKZ.
The 3.5-liter uses a compact, lightweight dual-overhead cam valvetrain for peak power and smooth operation at high RPMs. This engine also incorporates intake variable cam timing to optimize valve timing for a smooth idle and an impressive broad torque curve with good power. The six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, which is front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive available, is standard on the 2010 Lincoln MKZ. Powertrain performance is improved dramatically, with 0-60 mph times dropping from 7.7 to 7.1 seconds.
Every piece of soundpack redesigned for 2010 MKZ
The engine – and the MKZ itself – is quieter. Nearly every piece of the sound packing was redone. “The customer definitely should notice how quiet the new MKZ is,” said Chief Engineer J.D. Shanahan. “That’s important – especially with luxury sedan buyers who perceive that quietness equates to quality.”
The MKZ engineering team also concentrated on the engine mount subsystem, finding the sound that balances sportiness and luxury, said Matt Hettenhouse, powertrain team leader. A high 10.3:1 compression ratio and aluminum cylinder heads designed for high air flow and optimized combustion help complete the package, supporting the engine’s ability to deliver great performance and fuel economy along with low emissions.
The six-speed transmission is outfitted with lower early gears for better acceleration and taller high gears for better highway mileage. The new standard SelectShift Automatic transmission provides the driver with manual gear selection for enhanced sportiness. Downshifts are locked out to protect the engine from over-revving. The “enhanced overdrive cancel” mode locks out the fifth and sixth gears, allows shifts at higher speed for more engine braking and downshifts for “grade assist” functionality.
The 2010 Lincoln MKZ was completely revised and uniquely tuned for ride comfort.
The team changed the rear suspension lower control arm control point to move the roll center closer to the center of gravity, which improved the ride-handling characteristics. The turning circle has been reduced as well. Also added is a new hydraulic variable-flow steering pump that changes the flow rate at lower speeds to give better response and ease parking efforts.
The Lincoln MKZ’s available all-wheel drive (AWD) system has been retuned for better traction and lower noise, vibration and harshness. The system uses an electro-mechanical clutch and employs two basic modes of torque transfer – preemptive torque (before wheel slip) and slip-control torque (after wheel slip). This dual system gives the driver confidence in any situation, while the suspension has been specially tuned to be more neutral when cornering.
“When the Lincoln MKZ accelerates, even lightly, from a stop on any surface – dry pavement, wet pavement, sand, gravel, ice, mud – preemptive torque is transferred to the rear wheels,” said Jim Fritz, AWD product development engineer. “As an added measure to control front wheel slip on slippery surfaces, slip control torque is added to equalize front and rear wheel speeds.”
The AWD system works in harmony with brake traction control to deliver more confidence to Lincoln MKZ customers. Ford’s AdvanceTrac® with electronic stability control – which is standard on every new Lincoln MKZ – keeps drivers in command as well.
“The driving experience has been improved, delivering a better ride and vehicle control,” Shanahan said. “Ride enhancements, a new sport package, new technologies, the signature Lincoln design and a strong quality story help the new 2010 Lincoln MKZ set a new standard in midsize luxury sedans.”
New for 2010, the MKZ features a sport version with special sport suspension tuning with stiffer springs and larger stabilizer bars, 18-inch Euroflange polished wheels, unique darkened grille, darkened headlamps and an interior with contrasting piping and special appliqués.
The front springs in the sport version are 49 N/mm in the front-wheel drive configuration and 51.5 N/mm in all-wheel drive, up from 43 N/mm and 49 N/mm, respectively, in the base vehicle. Rear spring settings are 32 N/mm and 40 N/mm for FWD and AWD. Additionally, the rear stabilizer bar is increased from 19 mm in the FWD model to 21 mm in the AWD configuration of the MKZ sport. (In the base model, the rear stabilizer bar is 18 mm in FWD models and
19 mm in AWD.)
“They deliver the powerful, refined sound Lincoln MKZ customers expect,” Hettenhouse said.
Class-leading interior quietness
Refinements to the powertrain are complemented by improvements to cabin noise levels. Internal Ford research shows the 2009 Lincoln MKZ beats the current model year Lexus ES350 and Acura TL in key interior quietness attributes such as road noise at 30 mph. For the 2010 model year, the Lincoln MKZ is even quieter.
“We took a product that was already a solid performer for interior quietness and added an extra bit of refinement in the areas that help create a world-class interior sound with a balance between road noise, wind noise and powertrain noise,” said Joe Mucha, noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) specialist on Ford’s midsize vehicle programs.
In addition to reengineered resonators on the air-induction system that improve overall powertrain sound quality, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ benefits from NVH improvements that include:
- A new acoustic laminated windshield that features a layer of sound-absorbent vinyl sandwiched between two sheets of glass to soften noise levels
- Improved body/door sealing to reduce wind noise
- New expandable stuffers in the fenders and pillars
- Constrained layer damping material on the entire floor to reduce road noise
- An all-new acoustic headliner to further deaden interior noise
These measures are proving their worth. In internal wind tunnel tests, for example, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ was subjected to 80 mph gusts at varying degrees of yaw (to simulate head/cross winds), and bested both the current model year Lexus ES350 and Acura TL across the board for the lowest recorded loudness – regardless of yaw variation.
Segment-exclusive features
The new Lincoln MKZ also offers segment-exclusive features, including first-in-class Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA), which makes navigating traffic and parking lots safer and easier.
BLIS tracks vehicles in the blind-spot zones on either side of the vehicle using two multiple-beam radar modules behind the rear fenders. Indicator lights in the outside rearview mirror on both sides of the vehicle warn the driver when a vehicle enters the defined blind-spot zone, extending from the side mirror to 10 feet behind the vehicle and 10 feet away from the vehicle.
CTA uses the BLIS radar sensors to alert the driver of approaching traffic while in reverse and backing out of a parking spot. CTA tracks up to 65 feet on either side of the vehicle and warns the driver through both audible and visual alerts.
In addition to this new technology for midsize sedans, MKZ offers SYNC with 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report, Next-Generation Voice-Activated Navigation, keyless entry, Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel-Filler System, THX-branded audio and adaptive HID headlamps.
The new MKZ also features Lincoln signature design elements, including the split-wing grille and thinner wraparound head lamps for a wider, sportier look. Its chamfered front fascia also shares a family resemblance with the MKS, with a sculpted hood and ridges flowing into the A-pillar. In the rear, the Lincoln MKZ features a new decklid with wider LED taillamps accentuating the width of the car and separated by the Lincoln star.
The Lincoln MKZ’s presence is enhanced by 17-inch aluminum wheels, available 17-inch chrome wheels, and available 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, which are included in the Sport Appearance Package with sport-tuned suspension.
Inside, MKZ’s cabin reflects an even more upscale look featuring genuine aluminum and wood depending on the trim package, an all-new instrument panel, detailed touches including new welcome lighting, chimes, tuxedo stitching on luxury leather seats and Bridge of Weir leather.
The world-renowned luxury leather from Scotland, pioneered on the classic Lincoln Continental Mark II and used on the MKS, wraps the MKZ seats. The MKZ leather is unembossed, allowing the natural beauty and character of the grain to shine through.
The leather is milled for up to 12 hours to ensure a buttery soft hand, and Bridge of Weir uses a chromium-free tanning process, which makes it easier to recycle.
“We’ve increased the luxury feel and improved on what was already a great interior,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas. “We have a new interior theme with all-new primary touch points, complemented by new features and technologies that make the
2010 Lincoln MKZ stand out in the competitive midsize segment.”
Technology and information at your fingertips
The new Lincoln MKZ is more than just a pretty face and striking new interior. New technology features help Lincoln’s new midsize sedan stand out, too. They include:
- SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities – plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees.
- 911 Assist: When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
- Vehicle Health Report (VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes. That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone.
- Voice-Activated Navigation, which integrates several functions including voice recognition destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio into one easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch-screen display. The navigation system’s text-to-speech function calls out street names while in route to a destination and reads incoming text messages when the system is linked to SYNC.
The integrated DVD player is capable of reading CD-Audio, MP3 CDs, DVD, DVD-Audio and DVD-ROM (for digital map updates). A music jukebox function stores more than 150 hours of music. The screen even can be customized with personal photos. - SIRIUS Travel Link™, an industry-leading technology that, when combined with the voice-activated navigation system will provide users with real-time traffic data with accident and incident information, coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts, and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations. Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.
- Reverse Camera System mounts a small camera on the decklid that is activated when the Lincoln MKZ is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle.
The video image is displayed in the navigation screen on Lincoln MKZs equipped with that option or in the self-dimming rearview mirror on vehicles without navigation. - Ambient Lighting System is displayed around the footwells, cupholders, door map pockets, door release handles, door and instrument accents and scuff plates – plus special “Welcome” and “Farewell” sequential lighting.
- THX II® Premium Certified Audio System with 5.1 Surround Sound, which is provided by a 12-channel amplifier that delivers 600 watts to 14 strategically placed speakers, including two subwoofers. A center channel speaker array features THX Slot Speaker™ technology, which allows for a wider sound image and better control of how music is distributed throughout the vehicle’s acoustically engineered cabin. In addition, the system features a 10 GB hard drive jukebox, allowing Lincoln owners to store up to 2,400 favorite music tracks.
Other features for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ include:
- Rain-sensing wipers, which detect moisture on the windshield and activate automatically.
- A new cabin air filter, which removes respiratory irritants and toxins caused by traffic and industrial pollution. Additionally, the air filter protects the HVAC/climate control system by blocking water and moisture.
- Adaptive HID headlamps, which rotate according to speed and steering inputs to allow greater visibility around turns
- SOS Post Crash Alert System, which activates the horn, emergency flashers, automatically unlocks doors and turns on the interior/puddle lamps when an air bag is deployed. The system activates the emergency flashers when a spinout is detected.
The 2010 Lincoln MKZ will be in dealerships by spring 2009 and will offer customers more standard luxury and segment-exclusive safety features for their money. The 2010 Lincoln MKZ will carry a starting price of $34,965, including destination and delivery.
Additional Information
2010 Lincoln MKZ Technical Specs
2010 Lincoln MKZ Pricing Release
2010 Lincoln MKZ Quiet Power Release
# # #
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
>