2013 Lincoln MKZ debuts with mustache grille and glass toupee (photos)

The midsize Lincoln gets restyled in the automaker's newest design language and a massive sliding glass roof.

Antuan Goodwin

April 5, 2012 12:44 p.m. PT

1 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

2013 Lincoln MKZ

With the unveiling of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ, the automaker also revealed its plans to modernize the car-buying experience. For example, it will be launching a 24-hour video concierge service so potential buyers can chat online with a live Lincoln representative via Webcam who will help guide them through choosing a vehicle and comparing it with the competition. Lincoln also mentioned a service called Lincoln "Date Night," a 48-hour test drive program that culminates in a "date" where Lincoln buys you dinner.

2 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

Wings, a mustache, or both?

But enough about the showroom, let's talk about the car. All that remains of Lincoln's "waterfall grille" design language is its general silhouette. New, horizontal bars are supposed to elicit imagery of wings, but I can't help but to see a large chrome mustache adorning the MKZ's windswept facia.

3 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

Shared architecture

It would be easy to simply call the new Lincoln MKZ a badge-engineered 2013 Ford Fusion. It is true that, as in previous generations, the Lincoln shares quite a few components with its blue oval brother.

4 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

2.0-liter Ecoboost and hybrid engines

For example, while the Lincoln is available with the same 2.0-liter Ecoboost and 2.0-liter hybrid configurations as the Fusion, the crosshair badge seems to adds a little more horsepower to either configuration. Output is now rated at 240 horsepower for the Ecoboost and 188 combined ponies from the hybrid power plant. Fuel economy estimates for that hybrid have not yet been finalized.

5 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

3.7-liter V-6 option

Where things start to diverge is at the top of the line. Where Ford offers a plug-in hybrid, Lincoln choses to go for power with a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 engine option. That's 37 more ponies than the current generation's V-6 and 28 more pound-feet of twist for a total of 277 pound-feet of torque.

6 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

All-wheel drive and Lincoln Ride Control

All non-hybrid Lincoln MKZs can be had in an optional all-wheel-drive configuration; the hybrid is a front drive-only affair. However, all MKZ models come standard with Lincoln Drive Control, a system that enhances ride quality by tying together the Continuously Controlled Damping adjustable suspension (also standard), electric power-assisted steering, engine, transmission, Active Noise Control, traction control, and stability control systems.

7 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

Luxury interior

Inside, the MKZ further differentiates itself from the Fusion with the usual array of upgraded cabin materials. However, look closely and you'll notice that there's no shift knob for the standard six-speed automatic transmission (the hybrid model, of course, uses a CVT setup). That's because Lincoln has decided to go with a push-button shifter.

8 of 9

Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Push-button shifter

We've seen push-button shifters done poorly on an Aston-Martin, but Lincoln's layout, with vertical stacks for the PRND and S (for Sport) buttons alongside the MyLincoln Touch infotainment display, seems easy enough to understand and reach.

9 of 9

Sarah Tew/CNET

Retractable Panoramic Roof

By far, one of the most interesting features of the 2013 MKZ is its Retractable Panoramic Roof, a 15.2-square-foot motorized glass roof that slides backward for open-air motoring. Lincoln claims it is the largest of its kind. I think it looks a bit awkward when retracted, like a sort of glass toupee, but it does air out the cabin considerably when open and looks seamless when closed.