Lincoln pushes EcoBoost upscale with mid-sized 2016 MKX Black Label
The redesigned luxury SUV features a new twin-turbocharged V-6 option and four designer Black Label themes.
- North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
DETROIT -- Lincoln revealed the all-new Lincoln MKX at the 2015 Detroit auto show this week.
The new model may not look much different at first glance, but its exterior has been tweaked and revised all over, bringing the model more in line with Lincoln's current curvaceous design language . I always thought the old model 's sharp shoulders made it look like a Ford Edge wearing a fake mustache. The 2016's look is more cohesive.
Behind the new fascia, drivers will have a choice of two engine options. The most appealing is a new 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 that is "projected to deliver more than 330 horsepower and more than 370 pound-feet of torque," according to the automaker. The standard engine will be a naturally-aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 which should be good for about 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
All 2016 MKXs feature a six-speed automatic transmission with a push-button shifter. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional.
Inside, the new MKX features a totally redesigned cabin. The aforementioned push-button shifter frees up space and premium materials lend a high quality feel. Optional 22-way adjustable front seats allow a ridiculous amount of adjustment and, with their "active motion" feature, reduce muscle fatigue by inflating 11 air bladders (6 in the seat cushion, 5 in the lower seat back). Sounds very cushy.
Lincoln's Black Label is a series of four designer themes that customize the feel of the MKX's cabin. For example, one is inspired by 1920s Paris and another by the pageantry of high-stakes thoroughbred horse racing. These Black Label themes determine the materials and color palette of the SUV and will essentially be the top trim levels for the 2016 MXK.
The 2016 model will also be the first ever vehicle to offer a premium audio system branded and built by luxury home speaker designer Revel audio. At the top of the line, there's a Revel Ultima system that features 19 speakers. Additionally, a 13-speaker Revel system is also available in the mid-range of the SUV's trim choices.
The Lincoln also features all of the driver aid tech and parking assist features that we'd expect from a top-tier Ford marquee. There's an optional 360-degree camera, a front 180-degree split-view camera that pops out from behind the forward Lincoln Star badge, and a semi-automatic parallel and perpendicular parking system. By taking over the standard electric power steering, the auto-park system can guide the driver into and out of a parking space while the human in the seat retains controls of the accelerator and brakes.
Like many of the vehicles we've seen debut at the 2015 Detroit auto show, this is a very early peek at the 2016 Lincoln MKX. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.