The Lincoln Motor Company’s reinvention takes a major step
forward today with the unveiling of the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small
premium utility vehicle. The Lincoln MKC is a creation from the ground
up. Its all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine offers excellent performance.
Lincoln
MKC – first introduced as a concept vehicle at the 2013 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit – represents a critical milestone in
the company’s plan to expand its lineup. Arriving on the heels of the
all-new and successful 2013 Lincoln MKZ sedan, MKC becomes the second
new vehicle in the brand’s plans to introduce four new luxury vehicles
by 2016.
The Lincoln design team faced the dual
challenge of creating a standout vehicle in a competitive field, while
further refining the Lincoln design DNA that started with the 2013 MKZ.
From its signature split-wing grille to its uniquely crafted, hands-free
wraparound liftgate, the Lincoln DNA is evident.
The
unique design also carries through to the interior, where craftsmanship
and high-tech combine to offer a warm, luxurious environment. An
architecturally unique instrument panel showcases Lincoln’s signature
push-button gear shifter, which provides an open, inviting interior
space. Plush leathers with French stitching, and available Bridge of
Weir leather and real wood trim accentuate MKC’s elegance and grace.
To be more consistent with the Lincoln driving experience, an
all-new Lincoln steering wheel debuts on MKC and will be available on
all future Lincoln vehicles. This highly tactile leather-wrapped wheel
provides better feeling and control and puts the brand’s new design DNA
in the driver’s hands.
When equipped with
the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, MKC offers a projected 275
horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm,
according to preliminary test data. Class-exclusive Active Grille
Shutters are designed to help improve MKC fuel efficiency at highway
speeds.
MKC comes standard with a 2.0-liter
EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine, projected to produce 240
horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm,
according to preliminary test data. This makes Lincoln MKC an
all-EcoBoost vehicle.
MKC comes standard with
front-wheel drive and 18-inch wheels. Drivers can upgrade to Lincoln’s
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and 19-inch wheels for enhanced cornering
and handling and an even sportier look.
MKC
will greet owners with exclusive Approach Detection, which senses when
an owner is near and responds by illuminating “welcome mats” on the
ground next to both front doors. Simultaneously, headlamps, taillamps
and door handles glow with soft lighting tuned to complement the
vehicle’s exterior color.
MKC will be the
first Lincoln to have always-on built-in connectivity, allowing owners
to utilize a smartphone app to control the vehicle. With the MyLincoln
Mobile™ app, MKC owners can start, lock, unlock and locate the vehicle,
as well as schedule a remote start event for a set time.
Drivers
also can use the app to place a call for roadside assistance, monitor
the vehicle’s fuel level, check tire pressure and battery status, and
program engine start times to allow the vehicle to heat or cool to
comfortable levels.
Lincoln MKC production
is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2014 at Louisville Assembly
Plant in Louisville, Ky. Vehicles are due in showrooms next summer.
