ShareThisHave you ever known someone who got a facelift and you could hardly tell the difference?
This is not the case with the new Lincoln MKX.
The 2011 version of the mid-size luxury crossover has emerged with a dramatically different facade, particularly in the "mouth" where a huge chrome waterfall grille resembles the gleaming silver "grilz" that some guys install over their chompers to attract "girlz."
Automotive designers are having a field day one-upping each other with increasingly brazen designs on these ersatz SUVs. MKX replaces its modest apparel in second-generation sheet metal that looks hungry, predatory and fast.
If any set of wheels can bring the age range of Lincoln buyers into sub-senescence, the MKX ought to do the trick. The second-gen crossover will go on sale this fall in front-drive or all-wheel-drive formats.
Beyond its beguiling styling, the new version bears a more powerful, 305-horsepower V6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission that matches the top power plant of the Infiniti EX, surpasses that of the Acura MDX by 5 horses and the Lexus RX's by 30 power ponies.
Pricing for the remodeled model has not been announced, but it would be surprising if Lincoln strayed too far from the nearly $40,000 base price offered on the 2010 MKX.
Lincoln touts the 2011 MKX as quieter than Lexus RX or the Audi Q5 and boasts a competitive array of new technology.
A new set of controls called MyLincoln Touch replaces traditional buttons, knobs and toggles with LCD screens and selectors like those on cell phones and MP3 players. The screens can be personalized to display information through a click, voice command or touch-screen tap. The system operates audio and climate control features, with 10 touchpoints along slider pathways.
MKX also offers iTunes Tagging in its HD Radio receiver that stores information in the radio's memory.
Lincoln matches the competition with Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support that allows the driver to set the vehicle's speed and maintain it without using the accelerator pedal. The system also warns the driver of a potential collision.
Another system that has gained appeal in the luxury class is Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert that detects vehicles in blind spots during normal driving and traffic approaching from the sides when reversing out of parking spots.
For the MKX that might be shared with more impulsive or less cautious family members (teens), Lincoln's MyKey allows owners to designate keys that can limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume.
Even the MKX fuel-filler door is worth a mention because it uses a built-in spring-loaded flapper door to eliminate the need for a fuel tank screw cap.
Down below, where the rubber meets the road, MKX's new 18-inch tires have increased grip and are mounted on larger wheels than the predecessor's to improve stopping and handling. Buyers can also upgrade to 20-inch wheels and tires.
Retuned springs, shocks and stabilizer bars give the crossover a flatter response through turns while providing the proper cushion for luxury passengers.
Among the sound insulation features is a thicker windshield and acoustic glass in the front doors. Foam baffles in the fenders and rear roof pillars keep road noise at bay.
Safety gets an assist from electronic enhancements to the power disc brakes with antilock. Hill Start Assist reduces rollback on slopes, while Hydraulic Brake Assist adds braking force in emergency stops.
MKX's engine is 15 percent stronger than the first generation's, while torque rises 12 percent to 280 foot-pounds.
Fuel economy figures are not yet available on the 2011 model, but Lincoln expects highway mileage to hit 25 miles per gallon, an improvement over the previous model's 24 mpg. The 2010 model achieved 17 mpg in the city.
The interior redesign is built around craftsmanship and understated luxury, with bright work on the vents, distinctive stitching on the doors and softer armrests with upgraded materials. The upholders, with optional ambient lighting, are found beneath the independent sliding leather-covered console lids. A power tilt/telescoping steering column and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel are also optional.
Buyers can choose Olive Ash or Walnut Swirl for the steering wheel, dashboard and door trim or take aluminum instead.
"Lincoln customers tell us they care most about style and technology," says Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. "And the new Lincoln MKX meets these needs perfectly."
(E-mail Richard Williamson at motorfriend(at)sbcglobal.net)
AUTOS TODAYWith sidebar: AUTOSSIDE
