2010 MKS: Would You Know It’s A Lincoln?
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Lincoln Cars ::: 2010 Lincoln MKS
LET’S pretend that the famous rectangular star badge on the front quarter panel doesn’t exist.
By any other visual means, could you tell what make of sedan we’re looking at? After all, there’s more than a hint of late 90s Eagle Vision in those generic headlamps and seen-it front fascia.
Or is that Saturn? Olds Alero?
No matter, what of the soft arc of chrome that wraps nicely into the c-pillar creating a half-circle?
We’ve seen that before, too; most notably from the VW-Audi Group. Oh, alright, let’s give BMW a little love because there’s a hint of a Hoffmeister’s kink in that special way the fake chrome hooks southwest into the door’s shoulderline.
I’m completely stumped as to the tail lamp assembly and cropped trunk. An early 00′s VW Passat crossed with a Lancia Delta?
You see, there are no visual cues that the MKS or any of the new three letter modeled cars sold as “Lincolns” are in fact, Lincolns. Truth be told, except for the continuity of cars that Ford’s now marginalized to fleet sales, namely, the Town Car, there’s no hint of Lincoln soul left in any of the models.
And by soul, I mean those heydays which were the streamlined yet boxy 60s. The Continentals of the drop top and suicide door. Cars drawn so simply, a kid could… well, you know.
Which brings us back to that original nut, if the famous rectangular star badge no longer existed, would anyone really notice? Or would we just mistake other cars from the 90s for new Lincolns?
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
Paul Richards | Feb 27, 2010 | Reply
The grill. You didn’t mention the grill. It SCREAMS Lincoln. And it’s gorgeous to boot. Anybody seeing the grill and not knowing immediatley that it’s a Lincoln doesn’t deserve to pretend to know anything about cars. Or their heritage.
Bradley Starcevich | Feb 27, 2010 | Reply
Gunnar,
I guess that perhaps both of us need to have our eyes examined. I would have never guessed that it’s a Lincoln. Pity.
Best regards,
Brad
Gunnar | Feb 27, 2010 | Reply
Paul,
I’d have to disagree. You look at the grille straight on and it’s essentially what BMW’s now doing with it own line up – enlarged kidney nostrils.
Again, without that embedded star – the grille itself really could belong to any car.
Brad,
It is a pity.
Best,
G
Leo | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
Ok I need to know.XF/MKS/soon arriving s60.there’s something about those rear doors…yes ford and all that but still,xf/mks interior too.what is this 1957 and BMC?don’t get me wrong i like all of them but still.
Paul Richards | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
BMW has had it’s own identifiable cues regarding their grills for many years now. Mainly a variation here and there of their signiture split design, but still recognizable by various degrees of rounded edges and almost oval-like (kidney) patterns to the two sides. Some attractive, some not so much. If you follow the Lincoln DNA down through the years, (and keep in mind there have been two entirely different directions the company has taken: egg crate and waterfall), you’ll see that in their waterfall approach, natural progressive evolution has taken place dating back to the Zephers of almost 70 years ago. Follow that progression to the various Town Cars (yes, even the ones with the Rolls Royce type grills, the Marks of the 70s into the 90s, certain Continentals (especialy the final Continental)and even to a lesser degree the LS (although the grill on the LS was too small and non-distinct to make a real statement), it’s easy to see how the current split-wing bow wave grill being employed by the MKS, MKT, MKX and MKZ is the natural next installment of this signiture. I’ve been following and admiring Lincoln and Cadilac grills since the 1950s and have always seen how one has led into the next for BOTH brands. Bottom line: this current crop of Lincoln grills is undeniably Lincoln. Some are more attractive than others among the four. Some may be a little too large and/or gaudy. (the ones on the MKS and the forthcoming 2011 MKX are beautiful). But they’re all Lincoln without any shadow of a doubt.
Gunnar | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
Leo,
The MKS and XF appear a little too similar on the surface, though I’d say Jag made out better with the shared platform.
Paul,
I saw a black M.Y. 2010 MKZ (not be confused with MKS) yesterday.
From the front, it looked sharp. Was there any physical aspect to identify the car as a Lincoln? Not really.
The unified tail lamps at the rear, maybe. The rectangular star badge on that separate a kidney-esque grille, obviously.
Aside from that, it might as well have been a Mazda. Which I think in another life it was. (Ford CD3 platform shared with the Mazda 6)
That you mentioned Cadillac brings a fair point. Cadillac in interpreting its new lineup has done a much, much better job of incorporating signature elements that we think of as Caddy design (fins, for example) forward into the CTS line.
Over the years, Lincoln’s really lacked these elements. A 90s town car, for instance, owes much to the 80s W126 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The late 90s/early 00s Town Car, takes it style from the Jaguar Marks VII and VIII from the late 50s/early 60s.
I’d argue that in post war terms, the only icon that Lincoln’s produced that one could recognize as nothing else but a Lincoln was the 60s Continental.
Ford should’ve ran with the concept in 2002 that drew on this retro theme – it likely would have stolen many customers who flocked to the Chrysler 300.
Chances are that FoMoCo was afraid of the same negative press that put down the retro-tastic Thunderbird.
Paul Richards | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
You have to keep in mind, Gunner, that if you’re along for the ride throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s, closely and carefully following every design move these companies are making for their models; and you notice the natural changes that are being made in the grill work (since that’s the subject I brought up) from one generation to the next, you come to accept that as the companys “look”. To my eyes, and I’m quite sure in the mind of many others, that “look” (and hints of such) has always been there and has simply progressed to where it’s at today. And Lincoln’s not the only one. It was that way for a long time with Chevy and Ford in the 60s and 70s. Chrysler too for a while, until they couldn’t figure out any more who they wanted to look like and started stealing a little of everyone else’s “look”. The themeatic look was certainly true for Pontiac as well all through the years. You knew it was a Pontiac when it was coming down the street. I see an MKS coming at me on the other side of the street or highway, I KNOW!!! That aggressive “look at me” swagger it has going for it. Its presense. Whether you refer to it as The Joker’s smile from Batman, a killer shark, or just a classic piece of luxurious grill work, it says “I’m a Lincoln. Take a good look because I stand out in a crowd much like I always have.” Except for the MKT in which I think they over did it a little, this latest incarnation of the Lincoln grill is class.
Distiller | Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
Think the grill is ok. It’s more the overall shape of the car that is unbalanced and generic/Korean. Lincoln’s design language doesn’t speak of American luxury vehicles to me. Every time I’m in the States and see a Lincoln sedan for the first time again (especially if not the front) my first thought is inevitably ‘nice Hyundai, they should sell it in Europe’.