“Sometimes you’ve got to go back, to actually move forward” and so it goes. Can’t really get that catchy Matthew McConaughey line out of your head? Plus the recent spoofing of the ad by Jim Carrey makes it a total hit. Fittingly though, the first-ever Lincoln MKC is just that. Being one of the four new Lincoln vehicles to arrive in showrooms by 2016, the MKC carries the marque to the vast consumer SUV market with the welcoming comfort of an affluent car and the dependability of an SUV of old.
Let’s go into detail and check out what this badass SUV is really made of. Approaching the MKC is a sight to behold as the “Approach Detection with Welcome Mat” awaits your return. Exterior lighting brightens up upon sensing your approach up to 8 feet away. Then, a Lincoln Logo mat illuminates the entrance of both driver and passenger side. Talk about letting your presence known wherever you are parked. Oh and once inside, any one of seven colors of ambient lighting may be chosen to suit your mood.
The Design
An all-new expression of luxury. Blending the features of a luxury sedan and the rugged features of a sport utility vehicle, the MKC shows a solid statement of purpose compared to other premium entries in the SUV market. A classic Lincoln grill, HID headlamps with LED accents up in front while a low roofline and high door line exudes an athletic appearance. Rims are not too shabby with the option of 18, 19 or 20 inchers with padded inner wells to soften road noise.
Finishing off the touch is the patented Vista Roof. It gives the MKC a refreshing and modern view by giving both first and second row passengers an unobstructed expanded sunroof.
Performance
How about 285 horses under the hood giving 305 lb.-ft. of gut wrenching torque to complete the beast? Sounds good to me! The patented EcoBoost offers the most HP and Torque in its class. How did the MKC obtain this feat? Using intelligence as well as power by utilizing turbocharging, direct injection and Ti-VCT or twin independent variable cam timing of course. Sounds like top engineering at work to feed the speedster in everyone by just mashing the gas pedal.
Lincoln Drive Control and Continuously Controlled Damping is as luxurious as it sounds when advanced sensors automatically detect body motion, steering and braking dynamics in less than a second to give you an exceptional ride. Adjustable settings for normal, sport or comfort can be selected to suit your style whether you want a spirited drive or pure comfort.
Steering this beast is remarkably simple. With the feel of a compact sedan, it gives an accurate and responsive drive by using the EPAS or electronic Power-assisted Steering in the Lincoln. It is constantly adapting to road conditions and can compensate for uneven road surfaces and crosswinds. A sense of assurance is imminent when fluid system is used at low speed and a more controlled steer at high speeds.
Six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with paddle shifting gives you the excitement of a stick shift with the convenience of an automatic. An efficient six-speed transmission glides you through your way but if you want to do a bit of spirited driving, the wheel mounted paddle shifters are just at the tip of your thumbs. Completing the features are the AdvanceTrac with roll stability Control that gives the MKC the ability to utilize the brakes and engine power to keep all four wheels gripping the pavement.
Technology
Why the Lincoln is sought after is because of these state of the art features starting with the sound system. Gone were the days of simple stereo sound quality as the MKC gives you Enhanced THX II Certified Sound System. It has 14 strategically placed speakers giving 700 watts of power. Distributed bass is evenly dispersed throughout the cabin resulting in a more cinematic car audio system. Hmm I like the sound of that!
What is the use of good audio if you have noisy surroundings? Well the Lincoln has an answer to that. Active Noise Control reduces unwanted noises while enhancing desired sound to provide a more pleasant driving experience. Microphones monitors the sound of the cabin and then it is replicated by a signal processor to create an opposing acoustic wave cancelling each other out. Talk about science at work!
Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning and a lane adjusting system is just a few of the new features of safety the MKC can offer. Superior safety is given by the system where sensors detect slowing traffic to maintain distance and alerts you for potential collision adjusting the brake force along the way. A warning will also be sent to the driver in case you veer out of your lane when the Lane-Keeping system is engaged.
Getting in sync with bliss is perfect to complete the experience. SYNC with MyLincoln Touch allows you to control your entire cockpit from entertainment to climate via voice command. Capping it off with the BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert is cutting edge as the (Blind Spot Information System) BLIS uses radar in the rear quarter panel to identify a car entering your blind spot.
Truly a step above the competition is the Lincoln 2015 MKC, going back to its roots and still providing class of its own. Definitely a promising future for the Lincoln line moving forward.
Southern Rogues 