Next to the 2013 MKT debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Lincoln->ke48 has also presented the new MKS->ke463 luxury sedan. For the 2013 model year, the MKS has received better handling, increased power, improved fuel efficiency, additional standard equipment, more refinement, and new technologies.

The model has received a contemporary new look that includes a new grille, HID headlamps, front fascia, hood, and front fenders. The rear of the vehicle was updated with a new fascia, LED tail lamps, new exhaust tips, and a new decklid design that improves access to the trunk.

The 2013 Lincoln MKS will be offered in three versions: V6 FWD, V6 AWD, and EcoBoost V6 AWD. The first two models are powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that now includes twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) and delivers a total of 300 HP (increased from the previous 273 HP). Fuel economy comes in at 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway for the front-wheel drive model and18mpg city/26 mpg highway with the all-wheel-drive model. The more powerful version gets a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that delivers a total of 355 HP.

UPDATE 05/15/2012: Lincoln has unveiled a cool commercial for their latest 2013 MKS that takes us back in time and presents the most important moments from the company's history. Enjoy!

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Lincoln MKS.

lincoln-mks

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: lincoln-mks
Pros
Cons

2013 Lincoln MKS

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Lincoln MKS
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 300
  • Transmission: six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Lincoln's aim for the design of the MKS was to give it a contemporary new look with a new A-pillar consisting of a new grille, HID headlamps, front fascia, hood, and front fenders. The back of the model was also refined with a new fascia, LED tail lamps, exhaust tips, and a new decklid design that improves access to the trunk. The car sits on a new set of either 19- or 20-inch aluminum wheels.

"The original MK vehicles were, in some ways, deliberately provocative," said Max Wolff, Lincoln Design director. "The styling of the new MKS adds both refinement and elegance to the car while visually lowering and widening the front end. The continuous bright surround linking the grille and headlamps is particularly rich and adds something significant to what is already an expressive, balanced design."

Interior

The interior of the 2013 MKS was only slightly adjusted as a preview of future models' designs. “We have made the new MKS interior much more inviting and engaging, with new capacitive controls and MyLincoln Touch,” said Wolff. “The previous MKS was very linear and horizontal. Now we have an interior that’s dominated by lines that sweep up from the center stack and flow out to the sides. This is a styling cue you’ll see more in future Lincoln models.”

Aside from the fancy talk for "we really didn't do anything," Lincoln has chosen to optimize comfort in the luxury sedan with the use of standard heated and cooled 12-way adjustable front seats, adjustable pedals, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a retractable rear sun shade, and new for 2013, a heated steering wheel. The steering wheel can come heated as an option, with a thin metal element under the wheel’s leather-wrapped rim raising its surface temperature from minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius) to 74F (23C) in five minutes.

The front driver and passenger multi-contour seats (new for 2013) have seven computer-controlled air bladders for added comfort. There are four sections in the seat bottom and three in the seat back that can be adjusted and both driver and the passenger seats feature individual static settings as well as dynamic massage settings.

The seats are covered in Bridge of Weir leather with French and Deck seams. Bridge of Weir makes their leather using a unique organic tanning method, which produces leather free of chromium – making it one of the most environmentally friendly and fully recyclable leathers available. Environmental awareness continues with the soy foam made seat cushions, head restraints, and seat backs.

Lincoln is also offering new woods (Prussian Burl and Brown Swirl Walnut) and leather colors (Hazelnut and Light Dune) to round out the changes for the 2013 model year.

Technology

MyLincoln Touch

The 2013 MKS has received standard MyLincoln Touch that features a central speedometer flanked by two full-color reconfigurable LCD screens. Content for the 4.2-inch LCDs is controlled by five-way buttons on the steering wheel. An 8-inch multi-function LCD touch screen dominates the center stack and provides the visual and control interface for the entertainment system, phone, navigation, and climate control.

Infotainment Systems

Joining the improved MyLincoln Touch are two audio systems, both controlled through MyLincoln Touch. The standard system includes AM/FM/CD/MP3/satellite sources playing through a 210-watt system that drives eight speakers. As an option, customers can get the THX II Certified Car Audio System with 700 watts and 14 premium audio speakers for home-theater sound on the open road. These systems include AM/FM/CD6/DVD/MP3/HD Radio, an auxiliary input jack, and a USB port, as well as a six-month SiriusXM satellite radio subscription as standard. The Sirius system can also be upgraded to add SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link with voice-activated navigation controls for coast-to-coast weather data, forecasts, fuel prices, sports scores, movie listings and more.

SYNC

The 2013 Lincoln MKs features the next generation SYNC system with new, simpler screen designs to improve the user interface. The screens have larger and bolder fonts making them easier to read. The SYNC system also provides standard Operator Assist which allows users to connect with a live person free of charge and enables the vehicle to turn into a Wi-Fi hot spot to operate gaming systems, PDAs, tables, and laptops.

Engine

The 2013 Lincoln MKS will be powered by the standard 3.7-liter V6 that now includes twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) and delivers a total of 300 HP (increased from the previous 273 HP). Fuel economy comes in at 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway for the front-wheel drive model and18mpg city/26 mpg highway with the all-wheel-drive model. Lincoln is also offering a more powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that delivers a total of 355 HP.

These engines can be combined with two versions of the six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission, both with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6 uses the 6F-50 and the more powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost uses the heavy-duty 6F-55. The 6F55 benefits from high-energy friction materials, a larger ring gear, and a specific torque converter to handle the high torque output of the twin-turbo V6.

Other features assisting the engine are electric power-assisted steering, Active Park Assist, and an improved braking system. The brakes consist of new vented front discs that measure 13.86 inches (352 millimeters), more than an inch larger than 2012, and rear discs measuring 13.58 inches, a 0.58 of an inch increase of the 2012 model.

Handling

The 2013 Lincoln MKS will now ride smoother and handle better with the use of Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD). The CCD utilizes 46 inputs to feed data to a sophisticated control unit that continuously monitors more than 23,000 packets of information per second. It then reacts to the data by calculating the optimal damping force every 2 milliseconds or 500 times per second. What this means is that the CCD system can read the road surface and adjust the suspension in real time to avoid damage.

“CCD is always active, refining the ride of the new MKT,” said Brian Naspinsky, Lincoln Vehicle Integration engineer. “CCD helps reduce body roll by up to 20 percent, making the MKT feel tighter and more buttoned down. Understeer on the MKT has been reduced by approximately 25 percent, so the car feels more eager and ready to respond.”

The Lincoln Drive Control hooked up to the CCD system has three selectable ranges – Sport, Normal, and Comfort:

-Normal mode: Used for everyday driving.

-Sport mode: Used for performance-oriented driving. This setting switches the suspension to a firmer sport range allowing for 25 to 30 percent more control than in Normal mode. The electric power-assisted steering also recalibrates and traction control and electronic stability control settings are also modified. The transmission also upshifts at a higher rpm, downshifts become more aggressive, and the transmission will hold gears longer.

-Comfort Mode: Used for a more relaxed driving experience. When switched to this mode, the dampers will exert 10 to 15 percent less control compared with Normal.

In addition, when the Lincoln Drive Control is set to Sport Mode, drivers will also be able to take advantage of Lincoln’s new Torque Vectoring Control (TVC) system. The TVC helps the luxury sedan drive through corners with greater balance and poise by influencing the speed of the front wheels.

Safety

-Lane Keeping System: Helps drivers avoid drifting out of their lane. This tool needs to be activated by the driver and will utilize a forward-facing mono-vision camera mounted behind the rearview mirror to begin looking for lane markers.

-Auto high-beam headlamps: Use the windshield-mounted camera to monitor traffic conditions and control high-beam activation.

-Collision Warning: Does just what its name suggests with a forward-looking, long-distance radar. If a threat is detected, the system warns the driver with an authoritative beep and a simultaneous red warning light projected on the windshield.

-Adaptive Cruise Control: Utilizes the same forward-looking, long-distance radar as the collision warning to monitor and adjust the speed of the MKT to keep it at a safe distance behind a lead vehicle in the same lane, even in fog or heavy rain.

-BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert: Uses radar to detect vehicles in your blind spot. The driver is alerted with a light that shows up on the corresponding sideview mirror.

-MyKey: This system can limit the capabilities of the car, allowing parents and concerned owners complete control. This system is activated with the vehicle key though the message center. It can control the following:

-Limited top speed of 80 mph

-Traction control system that limits tire spin cannot be deactivated

-Audio system volume limited to 44 percent of maximum volume

-A speed alert chime at 45, 55 or 65 mph

Prices

The 2013 Lincoln MKS will go on sale in the spring of 2013. Prices will be announced at a later date, but Lincoln has outlined their usual warranty and complimentary maintenance package, including:

-Four-year, 50,000-mile complimentary maintenance, which includes coverage for oil and filter changes, tire rotations and multipoint inspections for up to eight service visits for all 2011 model year and newer vehicles

-Four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty

-Five-year, 60,000-mile safety restraint limited warranty

-Five-year, unlimited mileage corrosion limited warranty

-Six-year, 70,000-mile powertrain limited warranty

Competition

The new Lincoln MKS targets some of the most impressive German sedans, including the Audi A6 and the BMW 5-Series. Lincoln promises that the optional EcoBoost V6 is the most powerful V6 among the MKS' competitors, producing 45 more horsepower than the Audi A6’s optional supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and 55 more horsepower than the BMW 5-Series’ optional turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6.

The question is, despite the extra HP, does the MKS have what it takes to make buyers consider it instead of the German sedans?