In the middle of all the presentations of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show was the unveiling of the 2013 MKT and the 2013 MKS, but Lincoln->ke48 had another ace in the hole. Apparently, Ford's luxury brand also revealed a teaser image of a car that looks like the next MKZ. It is believed that we will see the new MKZ in January 2012 at the Detroit Auto Show.

Fast forward to today and the Lincoln MKZ Concept has finally been unveiled in all its glory.

The Lincoln MKZ Concept is a take on the company's design language that will be featured in a number of their future models. Taken as a concept, the MKZ comes with a variety of new features that will look sweet when translated to a production version. The automaker has penciled a production date for later this year so we won't have to wait long to see what the production MKZ is made of.

More details on the Lincoln MKZ Concept after the jump.

2013 Lincoln MKZ Concept

Specifications
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  • Model: 2013 Lincoln MKZ Concept
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

The Lincoln MKZ Concept promotes the company's design future with a style that the company describes as "elegant simplicity," a language that's "warmer and more restrained and moves away from complex designs and traditional luxury.”

The Cognac paint finish of the MKZ Concept exudes warm hues, which is then complemented by the deep finish through a rich base coat covered in multiple layers of tinted clear-coat finishes. Key design characteristics that have been added to the MKZ Concept include a more refined iteration of the company's iconic split-wing grille, a design that we first saw back in 1938 with the Lincoln-Zephyr->ke528.

The profile of the sedan also speaks to a new future for Lincoln vehicles, as evidenced by the long, sleek, and swooping roofline that breaks away from the traditional sedan three-box shape, enabling a more flowing, elegant and more naturally aerodynamic appearance.

The car also features a panoramic glass roof that spans the length from the windshield all the way to the top of the backlight. Likewise, a fixed-glass expanse extends to the side roof rails of the cabin while LED technology permeates the tail-lamp cased in an extremely thin and distinctive full-width housing.

Interior

Inside, the Lincoln MKZ Concept is the picture of a warm styling mixed in with a spacious four-seat configuration. The sweeping design of the instrument panel creates a visual and comfortable interior. Lincoln used a combination of poplar wood and aluminum in bright and satin finishes for the prevalent material, as well as leather help create a sculptural, luxurious and comfortable interior space. The leather seats have been dressed in a Champagne hue perforation patter with matching dark taupe accents.

As far as technology is concerned, the MKZ Concept comes with an innovative interior that features push-button transmission gear selection, an open, tiered center console, and liquid crystal instrumentation. In addition, a reconfigurable 10.1" Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD is also part of the set-up, positioned just ahead of the driver and operated with the latest version of the MyLincoln Touch system.

Performance

As for the engine line-up, Lincoln didn't reveal details on what kind of powertrain the MKZ Concept carries, although we expect the 2013 MKZ to be powered by the same line found on the MKS: a standard 300 HP 3.7-liter V6 engine and an optional 355 twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.

Pricing

Lincoln has penciled a production date for the MKZ later this year. At this point, no price tag has been given yet.

Competition

Considering that the new MKZ will be sold predominantly to the US market, a close competitor for the mid-size sedan is the new Lexus ES. The full specs behind the MKZ have yet to be unveiled, but we do expect it to slot in competitively against the ES and other mid-sized cars in its segment.

The new design language of the MKZ will be attractive to younger buyers, although there might still be a population of people that might hesitate on the brand, given that it's a Lincoln. Nevertheless, the company is determined to shed away their "daddy car" image and try to break into a ripe market that all of its competitors already have a hold on. Whether they can accomplish that remains to be seen, but we'll be the first to tell you that the early returns for the MKZ Concept are very promising.