NAIAS 2015: 2016 Lincoln MKX Officially Unveiled

by Cameron Aubernon

Published: January 13th, 2015

naias 2015 2016 lincoln mkx officially unveiled

A couple of days after it was leaked, the 2016 Lincoln MKX made its official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show [Live photos now available – CA].

Motivation for the premium crossover comes from a standard 3.7-liter V6 capable of 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, or the optional 2.7-liter twin-turbo Ti-VCT EcoBoost V6, whose power figures are expected to be north of 330 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent entirely to the front via a six-speed automatic with SelectShift and push-button controls; Lincoln’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system is also available.

The MKX also has an array of driving and safety features that are new to the crossover, including a 360-degree camera mounted behind the Lincoln badge between the grill to help in low-speed parking situations. The camera can see up to 7 feet around the vehicle, and can show the driver what the cross-traffic situation looks like via a 180-degree split view.

Other aids include: Auto Hold, which allows the driver to keep the brake pedal down without having to continuously hold it down during stops; pre-collision assist, which warns if an accident with a pedestrian or another driver is about to occur, and applies the brakes if the driver isn’t able to prevent the accident on their own; adaptive LED headlamps that widen their low-beam pattern when accelerating from nought to 35 mph; 12-sensor ultrasonic sensing system for parking assist; blind-spot information; lane-keeping; and height-adjustable hands-free power tailgate.

For those wanting to listen to “Spring” by Vivaldi on their way to the country club, home theater audio supplier Revel enters the automotive game with its Revel Ultima 13- and 19-speaker systems in the MKX. The system offers three-mode Surround Sound, real-time music reconstruction from compressed sources, and a 20-channel high-voltage hybrid amp for high-quality dynamics and optimized transparency.

Six trim levels will be available for the crossover, including four Black Label trims, two of which are new: one inspired by the fashion and culture of 1920s Paris, the other influenced by the pageantry of high-stakes horse racing.

Other features include: adaptive steering; integral rear link suspension; three-mode driving system; 22-way adjustable front seats; MyLincoln Mobile smartphone app; and a welcome mat projected onto the ground via folded mirror upon detection of the driver’s key fob from nine feet away.

The MKX is slated to go on sale in the United States this fall, with Canada, Mexico, China, South Korean and the Middle East to follow soon after.

#Detroit2015 #Lincoln #MKX #MY2016 #Naias2015

Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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2 of 28 comments

JEFFSHADOW on Jan 13, 2015

The only "MK-anything" I would buy is the 1979 Mark V. Put real names on cars; stop copying the idiot Germans and show some perseverance from the days when Lincoln and Mercury actually roared (did I hear a Cougar?)...

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Jrasero23 on Feb 13, 2015

Finally, the Edge/MKX was a chode of a car. Hopefully they fixed the PTU AWD system that constantly leaked. The new gen MKX looks so much better but it faces the same battle as the new gen MKZ and MKC. Matthew McConaughey has to stop making stupid commercials about these cars and secondly since these cars offer nothing groundbreaking for their categories they have to offer more features for their base levels. Lincoln offers competitive base prices but once you add any equipment group you have a car that is just as expensive or in some cases more expensive than a BMW and a Mercedes. So again Lincoln is left in this pickle of why pay for brand that is going through a re branding, a car that looses is value considerably, and a car when properly equipped costs as much as the top tier German cars? I still like Lincoln but if your not leasing or buying used your just throwing money away.

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