Although some of the beans were already spilled about the new luxury crossover, Lincoln Motor Co. has officially pulled the sheet off of the new 2016 MKX.
As we reported before, the MKX will have a 2.7-liter six-cylinder Ecoboost as an available engine, which promises over 330 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. “The new 2.7-liter EcoBoost adds a new level of performance to the all-new Lincoln MKX,” said Chief Program Engineer Elaine Bannon. A non-ecoboost 3.7-liter V6 will be the standard engine, offering 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both engines will route power through a six-speed automatic transmission, delivering it to the front wheels, although all-wheel drive is optional.
Inside the cabin, the new Lincoln offers a host of features for both comfort and utility starting with the Revel sound system. The Revel Ultima system has 19 speakers and is refined by QuantumLogic surround sound tech, making the MKX a mobile concert auditorium. A 360-degree camera debuts for Lincoln on this car, ideal for parking assist, that shows up to seven feet around the car. The camera also has a 180-degree split view to help keep an eye on things in cross-traffic situations. While we’re on the subject of keeping eyes forward, the MKX offers adapable LED headlamps that will adapt to illuminate turns as well as widening the width of the low beam between 0 and 35 mph.
Always-on connectivity is built in to the MKX, that allows not only internet access, but communication with the car when the driver is away. The MyLincoln Mobile app lets users remote start the car, lock and unlock doors, and track it down when they’ve forgotten where they parked.
Auto hold is a new feature that makes things easier when the MKX is stuck in traffic, relieving the driver of the need to alternate between brake and gas pedal each time they crawl slightly forward. When on th emove, the MKX has pre-collision assist to help avoid or at least mitigate the severity of front-end crashes. The system sends off a warning for the driver when it detects a vehicle or pedestrian, automatically braking if no action is taken by the driver.
The new Lincoln MKX will become available in the U.S. later this fall, with the car being offered in other markets like China, Canada and the Middle East shortly thereafter.
