The 2009 Ford Flex crossover is an SUV that seats up to seven people and was built to take the place of the minivan lineup that Ford is accustomed to making. Ford was planning on giving the Mercury a chance to get the same design as the Flex – but it seems that Lincoln is next in line.
Sources say the Flex will bow first, allowing it to have its moment in the sun before the Lincoln version is added to the lineup, perhaps a year later. It is in keeping with a strategic plan going forward to place more emphasis on the Lincoln premium brand than on Mercury. At the recent L.A. auto show, Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas, said Lincoln will take over as the volume piece of the Lincoln Mercury franchise.
Lincoln’s Zephyr shares almost every part with the Ford Fusion, including high hopes for brand rejuvenation. Lincoln is in need of a fresh flagship to accompany the aging Town Car and LS. However, it’s unknown whether or not new and younger customers will flock to Lincoln/Mercury dealers for the smallish front-wheel-drive Zephyr, especially with the lower-priced Fusion joining the plethora of solid import and domestic competitors.
The rear-wheel-drive LS sedan, a slow time seller that never quite matched the style and handling delivered by its European competitors, pares down to a single version for 2006. The V8 engine is now the only one available with this vehicle. Although not the home run Lincoln was swinging for when it introduced the car in 2000, the LS maintains at least a theoretical edge with enthusiasts for its V8 power and RWD configuration. Rear drive is coveted over front drive for its better balance and more refined ride and handling characteristics.
The very first crossover from Ford Lincoln is the MKX is a five-passenger luxury sport-utility vehicle that offers a car-like ride, an ultraquiet and spacious interior packed with luxury features such as adaptive front lighting, heated and cooled front seats and a panoramic Vista Roof and a number of safety features that includes Advance Trac with Roll Stability Control.