There is no shift lever, I noticed, as I slipped into the beautiful 2014 Lincoln MKZ sedan. This is the model most responsible for life at Lincoln, at least until the anticipated MKC crossover arrives next year.
“It’s push-button drive,” pointed out Hillori Morse, service manager at Landmark Lincoln. No need for a shift lever. As I appreciated the brown swirl walnut wood trim inside, she briefed me on My Lincoln Touch controls, entered my destination address into the navigation system and sent me on my way.
Twelve miles west of Landmark (5000 S. Broadway), Jan and I and the Lincoln found ourselves in a large parking lot off Shaffer Parkway in Jefferson County, and I realized Hillori had overlooked one bit of advice, “In case of hail ”
A deluge of rain turned to hail and we were being pounded; no overhead protection was apparent in our limited vision due to the storm. I steered the MKZ toward a row of office buildings, eased over the curbing and over the sidewalk and into the covered entryway of an insurance office, which was closed for the day. Only the short trunk portion of the Lincoln extended into the downpour, and several dimples were the result.
Interestingly, the only other time I’ve been hailed on while testing a new car was in August 1978, also with a Lincoln, a ’78 Continental Mark V borrowed from Johnny Haas Lincoln Mercury (the review of that Lincoln 35 years ago is excerpted at the end of this column).
When it was over, the all-wheel-drive MKZ carried us smoothly home, then back to the area the next night for the wedding of granddaughter Kara Wells and Daniel Hansen. It was an outdoor ceremony; well, actually, it rained again that night and we went indoors at The Terrace Gardens at Ken Caryl.
The MKZ’s sleek, stylish exterior drew favorable comments from many of the weddinggoers. One of five Lincoln models, it accounted for 41 percent of sales for the brand last month.
“It (the MKZ) makes us very competitive with Lexus and other luxury builders,” said Tom Daniels, owner of Landmark Lincoln, “and the hybrid version has drawn lots of interest. Average age of buyer at our dealership has dropped from 68 a couple of years ago to 61 today.”
I was impressed with the performance of the MKZ’s turbocharged, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder. The EcoBoost engine, 240 horsepower/270 torque, delivered excellent low-end acceleration with little lag and, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, averaged 25.4 miles per gallon of regular unleaded fuel. It carried a relatively high EPA estimate of 22/31, though I saw no signs that it would reach 31 on the highway. The touch-control push buttons for the transmission are at the left side of the center stack, well-positioned for the driver. An optional engine is a 3.7-liter V-6.
The MKZ is based on the chassis of the Ford Fusion, though it is upgraded in ride comfort and interior quality. Legroom in the rear is plenty, headroom somewhat limited. Suspension is MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear. A roomy trunk offers 15.4 cubic feet of space.
With leather seats, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, power moonroof, 19-inch polished aluminum wheels, rearview camera, blind-spot warning, dual-zone automatic climate control and manual-mode transmission control, sticker price on the four-door was $45,025.
Longer in overall length than the Lexus ES or Cadillac CTS, the MKZ measures about the same as the Acura TL.
A look back
Thirty-five years ago this month, I reviewed in The Denver Post a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V two-door hardtop. Excerpts:
When I was a kid in high school in the early to mid-1950s, I thought a 1948 Lincoln V-12 was one of the greatest cars in the world. I wanted one, but I settled for a 1948 Ford V-8.
Today Lincoln builds a Continental Mark V with a 460-cubic-inch-displacement V-8. I want one of these, too, but I’ll settle for something else.
An optional carriage roof added class to the ’78 Mark V test model I borrowed from Doug Woosley, sales manager at Johnny Haas Lincoln-Mercury, 9200 W. Colfax.
The 4,800-pound Lincoln with the powerful engine averaged only 10.7 miles per gallon in town driving and only 13 on a drive to Estes Park and back to Denver. Adding insult to the low mpg was the fact we got hailed on, which left dimples in the chrome strips along the window sills.
Contrasting with the huge V-8 was a speedometer which registered up to 80 miles per hour, a government requirement that year.
With leather interior, AM/FM stereo with 8-track tape, right-hand remote-control mirror, power-vent windows and tilt steering wheel, sticker price reached $16,079.
On a wheelbase of 120.4 inches, the Continental stretches 230 inches in overall length. Luggage capacity is a roomy 18.1 cubic feet and capacity of the fuel tank is 25 gallons.
Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
