What is it? Lincoln hopes to grab a piece of the growing crossover pie with its first effort in the category, the MKX. Based on a car platform shared with the Zephyr sedan, the MKX moves away from the previous, Explorer-derived Aviator that it replaces to be more in the Lexus RX 330 mold. This may prove to be a good move, as owners ranked the outgoing Aviator among the least satisfying midsized SUVs in the annual CR survey. The MKX features a large panoramic moonroof, MP3-playback capability, and what Lincoln says is its quietest interior yet. The Aviator's 302-hp V8 is ditched in favor of an all-aluminum Duratec 3.5-liter V6. The double-overhead cam design is said to deliver about 250 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, on par with its crossover competitors, and it conforms to California Partial Zero Emission (PZEV) standards. This powerplant is mated to an all-new, six-speed automatic transmission. The company has reportedly invested $335 million in the Duratec 35 engine, which will have applications across multiple brands, including hybrid and turbocharged iterations. The MKK will be offered with front- or all-wheel drive.
CR Take: The Aviator's successor is a sibling of the Ford Edge, itself a Mazda6 based vehicle, and it might offer the luxury and refinement that's expected in this class of luxury car-based SUVs.
What is new or notable? The new transmission was developed jointly with General Motors, and it is said to be good for a seven-percent fuel economy increase over a four-speed unit.
