Concept of the Week

The upscale cousin to the Ford Flex, the MKT crossover is expensive, sumptuous—and long

Lincoln's MKT: Luxurious and Large

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

Among several major production and concept cars it debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford (F) took the wraps off the Lincoln MKT concept, another iteration of the luxury brand's new design aesthetic. The MKT is an upscale cousin to the upcoming Ford Flex crossover. Both are large vehicles intended to appeal to families seeking a vehicle hipper than a minivan or station wagon and more fuel-efficient than a sport-utility vehicle. The MKT, however, will likely be more expensive and luxurious than the Flex.

The MKT is longer than Mercedes' R-Class, a crossover, and Cadillac's Escalade, a heavy SUV. The cavernous interior and first class airline-inspired seats put a premium on comfort for four rather than simply satisfactory seating for six. Despite the MKT's large size, Lincoln says its carbon footprint is small thanks to the use of recycled materials and lightweight plastics recycled from discarded soft drink bottles. The MKT's V6 engine is E85 ethanol-compatible and delivers 415 hp while running on biofuels. Ford says the engine should deliver 20% better fuel economy than previously. It remains to be seen how many of these innovative elements make it to production.

Like Lincoln's other new models, the MKT bears the brand's new double-wing chrome grille. Because the Flex is due to hit dealerships this summer as a 2009 model, the MKT could be close behind.

The Verdict: A Learjet for the road may represent Lincoln's entry into the growing full-size crossover segment.

Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.

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