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Lincoln MKX
Lincoln MKX (pronounced "Mark X") is a crossover SUV made by Ford's Lincoln marque and expected to replace the Explorer-based Aviator in 2007. The MKX will be built alongside the related Ford Edge at Oakville Assembly in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, the first Lincoln built in Canada since 1936. According to the official Lincoln web-site, prices for the 2007 MKX are going to range from $34,495 to $44,885.
It is the first vehicle to use Lincoln's new naming convention, which eliminates names in favor of the European-inspired sets of letters and/or numbers. The MKX was originally named "Aviator", but the name was changed shortly before the 2006 North American International Auto Show. In 2004 Lincoln had previously shown another "Mark X" concept vehicle, based on the Ford Thunderbird with a retractable roof.
MKX's main competitors will be entry-level luxury crossover SUVs such as the Cadillac SRX, Acura MDX (another SUV built in Canada, but the MKX isn't to be confused with the MDX), Lexus RX and BMW X3.
The Lincoln MKX (codename U388) is expected for 2007. It will use the CD3 platform, shared with the Ford Edge,Mazda CX-7 and CX-9, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, and Mazda6. The new MKX is a unibody construction crossover SUV rather than a truck-based body-on-frame SUV like its predecessor, the Lincoln Aviator.
The Edge and MKX will be the first vehicles to use Ford's 3.5 L Duratec 35 V6 engine. This new engine produces 265 hp (198 kW) and 250 ft·lbf (339 N·m) and is mated to the new 6F six-speed automatic transmission co-developed with General Motors.
Honda filed a lawsuit against Ford in January 2006, claiming that the MKX name is too close to that of Honda's Acura MDX, and will cause customer confusion.
| Year | Engine | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007– | 3.5 L Duratec 35 V6 | 265 hp (198 kW) | 250 ft·lbf (339 N·m) |
