New for '09: Lincoln MKS

Lincoln MKS

Lincoln has been struggling for some time to find its identity. Unlike Cadillac, which has enjoyed a resurgence based largely on its CTS sport sedan, Lincoln relied too long on the appeal of its Navigator SUV. Now comes the MKS sedan, which Lincoln hopes will rival the CTS and other luxury sedans. Its chassis is based on the Ford Taurus, which in turn was derived from Ford sibling Volvo. Its styling is made distinctive by the bright Lincoln grille, which is meant to be evocative of the 1940s Lincoln Zephyr. It's a front-wheel-drive sedan powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 that makes 273 horsepower, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Rumored for later in 2009 is a turbocharged V-6 that would make 400 horsepower, though given the financial problems at Ford and the current cost of fuel, that may be postponed. Fuel economy is rated at 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway.