The 2015 Lincoln MKC: A Fresh New Entry Expected To Revive A Dated Brand

Ford executive Jim Farley introducing the new MKC app to compliment the 2015 MKC.

What: The 2015 Lincoln MKC, the brand’s first compact premium luxury crossover, is expected to infuse new energy into the brand. The MKC is the second of four vehicles over the next four years expected to jumpstart this into this dated brand. The MKZ luxury sedan, which joined the brand this year, was the first vehicle, helping to kick-start Lincoln’s four-year product revival plan.

When: After making its world-debut on Wednesday in New York City, the Lincoln MKC will hits the streets by the summer of 2015.

Ford's new global design chief, Moray Callum, Soo Kang, Lincoln interior design chief and interior MKC designer, and editor Jeff Fortson with the MKC.

New Design: The new Lincoln MKC is based-off of the same global platform as Ford’s Escape, Ford’s C-Max, Volvo’s C30 and Volvo’s C70. Up until a few years ago, Volvo was a part of the Ford family.

Like the brand’s recently introduced MKZ sedan, the brand-new, five-passenger MKC boldly wears the Lincoln signature grille in a sleek, curvaceous package. Unlike most of today’s vehicles, the overall design and engineering theme of this baby Lincoln was heavily influenced by women. The interior of the vehicle, one of the best we've seen in a Lincoln to date, was designed by Soo Kang, Lincoln’s interior design chief, while the engineering team for the MKC was headed-up by Lisa Drake, chief engineer for vehicle.

Trim Levels/Configurations:

Base

Select

Reserve

Black Label

Premium Features: The Lincoln MKC will be outfitted with the following features, depending on trim:

· A standard 2.0 –liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which is the same as in the one available in the super popular Ford Fusion; this engine produces 240 horses

· A 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which produces 275 horses

· Driving Configuration: A front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive

· Driving Modes: Sport, Comfort or Normal

· Tire size: 18-inch, 19-inch or 20-inch

· An Approaching Detection System, which illuminates the door-handles MKC up to 9-feet away, when it senses the key fob

· A push-button keyless starter

· A push-button gear selector like in the MKZ, midsized luxury sedan

· An available Panoramic (oversized) all-glass sunroof like in the MKZ

· An available 14-speaker speaker THX audio system for the 8-inch screen which houses the MyLincoln Touch Infotainment System

· A storage place for umbrellas (front door)

· Heated/ventilated front seats; heated rear seats

· Partially reclining rear seats

· Standard pseudo-leather seats in the base model; high-end premium stitched leather is available in the higher end models

· Real wood interior trim accents available

New Safety Tech Features:

· Collision Warning with Brake Support

· Lane Keeping Warning System

· A Radar Activated Adaptive Cruise Control Available

· Side Blind Zone Alert Available

· Rear Cross Traffic Alert Available

· Lane Change Alert Available

· Driver’s Knee Airbag (Segment Exclusive)

· An Available Park-Out Assist Technology, assist the driver out of tight spaces (Segment Exclusive)

· An Available Automatic Parallel Parking System (Segment Exclusive)

· MyLincoln Mobile App allows one to use their smartphone to start, lock, unlock and locate the MKC (Segment Exclusive)

· An available rear seat inflatable safety belt (Segment Exclusive)

Price: $33,995 (plus a destination charge of $895); this is the lowest priced vehicle in the segment. Visit our car pricing guide to build and price a vehicle.

How Many Available: Lincoln plans on producing around 30,000 MKCs its first full production year at its Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant.

Competition: Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti EX, Land rover Evoque, and Mercedes-Benz GLK 

Lincoln’s Expectations And Challenges for MKC: The folks at Lincoln are counting on the new MKC, an upscale version of the Ford Escape, to help reinvent the brand. Unlike some of their past products, which share the same underpinnings, Lincoln has gone through great lengths to separate this vehicle from the Escape. In our opinion, they have. Moreover, we believe that the luxurious MKC will be the vehicle to attract a number of young, well-heeled buyers to a brand that is scrambling to define its future.

Overall Lincoln’s challenge is to make sure that they have a strong product portfolio to keep these new buyers from defecting to its competitors. Cadillac, like Lincoln, was in the same boat a few years ago. Cadillac is now on par to compete again with the German and Japanese luxury brands as evident in their current pricing strategy. Lincoln is yearning to be in the same ranks, moving from a second-tier luxury brand like Acura and Volvo, to a first tier luxury brand again. In fact, the Lincoln brand is expanding into China's highly competitve luxury market next year. By being in China, this will truly establish Lincoln as a global luxury brand. The MKC is the right vehicle to help with the brand's renaissance.