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Where Is Ford taking the Lincoln Motor Company?

4170 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 6:54 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKX

    

Messages Page 403 of 418

#4013 of 4170 Re: ...a Lincoln that was on a Ford Granada. [lemko] by fintail

Feb 14, 2013 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: lemko (Feb 14, 2013 11:06 am)
It reminds me of something out of a 70s Lincoln.

#4014 of 4170 Re: ...a Lincoln that was on a Ford Granada. [akirby] by e_net_rider

Feb 16, 2013 (7:47 am)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 13, 2013 6:49 pm)
I had to look at it. From that a quote I said a while back.
"By combining our consumer research with trade-in data, we see a clear correlation between dependability and loyalty," said Sargent.
But looking at a couple of vehicles I'm familiar with, Lacrosse CXS and friends with Lucernne, I can't believe the ratings. Some of us are getting vehicles that don't measure up, and that brings into question the MKZ rating.
In order for Lincoln to be Lincoln again, they have to go out on the limb and build something like the Olds Aurora. Nothing like it. Unless you look at the Buick version which modified the body for a 4 door version. Totally different power-train with a 3.8 super-charged. After Olds died, the 4.0 V8 was used in Buick for a short time before moving to the bigger version of the Northstar.
I've already kicked the 13 MKS a bit. Let me add that stupid strap for trunk pull down. The build in handles each side of center are better. And I'd like to add air noise for my 2010. Only 28K miles. This is very disappointing that I'd start to hear outside noise so early on. It occurs from both driver and passenger side. I've looked the seals, both door and windows, over and don't spot an issue. It just seems to be typical Ford noise, poor design. With acoustic glass you'd think they might have stepped up the whole area. Add in that I'm now getting some buzz, low frequency, that occurs when bass notes are played, coming from driver door. Sort of like something is loose and vibrating with the low notes.

#4015 of 4170 Chicago Auto Show MKZ by unitedkingdom

Feb 16, 2013 (1:13 pm)

I was at the Chicago Auto Show the past week. No, I didn't get shot. Some of you may wish I had. But enough of that. I seen the MKZ in person. The front grill work with the incorporated front lights resembles the grin of Lewis Carroll's character Cheshire Cat from Alice In Wonder. It looks nothing like the grill work of the 1940 Continental. However, as a whole, the body style is attractive. It certainly is better than what it's replacing. Will this increase sales? I guess it depends if Lincoln can convince prestige buyers that it is more than an expensive tarted up Ford.
  
The reason why the MKZ has a few similar styling cues with the Mondeo/ Fusion cousins are because they all share platform hard points. At least that's what I was told from the person at the Lincoln exhibit. This allows for using a single platform to build all three vehicles in a manufacturing plant in Mexico. He said body parts are only interchangeable for platform sharing. I was informed this allows for supply and demand to determine production values for each vehicle with the least amount of manufacturing inputs . All of this I knew. It was just for my vindication that a Ford person explained to me the reason the MKZ has similar styling cues to its cheaper cousins.
Someone wrote that the Navigator presently has a bespoke platform. Presently it doesn't. It shares platforms with its obsolete Ford cousins. Lincoln will never have a bespoke platform. I am afraid the brand may never be popular with enough buyers to have one.

#4016 of 4170 Re: Chicago Auto Show MKZ [unitedkingdom] by akirby

Feb 16, 2013 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: unitedkingdom (Feb 16, 2013 1:13 pm)
I think they probably meant that the Navigator and Expedition are on a bespoke platform derived from the F150 but significantly modified including independent rear suspension. That won't be the case going forward due to market shrinkage. They'll probably use the new F150 platform pretty much as is to keep costs down.

#4017 of 4170 Re: ...a Lincoln that was on a Ford Granada. [gregg_vw] by nvbanker

Feb 19, 2013 (5:20 pm)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Feb 13, 2013 7:43 pm)
Actually, the Z does share the windshield and front door glass. That's not much and not very noticeable, but it is still too much, given that most brands do not do this anymore. By the way even though the Equinox and SRX do share some underpinnings, they share less than you seem to think.
 
Yes - well, as you say (relating to the SRX and Equinoxious), "it is still too much, given that most brands do not do this anymore".
 
Glass vs. underpinnings.....? What Ford is guilty of doing in the past times 3, GM has done times 5, (Venture, Relay, Terraza, Montana, Silouette, & Traverse, Acadia, Outlook, Enclave, etc., ), but Ford gets taken to task for it far more.....

#4018 of 4170 Re: ...a Lincoln that was on a Ford Granada. [nvbanker] by gregg_vw

Feb 20, 2013 (2:12 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Feb 19, 2013 5:20 pm)
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? I have never once suggested that GM did not do the same thing as Ford in the past. I don't think anyone else has suggested that either.
 
There are myriad examples from past decades of Ford doing this over and over. No different from GM, except that Ford has continued the practice longer. Ford saw fit in the past few years to use some of the same panels and glass between Fords and Lincolns, while GM stopped sharing the same body with Chevys and Cadillacs (other than the Escalade--but then Ford and Nissan and Volkswagen for examples do the same thing for cost reasons) several years ago.
 
My point, if I am allowed to have one, is that there is still some glass and panel sharing between the Fusion and MKZ, although it is greatly reduced and not noticeable to most eyes. However, all such sharing should be eliminated now, in order to separate Lincoln more from the better Fords. And this is the plan. It is just not accomplished yet.
 
BTW, the SRX does share some components with Equinox and Terrain. But the SRX is a combination of the current Theta, along with elements of the Epsilon 2 architecture, with some Lambda components (Buick Enclave et al) as well. This platform is sometimes also referred to as Theta-Epsilon. Theta Premium supports larger models than the standard platform. Thus the SRX is built on a premium midsize crossover architecture unique to Cadillac. The Terrain and the Chevrolet Equinox are built on the compact crossover architecture. If you see the Equinox and SRX parked together, you see the rooflines, doors, windows, lines and front and rear are completely unique...as it should be. They even have somewhat different wheelbases.
 
That is the type of differentiation that Ford is shooting for between the Escape and MKC. And from here on out with other models that share platforms to some extent.
 
GM has already turned that corner with their sedans. Although the Malibu and Regal share a platform, they share nothing in looks. Same with XTS, Lacrosse and the 2014 Impala. Or the Cruze and Verano.
 
This move toward differentiation started with the old GM. For example, the 2004-2008 Grand Prix, the 2005-2009 Lacrosse and the 2000-2005 and 2006-2013 Impalas all shared a platform, but they did not share greenhouses or other body panels. The same complete differentiation existed already with the Malibu of a couple generations ago and the now defunct Pontiac G5. GM made a host of errors, but moving toward brand differentiation was not one of them.
 
So no one is taking Ford to task for panel sharing, any more than when GM did. It is just that new Ford is not yet produced a completely differentiated Lincoln on a Ford platform. They soon will and they will do that with all new models going forward.

#4019 of 4170 Re: ...a Lincoln that was on a Ford Granada. [gregg_vw] by nvbanker

Feb 20, 2013 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Feb 20, 2013 2:12 pm)
Sorry, didn't mean to annoy - just making a point.

#4020 of 4170 Lincoln MKX by lemko

Feb 21, 2013 (12:34 pm)

Just saw the TV commercial for the Lincoln MKX. They've got a lot of chutzpah to compare this lumpy SUV to the classic 1940-41 Continental!

#4021 of 4170 Re: ...a Lincoln that was on a Ford Granada. [nvbanker] by gregg_vw

Feb 21, 2013 (4:50 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Feb 20, 2013 6:39 pm)
No problem. I think I got up on the wrong side of the bed.

#4022 of 4170 Re: Lincoln MKX [lemko] by gregg_vw

Feb 21, 2013 (4:51 pm)

Replying to: lemko (Feb 21, 2013 12:34 pm)
Why is there not a "like" option in replying to these messages?

Messages Page 403 of 418

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