2009 Lincoln MKS 3.7L V6 FWD 6AT (273 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lincoln has gone through significant changes during the world financial crisis, and one of them was the MKS lineup that replaced the old Town Car as the carmaker’s flagship model.

The American luxury brand Lincoln was eager to find new customers, and the solution was to create modern-looking vehicles for the younger generations. Besides the MKZ, the MKS was also a significant step forward for the automaker in achieving its goal of reinventing itself as a modern brand without forgetting the main pillars that created its reputation. These were the luxurious interiors, the comfortable rides, and the potent engines. All these ingredients were found in the MKS. In addition, there was also an attractive, fresh design, even though the full-size luxury vehicle was based on the same platform as the Ford Taurus.

Lincoln unveiled the 2009 MKS at the 2007 LA Auto Show for the 2009 model year. The car sported a front fascia that resembled the famous Zephyr lineup from the late ’30s, with a split-wing design theme. It was flanked by clear-lenses headlights with an angular shape narrower on their outer sides and corner-mounted turn signals. The bumper sported a broad center air intake mounted between the fog lights’ clusters.

With a sharp-looking profile that revealed an ascending waistline, the 2009 Lincoln MKS promised to be both luxurious and sporty. Behind the front wheel arches, Lincoln put its vertical and narrow badge as a statement of luxury. Furthermore, the automaker added a chromed trim around the window line. Unusually for this luxury brand, the automaker offered the MKS with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, while 19- or 20-inch sets were available. Unlike its stablemates, at the back, the MKS featured corner-mounted vertical taillights. They flanked a wide trunk lid adorned by chromed trims above the license plate holder. A V-shaped bumper with dual exhausts underneath it completed the car’s luxurious and sporty look.

One of the automaker’s top priorities was to create a comfortable and quiet interior for its flagship model. As a result, the 2009 Lincoln MKS boasted a serene, spacious, and well-equipped cabin. Its leather upholstery on the seats complemented the metallic and wood trims on the dash, center console, and door cards. Atop the center stack, the automaker placed a standard eight-inch touchscreen for the infotainment unit. It could handle voice commands and was available with Ford’s SYNC system, which was developed with Microsoft. In addition, a sat-nav system was available. Front seats were wide and mildly bolstered, while the rear bench seat could host three adults, albeit with limited legroom for the middle-seated one.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a standard 3.7-liter V6 naturally aspirated engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that sent its power to the front wheels. As an option, an all-wheel-drive system was available for this powerhouse. Those who wanted more performance could get the Ecoboost 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 powerplant that sent its power in all corners via a six-speed automatic gearbox.