“This is what the future of Lincoln looks like,” according to the brand’s director of design Max Wolff.

This concept gives a hint as to what 2013 MKZ sedan will look like upon completion. The auto maker has a mission: appeal to younger drivers and separate itself from parent company Ford.

The Detroit unveiling of MKZ was so hot, even the vehicle itself couldn’t handle all that attention. Unexplained smoke began rising from its interior at one point. Even with LINCOLN reps standing in front of the car, there was no escaping someone’s camera phone:

Embarrassing, to say the lease. LINCOLN has a long road ahead of them, with little time to fend off criticism, especially that which comes with photographic evidence.

No official pricing of the 2013 MKZ has been announced, but current models sell for around $35,000 base MSRP.

Smoking Photo: Jalopnik

According to Auto News: Ford Motor Co. will funnel all of the discontinued Mercury brand’s advertising budget into Lincoln, says the head of the Lincoln National Dealer Council. That will fund a Lincoln marketing blitz. “You’ll see a lot stronger presence in the advertising of Lincoln in 2011,” Bob Tasca Jr., chairman of the dealer council, told Automotive News. “We’ve got some pretty good products now. We just need to talk about them more.”

Ford declined to speak on the matter, but spokesman Christian Bokich wrote via e-mail: We are preparing the way for seven new or significantly refreshed vehicles to be launched in the next four years.

Ads are expected to highlight the 2011 MKX crossover, 2011 MKZ sedan and MKZ hybrid, pictured above. Tasca added Ford assured him that Lincoln designs will be distinct from Ford’s. Artists’ sketches of the redesigned 2013 MKZ sedan show it to be a far cry from the Ford Fusion, which the car is based on.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

For Lincoln to succeed, analysts say, it’s critical that product planners separate Lincoln’s design, power trains, and technology from those of the Ford brand. Lincoln will get features such as active noise cancellation and adaptive suspensions.

Lincoln has given fans of the luxury American auto maker an outlook for the 2011-13 model years:

Compact vehicle: the automaker is exploring a compact car, possibly built on a next-generation global Ford Focus platform or the Lincoln C concept, first seen at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

MKZ: redesigned for 2013 when it moves Ford’s global midsize platform. The styling of the next-generation MKZ and Fusion will be more differentiated.

Midsize sedan: a Lincoln version of the next-generation Ford Mondeo, sold in Europe, is possible. If approved, the low-volume midsize car probably would be slotted just under the MKS.

MKS: will be redesigned and will continue with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 added in the 2010 model.

Town Car: the large sedan will be discontinued at the end of 2011.

MKX: also expect a redesign for 2011. MKX is likely to get the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine in 18 to 24 months. The 2011 model comes with a 3.7-liter V-6.

Navigator: surprisingly the large Navigator SUV will survive past 2012. The car will get an EcoBoost engine and likely the 5.0-liter V-8 within the next few years.

Source: CNET

Ford perversely uses “EcoBoost” to describe their direct-injected and turbocharged engines when everyone knows fuel economy is merely the side effect of more power. The Hennessey MaxBoost 435 is a Lincoln MKS with the right name and 435 HP.

Down the quarter-mile in the MaxBoost it’s hard to full appreciate how fast you’re actually traveling. Lay on the gas and much of the power’s quickly routed to the rear wheels but after a minimum of spinning you’re gently transitioned to the end of the track. I was shocked to check the DriftBox to see I’d hit 60 MPH in the advertised time 4.5 seconds.

via Jalopnik

MyLicoln Touch – based off the similarly named MyFord system, ties in vehicle commands with a touch-screen surface available at the tips of MKX’s driver/passenger fingers. “The twin LCD screens in the gauge cluster provide a myriad of data, each controlled by the five-way switches on either side of the steering wheel. The infotainment screen is large and easy to read and a highly integrated part of the control scheme, not just tacked on for the sake of it. For Lincoln buyers who have on-the-go “multimedia needs,” there’s an SD card reader which will play pictures or video when parked.”

Not one button you say? Yes, well…almost. There are a couple of mechanical switches along with that classy looking Push-button touch ignition; but pretty much everything else is capacitive touch, meaning you touch a raised but fixed surface, an audio prompt confirms commands and it’s carried out. Think of you iPod, and now enlarge that idea to the size of a vehicle dashboard.

One of the more exciting applications is the slider bars below the audio stack, which control HVAC fan speed and audio output: run a finger over it an LEDs light up, following the action.

Under Lincoln MKX’s hood is a 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6, meaning the car will have considerable power, but guarantee more attention will be drawn to the inside of this crossover when it comes to dealership lots near you.

This “rolling retro-futuristic concept chassis” is currently on sale at eBay for the jaw-dropping price of $48,500. According to Jalopnik: The 1995 Lincoln Sentinel concept was originally first up for auction back in April, when O.C. Welch Ford Lincoln-Mercury in Hardeeville, South Carolina tried to unload it from their personal collection for $80,000. But with the economy as lovely as it is these days even a “classic” Lincoln concept is probably available for the CARS Act voucher. Also, this vehicle doesn’t actually work. It’s pretty much a rolling shell that looks like a piece of modern art.

Source: Jalopnik

Lincoln’s EcoBoost has to be interesting under the hood – because exterior design has not evolved much past other Lincoln styling from the past few years. 19-inch alloy wheels lift the new MKS up a few inches, but not too high so that your grammy and grampy will have trouble hopping in. Lincoln’s distinctive grill follows familiar curves all the way back to the rear light arrangement. The car is far from ugly, in fact we love the look Lincoln has adopted in the 21st century. Maybe we were just a little disappointed that their first major Eco-release looks just like all the other MKS models.

Under MKS’s lid, the 3.5-liter direct-injection twin-turbo V6 generates 355 horse power and 350 pound-feet of torque. This brings the RPMs up to 5250. As the boys at Auto Blog stated, “Paired with a six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, the MKS promises lots of gumption to go along with the MKS’ already impressive interior tech offerings.”

And according to Lincoln’s official press release: “Our EcoBoost engines offer more power and better fuel economy,” said Brett Hinds, EcoBoost design manager. “It’s all part of Ford’s strategy to bring adaptable powertrain technology to all kinds of vehicles and all kinds of lifestyles. This technology is affordable and applicable to all gasoline engines.”

The turbochargers recover energy from the exhaust that otherwise would be wasted and put it back in the engine to gain efficiency. Simply, the turbocharging system puts more air into the engine for more power. A compressor increases or “boosts” the pressure of the air entering the engine. An air-to-air intercooler is used to cool the compressed intake air before it enters the combustion chamber. This allows the air to be even more densely packed for optimal performance, contributing to more-efficient fuel burn and fuel efficiency.”

As alternative fuels become more common and vehicles shrink in size, Lincoln will have to follow in form and shy away from their stereotypically monsterously huge cars. If Ford’s EcoBoot technology gains in popularity, thus bringing in more funding, we may see a future where driving around in old folk style (you know, giant car cruising 20 miles under the speed limit with your left blinker on) may come back into fashion.

Todd Hare’s 57 Lincoln Premier started off as a 2-Door hardtop along with original paint/interior and only 61,000 miles on it! Apparently Todd purchased the vehicle from a Georgia collector in 1995 and used it for about a year until the water pump went.  So what do you do with a beat up car that can’t go any longer? Customize it! This Lincoln was combined with the top portion of a (convertible) 1972 Skylark donor car to give it the topless appeal.

Once restoration was complete all this Lincoln needed was some under the hood TLC. A 460 motor, C6 transmission, 9-inch rear end and disk brakes at all four corners were constructed for its drivetrain, coming out of a 1977 Lincoln Mark V. The engine cover & air cleaner was hand made from aluminum custom molding using sections from the original 1957 valve covers ala the “Lincoln V-Eight” lettering. The underside of its hood is covered in ivory upholstery, along with polished aluminum ribs. This vehicle is a lobor of love and shows what a little time, a lot of patience, and some good custom work can do to transform your automobile into a unique ride.

The first Lincoln Continental was developed and designed by chief stylist Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie for Edsel Motors. With hardly any trim overall, this model included an externally-mounted covered spare tire – the Continental series’ trademark.

The Continental name was revived in 1955 with the Continental Mark II. This version was a unique design with the highest quality control ever seen in the auto industry. It was nothing but class all around – with very limited availability, it appeared even more exclusive than the original. The 1956 Continental was one of the most expensive cars in the world, with a cost of $10K, rivaling Rolls-Royce models.

In 1961, Continental was completely redesigned by Elwood Engel. It was two feet shorter than its predecessor. The new Continental’s most recognized trademark, back doors with rear hinges – or “suicide doors,” which were a purely practical decision. According to Wikipedia: The new Continental rode a wheelbase of 123″, and the rear hinged doors were hinged from the rear to ease ingress and egress. When the Lincoln engineers were examining the seating buck that styling had made up, the engineers kept hitting the front hinged door of the buck with their feet. The rear hinged doors solved the problem. 1961 was another benchmark for this model, as it was the first car built in America to be sold with a 24,000 miles/2-year bumper to bumper warranty.

The 1970 Continental continued the long, slab-sided design but axed the suicide doors. Standard luxury features gradually became optional over the decade, with the 460 cubic-inch engine becoming an option in 1977, replaced by the 400 cubic-inch small-block as standard. From 1975 to 1980, a Continental Town Coupe was available alongside the four-door Continental Town Car and Continental Mark V.

After two more decades and sales that dipped after 1999, the 2002 Continental was introduced as the final to bare this name. Lincoln’s discontinuation was due mostly to the growing shift in the consumer marketplace away from large front-wheel drive luxury vehicles. But the Lincoln Continental will always be an American trademark of automotive engineering and gorgeous design.

As the press release reads: Designed with today’s upscale, urban consumer in mind, the Lincoln C concept brings the presence and elegance of a large Lincoln to a smaller, more efficient C-sized car.

Featuring a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and Ford’s all-new dry, dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission, the Lincoln C concept achieves 43 mpg on the highway, while offering up an impressive 180 horsepower and 180 ft.-lbs. of torque. PowerShift and outstanding driving dynamics make the Lincoln C concept fun for the driver. Plus, a sophisticated human machine interface (HMI) and forward-thinking in-car connectivity technologies bring a whole new dimension to social networking, an important facet of modern customers’ active lifestyles.

The modern appearance of the Lincoln C reflects the timeless, iconic elements of the Lincoln DNA: sheer surfaces bounded by defined creases; a cantilevered roof extending from a strong C-pillar; a confident double-wing chrome grille; full-width tail lamps and rocker bright work.

The front end of the concept is unmistakably Lincoln. The signature grille encapsulates LED headlamps that – like the taillights – are made with prismatic optical elements that create depth and visual sophistication. A sculpted groove in the top of the front hood – which derives its shape from the Lincoln badge – adds a finishing touch to the grille of the car.

A low shoulder line combines with a strong, high belt line to create a sense of safety and privacy inside and outside of the vehicle.

An aluminum cantrail adds elegance to the concept by extending the beltline to the rear glass and breaking up the otherwise tall C-pillar. Aluminum is also visible inside the door apertures.

All in all it’s a concept we can all get behind, and may be a good direction to be headed in for a company that usually takes on larger vehicles.

Thanks to Jalopnik for the photos – and Lincoln for their Press Release