Brilliant Idea #4

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
04/23/2014 at 15:46 • Filed to: Brilliant Idea

Lincoln Motor Company MKZ SHO Black Label

Lincoln is a brand thats bleeding and bleeding while ZeGermans are playing catch with its band aids laughing hard at its half-assed attempts of luxury automobiles. Lincoln is trying its best to boost sales and has given us its best designed car yet since the Continental. The Lincoln MKZ is trying to compete with the 3er, Cer, A4er, ISer, ATSer, etc. but just adding design packages (a.k.a. Black Label), or having buttons in the dash to change gears resembling a spaceship isn't going to cut it.

Like Jeremy Clarkson said "When in doubt, add power" this is exactly what the MKZ needs to be recognised again. Inserting the twin-turbocharged 3.5 Litre V6 from the Ecoboosted Flex would transform this car in the best way.

Just imagine that sexy, svelte looking body with a blacked out grille, dark rims to match, and a little black and silver Eco-boost badge in the trunk. Then, when in the mood, 365 HP and 350 Torques to push you into the Black Label designed seats. All through the All-wheel drive system and the sport tuned 6 speed transmission. Paddle shifters are also a necessity, but forget plastic, make them magnesium. Price? $50K-$55K.

This car would beat any 6 Cylinder competitor, and it would give the MKZ the Go to match the Show. Or should I say, the go to match the SHO . (Best Line Ive ever written in my life.)

DISCUSSION (37)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 15:51

While I'm with you and it would be a blast in that small (ISH) MKZ....no one seems to realize it has a pretty healthy V6 in it already with 300 hp 277 torque. Which is not available in the Fusion AT ALL.

I'm not saying an upgrade to the 3.5TT EcoBoost would be bad, but it's not exactly a monstrous upgrade.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 15:52

I totally agree, ideally they'd do this on a stretched Mustang platform.

Or perhaps so as not to outdo the SHO, maybe throw in the 2.7 liter EB that's also slated for the F-150. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they end up doing this...

But shit, if you are going to give this thing 365 hp or whatever the new 3.5 eco will put out (probably even more), it really should be RWD. It would handily outdo most of its competitors from an acceleration standpoint.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/23/2014 at 15:54

well like i responded to the OP, it's not a huge upgrade in power, the current V6 has 300hp 277 torque. it would be up 65 and 50 respectively.

And it won't out do the SHO that's what the MKS with the 3.5L TT EcoBoost is for lol.

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 15:55

Yeah, it does have a V6, though this would make it such an overkill it would give much attention to an otherwise forgotten brand

Vicente Esteve > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/23/2014 at 15:56

Yeah but, Twin Turbo MKZ. haha RWD would be excellent.

JR1 > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 15:59

Wow you really did take my idea and expand it into something great! This could compete with the Merc CLA AMG and the design would be 10 times better looking! Such potential... This idea must be sent to Detroit!!!

Vicente Esteve > JR1
04/23/2014 at 16:01

haha copyright honours to you good sir!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 16:01

WELL

The MKZ was released as press cars in 2012 as a 2013 model and had "upgraded tires" that are now available from the factory...Michilen Pilot Super Sports.

With said tires, Edmunds ran it on their slalom course for a test.

It beat the M5. The only change was tires. Those are now available factory.

It pains me to say it but unless the overall brand perception changes it'll never be back. For god's sake it was 1 mph slower than a 911 on that course just by putting nice tires on it. I don't think speed/performance is the issue right now.

reference: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/12/edmund…

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 16:03

CRAP. I forgot about that!! You are right though, but almost all the magazines that reviews got angry with it, thought it was "cheating", and it scored low.

Camry-Into-Canyon > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 16:06

Yup. Bump it up to 400 horses, give it all-wheel-drive and you have a credible sedan that can fill the gap between a 335i and an M3.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 16:07

yea fuck em

If I can beat an M5 in a 40k car with 1k in tires that's a win every day of the week...year...or even decade

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 16:08

How would a Corolla fare with those tires??

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 16:09

Honestly, with the current V6 offered, and the factory Pilot SuperSports it's a perfectly capable car. Would a SHO version be awesome? Yes. Would anyone buy a SHO version or even care? Probably not. They need to up their brand perception more than anything, and comparing this car to a CTS in their commercials isn't helping.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/23/2014 at 16:12

I would imagine it would be a legendary upgrade.

A friend of mine just ordered some for his charger RT

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 16:12

The SHO is slightly faster than the MKS.

Gains of 65 and 50, along with a monster of a flat torque curve. I believe it would be significantly faster.

Also these engines have a lot of power left on the table, it would not be hard for Ford to get another 25 - 50 horsepower out of them. On top of that I think Ford is planning on releasing a significantly updated 3.5EB for 2016. I think they used the word revolutionary, or some other marketing-speak like that. Stands to reason it will have more power.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/23/2014 at 16:15

Well that's all good, but I was meaning MKS vs Taurus because of platform/size.

MKZ would crush the SHO in similar set up because of lightness I would imagine.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 16:23

ah ok. The MKZ is available with that same V6 though right? I was saying a 3.5EB would be a very significant upgrade.

Fuck Lincoln! Get your grubby hands on that 2015 Mustang, stretch it a bit and make a damn 3 series, 5 series, ATS and CTS killer! I don't care if you use most of the body panels from an MKZ to save money. Because an MKZ looks good.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/23/2014 at 16:27

The MKZ comes with the 3.7L V6 which is a pretty cool motor if you ask me. I drive an 07 Milan V6. A bit smaller than the current gen Fusion and only has a 3.0 V6 good for 220 hp. I would imagine an 80 hp increase up to the MKZ would be a very noticeable change!

I'm all for the dream of a Mustang platform Lincoln and I can only hope for an MKR. I don't see it happening soon though unfortunately.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/23/2014 at 16:27

You are probably right, this may be a publicity problem rather than a power problem.

Vicente Esteve > Camry-Into-Canyon
04/23/2014 at 16:27

Not a bad idea

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/23/2014 at 16:33

I concur 100% as you can see in other responses. In the EcoBoost 3.5L's current form its "only" an increase of 65 hp and 50 torque.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 16:36

Yes that would be great. I think Lincoln should also re-enter the non-existant market of the land-barge-convertible. That would be swell.

They need a car that people talk about at water coolers, class rooms and bbq's. Something that runs with an M3. They could do that with a Mustang platform. Something of a Mercury Cougar type deal, where you could get a Mustang-platform-car with a larger engine. In this case it would be a faster engine in the form of a 3.5EB.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/23/2014 at 16:40

Yeah I'm all for this.

I just think Lincoln needs to work more on it's perceptions than it's cars. Their isn't anything wrong with the cars in my opinion.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 16:54

Nope, but I think the problem is that Lincoln is a brand that EVERYONE can get away with not talking about, because all their cars are good, but none are notable.

People talk about CTS-V's, M3's and S4's because they are often featured in magazines for their awesome performance. But Lincoln? CRICKETS.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/23/2014 at 17:03

Fair points

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 17:04

My non-gearhead friends know what a CTS-V is and it makes them and their wives discuss the idea of owning a Cadillac.

They know I'm a gearhead so they'll sometimes bring up cars they heard about and CTS-V is one of those cars that's come up more than once. It was a VERY smart move on Cadillac's part.

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/23/2014 at 22:48

Holy Crap! That thing got a HEMI? No, really he has a V8? Or the engine from a Wrangler. (Moonlighting to my article)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/24/2014 at 09:11

Oh I agree, and I happen to be a huge fan of the V series from Cadillac. And a big fan of Caddy in general. They've changed from Northstar over complicated pain in the ass into performance luxury at it's finest!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2014 at 09:13

Hahaha, he does have a the 5.7L Hemi. With a mild tune and a cold air intake, I think the exhaust would be a nice compliment to the tires, he's putting on the tires this weekend.

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/24/2014 at 10:55

That Epic right there. Im still intreated in the Corolla. wait, a MIRAGE!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2014 at 10:59

I'm sorry was that sentence supposed to have "interested" and "corolla" in the same sentence?

There must be an error there

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/24/2014 at 11:05

Oppo confesion, I actually would like to drive an S 6 Speed. I think it is due to them not being popular in Mexico.

Kinja'd!!!

I find appreciation in every car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2014 at 11:07

meh.

a friend of mine had an older Corolla XRS when they were out, the XRS not S, the S was just a bodykit at the time, his was a Celica motor, I believe it was a 6 speed as well. Can't say it wasn't zippy, and I would have to say tires were a major thing holding it back too!

he liked it at first but it broke constantly. He was very happy to get rid of it for a used GM car that broke less.

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/24/2014 at 11:09

Yes, I read about the XRS and Matrix XRS in a Demuro article, I just have never driven a brand new car with a stick.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2014 at 11:15

Mustangs are a lot more fun and come with a stick!

Or Focus/Fiesta ST's

Vicente Esteve > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/24/2014 at 11:48

Well, an R8 V10 Stick would be a lot more fun as well!

But im more interested and STill aching to drive the ST's!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2014 at 11:50

well I was keeping it affordable lol