2008 Lincoln MKS

The Lincoln MKS is a luxury sedan produced by the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. The production version is based on the MKS concept car which was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. It will begin production in the summer of 2008 at the Ford Chicago Assembly plant in Chicago, Illinois. The MKS fills the gap since the discontinuation of the Lincoln LS in 2006.

The MKS continues the new Lincoln naming convention for future models, including the new 2007 crossover SUV Lincoln MKX and the mid-size car 2007 Lincoln MKZ which replaced the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. By this naming scheme, new vehicles will be designated with alphanumeric names rather than more traditional names like "Zephyr" and "Continental". This is part of a new Lincoln strategy to give its vehicles alphanumeric monikers, in much the same way as some other luxury automakers do, to get people to refer to the cars as Lincolns, rather as just "Continentals" or "Navigators".

Pronounced "Mark S," it's a potential flagship for Ford's stuck-in-the-doldrums prestige brand. It isn't yet officially headed for the assembly line, but a production MKS likely will be built on Volvo's versatile P2 architecture, some form of which underpins the Volvo XC90 and S80, the Ford Five Hundred, and the Mercury Montego. Expect powertrain options to include a 315-hp V-8, a six-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive. If Lincoln really wants a design hit, though, they should learn from Cadillac. Take some risks, don't copy the Japanese.