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Lincoln is Ford Motor Company’s luxury division, based in Dearborn, Michigan. It was founded in 1917, initially producing Liberty V12 aircraft engines. Ford bought Lincoln in 1922 to serve as its luxury marque to counter Cadillac and other high-end manufacturers, which has been the brand’s role since. Ford paired Lincoln with its mid-level Mercury brand in showrooms for decades, until the company discontinued the latter in 2010.
Traditionally, Lincoln has made large, heavy and luxurious sedans, with iconic nameplates like the Continental and the Town Car. Lincoln provided presidential limousines from the 1930s to the 1980s. (While Gerald Ford may have told America he was “a Ford, not a Lincoln,” he rode in a Lincoln.)
This century, Lincoln has adjusted to the automotive market. The company has shifted focus to luxury SUVs, to its success; it even dabbled, briefly, with the pickup truck market in the form of the Mark LT, a rebadged Ford F-150.
Lincoln embraced three-letter nameplates with gusto during the 2000s, which created considerable confusion: In 2015, for instance, Lincoln simultaneously sold the MKC, MKS, MKT, MKX, and MKZ. Mercifully, Lincoln has been phasing out these abbreviations in favor of model names as of late, opting for traditional or nautical/aeronautical themes.
Lincoln Terminology
Atkinson Cycle: A type of engine combustion, used on the MKZ hybrid. It’s ideal for hybrids because it delivers better fuel efficiency than the alternative Otto cycle, but weaker low-end power; in hybrids, however, this can be made up for with electrical motors.
Black Label: Top-of-the-line Lincoln trim offering a range of luxury themes and finishes, as well as personalized customer service.
The Lincoln Way: Specialized smartphone app offering special Lincoln features including service pickup and delivery and remote start. Also a marketing slogan.
SS-100-X: Secret service code name for the Lincoln Continental convertible limousine in which President Kennedy was assassinated.
Suicide Door: A door with a hinge at the rear instead of the front. Lincoln has been offering limited runs of present-day Continentals with them. The name comes from being a considerable safety hazard before seatbelts were introduced.
Buying Guide
MKC
The MKC is Lincoln’s entry-level compact crossover. It shares a platform with the Ford Escape. The MKC debuted in 2013, and will be replaced by the Corsair after the 2019 model year. There are two engine options: a 245-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter and a 285-hp twin-scroll turbocharged 2.3-liter. The smaller engine offers rear-wheel-drive in addition to all-wheel-drive, which is standard on the larger engine. Both use a six-speed automatic transmission.