(November 17, 2011) LOS ANGELES — Lincoln has freshened the MKS sedan and MKT crossover with new technology and engine tweaking, but the big news is a new grille that will point to the future. The two 2013 models were revealed today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

While the new grille tones down the in-your-face look of the current models, it retains the same basic look, but with less extravagance retaining the shape and the vertical bars.



"The effort behind the new look was to change the proportion of the MKT from the front view. We helped make it feel wider and a bit less tall, less vertical," Max Wolff, Lincoln design director, said.

"The execution of the new MKT's grille and the grille bars is a lot more refined and elegant. The new front graphic displays a lot of three dimensionality, but it's accomplished in a calmer, more restrained way."

The standard MKT engine for 2013 is a more powerful and efficient 3.7-liter V-6 that includes twin independent variable camshaft timing. Horsepower increases to 300 from 268, a 10 percent increase achieved with projected fuel economy ratings that improve to 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, a 1 mpg highway improvement.

Nine out of 10 MKT retail customers opt for twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that produces 355 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and an expansive torque curve that plateaus at 350 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,500 to 5,250 rpm. Fuel economy is projected to be 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway. The EcoBoost V6 earned a slot on Ward's 2010 "10 Best Engines" honoree list the year it was introduced.

In the MKS sedan, horsepower from the standard 3.7-liter V-6 increases from 273 to 300. Like the MKT, the top-level 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 continues with 355 horsepower.

At the top of the list of new features is Continuously Controlled Damping, which monitors and adjusts suspension settings up to 500 times a second for improved ride and handling. The feature comes standard on the MKS and is offered with the top-of-the-line 4.6-liter EcoBoost engine on the MKT.

Both vehicles also get a system called Lincoln Drive Control, which allows drivers to change the car's on-road personality by switching the gear lever to Drive or Sport modes.

The MKS and MKT also will come with the newly upgraded version of the MyLincoln Touch console control system. Many customers found the first generation of MyLincoln Touch to be balky, confusing and needlessly complex. Lincoln responded with an upgraded version of the system it says is simpler and more responsive.

Sources: Ford Motor Company, Automotive News