Lincoln: MKZ/Zephyr News
#1
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Lincoln: MKZ/Zephyr News
2004 New York: Zephyr will be entry-level Lincoln - - - By AMY WILSON | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
Lincoln will add the Zephyr, an entry-level luxury sedan, to its lineup in late 2005.
The front-drive Lincoln, with a probable price of $30,000, will be the smallest and least expensive option in the Lincoln showroom. Executives say Lincoln will continue to sell the larger rear-drive LS, whose base price is $32,755, including the destination charge.
With the Zephyr, Lincoln marketers aim to capture younger buyers, especially those who haven't considered Lincoln in the past. Owners of vehicles such as the Acura TL, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35 and Lexus ES330 are target buyers.
"Success is new customers," Lincoln Mercury President Darryl Hazel said. "We have cars we can sell to the traditional customer."
Lincoln is revealing a concept version of the Zephyr on Thursday, April 8, at the New York auto show. The exterior styling of the concept vehicle is very close to the look of next year's production car, executives say.
The Zephyr will be introduced with a 3.0-liter V6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive will be available at some point after the vehicle launch. A 3.5-liter V6 engine now under development at Ford also is likely to be added after the launch.
Derived from Mazda6 underpinnings, the Zephyr is one of a trio of mid-sized sedans that Ford Motor Co. will introduce for the 2006 model year. Ford plans to produce up to 300,000 of the Ford, Mercury and Lincoln sedans annually at its plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. Officials wouldn't reveal volume targets for the Zephyr alone.
The Zephyr and its Ford and Mercury siblings are the first of up to 10 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles being developed from the Mazda6. Ford stretched the Mazda6 platform to create a roomier interior for the new sedans.
In addition to the sedans, Ford also will use the new platform, dubbed CD3, for a Ford sport wagon, the next-generation Lincoln Aviator sport wagon and for the company's next-generation minivans. About 800,000 annual units of volume are eventually planned for the CD3 platform. Ford is investing $1 billion in the CD3 program, far less than the traditional cost of bringing 10 new vehicles to market.
The Zephyr brings back a historic Lincoln nameplate. The original 1936 Zephyr was the least costly Lincoln of its time.
The company promises no naming gaffe with this sedan, a spokesman said; Ford Motor has secured the rights to use the Zephyr name.
The Zephyr's sister Ford sedan remains nameless after Ford was denied the use of the Futura name in a trademark dispute with the Pep Boys auto parts chain. Ford had announced a year ago that it would call the Ford sedan the Futura.
#4
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Well, this is nice. I also like the front; especially the use of Lincoln's new grill. Much like Caddy's transformation starting with the CTS, love it or hate it, you'll know it's a Lincoln. Very interesting the went with FWD. The rear is simple and clean almost to the point of being overly so, IMO. I need to see it in person. I think the interior's real nice. The leather/wood combo is nice. I like the way it shares dash and center stack design themes with the trucks. My big question is, why continue to sell the LS in this segment. It doesn't make sense... does Ford think it can pull an IS/ES number like Lexus has done with a RWD/RWD combo in the same segment? I don't think so. It's already about the size of a 5-Series with RWD. Why not let grow it a bit, rework it, upgrade the materials, dig up a historic Lincoln name, and offer it as a serious rival in that segment? The LS/JS-Type chassis is very competent. The next gen should be a step up for Lincoln to play with the big boys... maybe Ford just doesn't want the chassis to share two cars in the same arena.
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#9
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Originally posted by bl^5
I think the name is wrong for the car though. When I think zephyr I think of a big boat.
I think the name is wrong for the car though. When I think zephyr I think of a big boat.
#12
Still trolling
Shitty...shitty...shitty choice of name. Here is why:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...mercury+zephyr
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...mercury+zephyr
#15
Fahrvergnügen'd
Originally posted by suXor
Shitty...shitty...shitty choice of name. Here is why:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...mercury+zephyr
Shitty...shitty...shitty choice of name. Here is why:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...mercury+zephyr
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Originally posted by ItalianStallion
did someone edit my post cause i coulda sworn i said that it DOESNT look entry level.
did someone edit my post cause i coulda sworn i said that it DOESNT look entry level.
#26
Looks very nice inside and out, though the interior has a weird 80s look to it.
That is so freaking stupid, they want to attract younger buyers and bring back the name from a car made when we were not even a fetus. So damn stupid.
So Lincoln is going back to names? I thought Lincoln LS was a stupid name. Good. We need more names.
This is actually a TL/I35/X-type competitor. Built of a cheaper FWD car.
Funny, how everyone screams AWD this and that and the X-type has it standard and it's been DEAD LAST in every comparo known to man.
The Zephyr brings back a historic Lincoln nameplate. The original 1936 Zephyr was the least costly Lincoln of its time
So Lincoln is going back to names? I thought Lincoln LS was a stupid name. Good. We need more names.
This is actually a TL/I35/X-type competitor. Built of a cheaper FWD car.
Funny, how everyone screams AWD this and that and the X-type has it standard and it's been DEAD LAST in every comparo known to man.
#28
Lincoln Zephyr
What do you guys think? It's a Mazda6 underneath, 6-speed automatic, 6-cylinder engine. Probably targeting the TSX/TL. It looks odd in some angles, but it works for me.
#30
Fahrvergnügen'd
Originally posted by 1SICKLEX
That is so freaking stupid, they want to attract younger buyers and bring back the name from a car made when we were not even a fetus. So damn stupid.
That is so freaking stupid, they want to attract younger buyers and bring back the name from a car made when we were not even a fetus. So damn stupid.
Who cares when the name was first used?
I don't care if it's called the Lincoln Oven Mitt if it's a good car.
#31
Shogun Assassin
Originally posted by 1SICKLEX
Funny, how everyone screams AWD this and that and the X-type has it standard and it's been DEAD LAST in every comparo known to man.
Funny, how everyone screams AWD this and that and the X-type has it standard and it's been DEAD LAST in every comparo known to man.
The exterior is pretty nice but the interior is strange-looking. It's like a mix of "ultra-modern" and 80's styling.
#36
More pics
I'm not too crazy about the center stack...it looks like a robot's head, the vents are the eyes and the nav screen is the mouth.
#37
Drifting
Re: More pics
Originally posted by phile
I'm not too crazy about the center stack...it looks like a robot's head, the vents are the eyes and the nav screen is the mouth.
I'm not too crazy about the center stack...it looks like a robot's head, the vents are the eyes and the nav screen is the mouth.
#39
Drifting
Re: Re: Re: More pics
Originally posted by Agent_Chen
come to think about it look at the center console lol.
come to think about it look at the center console lol.