I have a love-hate relationship with the LT.
When it first debut, I loved it. I thought it was well done, but I always knew it was very cheap for Ford to do because it was simply a reskin.
Then I began to realize just how simple it really was. Its not that the LT isn't nice..because it is. But Ford did such a good job with the Lariat, there simply isn't enough difference between the two to justify the price. For the cost of the LT, I can buy a lariat that is just as nice.
Outside of the grill, there is no difference. One thing I give Ford Credit for is putting the DOHC 5.4 in the Blackwood. That was a pretty good engine. Granted, the new 3valve has the same HP rating...but the old DOHC puts out a lot more torque in the lower RPM range than the newer 3v. Take a look at these specs (from Edmunds.com):
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
HP - 300 @ 5000rpm
TQ - 355 @ 2750rpm
2006 Mark LT
HP - 300 @ 5000rpm
TQ - 365 @ 3750rpm
Both engines run on 87 octane. The 3V has 10 more lb/feet of torque. But the 4V peaks at 1000 RPM less! I would argue that the Blackwood should be better at towing a load than the LT is because of this. Why Ford decided to ditch the 4v for the 3v on the lincoln offerings doesnt make sense when you look at these numbers.
Also, the Denali and Caddy trucks require 91 octane fuel. Ford took the EXACT same powerplant in the F-150 and dropped it in the Lincoln. There is not one thing different between them. Why? Ford could have recalibrated the engines for higer fuel. That would bump the power numbers up, and wouldn't result in much of a difference in cost if anything. Even if the numbers were only 10-15 HP or so difference, it would help seperate the LT for the F-150 in power, same as the Blackwood was different than the F-150 in power.
I don't want to pay a massive premium for consmetic differences. If your going to do platform engineering...then do it right! Lincoln cousins to the Fords should have something that means pemium that just a grill and some different color leather!
Who ever is the product managers for the LT and the Navigator should be domoted to sanitation engineering!
