xgman

I wonder if they have started anyone's pre-order yet?

http://www.lincoln.com/cars/mkz/features/Feature11/

Yes, I have the feeling that it will be later than we hope, especially the Hybrid orders.

The tiny amount of visible glass in that rear mini side window piece was kind of weird. Outlined in blackout.

The one I drove operated the same (wipers) as the current model. Tapping the turn signal stalk though blinked several times after letting go as opposed to the once in the current model.

Well there are lots more steering wheel controls and customizations. More pics from the test drive crew in red:

Hope you are right. The demo rep indicated it would be many weeks later and the opposite priority you mentioned which is what concerned me.

pics from today's test drive.

First impressions of my test drive. The car was a per-production silver hybrid premium package model with the normal moon roof. The 2 main things I noticed as dramatically different than my 2011 Hybrid MXZ were the seats and the steering. Both are in another league compared with the current model. The seats and cockpit feel more like a sports car than a sedan, but the seats are not hard like so many German cars tend to be. They are in fact very soft and comforting, yet supportive in all the right places. One of the best seats I have ever driven in. The car definitely wraps you in the cockpit. The Gear buttons were closer than I had imagined and easy to use. I fou7nd that starting and parking had me reaching for a non existent gear shift knob. Most of the controls are now touch. The hybrid 10" display is all new although there are so many display options as to be a bit overwhelming. The controls for radio vol, temperature etc have been moved to a touch bar in the console. Cool, but I actually prefer a round knob. The trunk space is quite different. Good and bad. The good is that even the hybrid now has a fold down seat option. The bad is the trunk is nowhere as deep as the current model, although it is longer with the upper shelf. The auto trunk open close works much better now. The driver door has a touch sensor to open the locks and the hidden combo is on the black pillar like on the MKT. The new touch nav system will take some getting used to but looks very capable. The high end radio sounded ok, but not blown away. The hybrid engine seemed to me to growl a bit more than I am used to with my current Hybrid, which also sounded like it was going into gas mode more than I would have liked. The car that had come across the country for these demos had only mid/high 30's gas mileage, mostly due to likely aggressive test drives and maybe some to pre-production status. I only tried the "normal" ride setting, nut it was delightful to drive. Handling was superb and effortless. I found it very hard to give up the wheel and get back in to my 2011 MKZ Hybrid. felt like a truck in comparison. The demo person told me that he had heard that the dealers will get some production run first (Late Dec) and then after the pre-orders would start to build. I am not at all happy with that since that puts current pre-orders well after New Years. I mean what is the purpose of pre-ordering then. You could just buy one off the dealer lot? I'd rather they kept the Wiskey gift and delivered my car or give me a rebate or something. Anyway, the car looks great live although I did notice some very ill fitting trunk seams on the pre-production unit. Hopefully they will improve the quality control on launch. Driving the car gives you a very clear view of the road out the front which gives you more of angular towards the front impression than the current squarish one. Rear visibility seems a bit improved as well. The car seems from the outside to be wider especially from the rear and a bit taller than the current model. One thing I did not like at all was the black rounded trunk lid where the cell phone antenna sat on. It looked out of place and plasticy. I didn't seem like it belonged at all. I've seen it on some pictures and not on others. I can't understand what they were going for there.I have to say I almost hate that thing and hope they reconsider it at the last minute. Also, side mirrors are noticeably smaller than the current model. But overall way more positive than negative. I'll try to upload some pictures a bit later.

Every post on that link is filled with hate for the new design and Lincoln in general it seems. I seriously don't know what is wrong with some people.

Just got an invite to drive a hybrid version on Oct 16th. (DC area)

Are the hybrids and non-hybrids going to start building at the same time?

Why is everyone baffled by the antenna on the retractible roof model? Obviously if the opne roof blocks the raido antenna in the rear glass, then they need to relocate the antenna.