FordBuyer Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Ford Plans New Luxury Crossover By MATTHEW DOLAN August 14, 2008 5:56 p.m. Ford Motor Co. is expected to announce Friday that it will build a new, seven passenger luxury crossover, according to two people familiar with the company's plans. The three-row Lincoln MKT crossover is due to go into production next year. Inspired by the concept vehicle with a "bustle back" displayed at the Detroit auto show this year, it will share the same architecture as the new Ford Flex. But the MKT will feature a much sleeker design compared with the boxy Flex and its chief designer has dubbed it the "Learjet of the road." MKT mostly likely will be manufactured at the same plant where the Flex is built in Oakville, Ontario, but people familiar with the plans couldn't confirm the production schedule there. Among its competitors would be the Acura MDX, the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes R class, people familiar with the matter said. But the MKT is not designed to be a large production run. The company expects annual sales in the range of the mid-20,000 vehicles. Insiders at Ford contrasted the full-scale product development behind the MKT with the current Lincoln Mark LT luxury pick-up, which critics saw as a weak derivative and never took off with customers. Details about the MKT are scheduled to be announced at the Pebble Beach Concours classic car show running this weekend. Ford spokesman Mark Truby said Thursday that he would not comment on future announcements. Recognizing consumer demand for great fuel economy, the MKT will come only with a V-6 engine, and not the more powerful V-8. Eventually, Ford's new, more powerful Eco-Boost engine is also expected to be an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wescoent Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 A Learjet of the road... I am intrigued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Details about the MKT are scheduled to be announced at the Pebble Beach Concours classic car show running this weekend. Ford spokesman Mark Truby said Thursday that he would not comment on future announcements. Recognizing consumer demand for great fuel economy, the MKT will come only with a V-6 engine, and not the more powerful V-8. Eventually, Ford's new, more powerful Eco-Boost engine is also expected to be an option. Not to burst the bubble but this is VERY old news.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Details about the MKT are scheduled to be announced at the Pebble Beach Concours classic car show running this weekend. Ford spokesman Mark Truby said Thursday that he would not comment on future announcements. It might be old news, but this is a public announcement in front of a discerning crowd. You sure don't want an Aztek reaction. I hope there is a luxury 2-row option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P71_CrownVic Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 So, the Flex is not doing well...and now they are going to introduce yet another overpriced seven seat station wagon??? Makes perfect sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 So, the Flex is not doing well...and now they are going to introduce yet another overpriced seven seat station wagon??? Makes perfect sense to me. Not much of anything is doing well right now. July was the worst sales month in many years for the industry as a whole. I predict the Flex will do much better when the economy improves. Hopefully this will occur sooner rather than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P71_CrownVic Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Not much of anything is doing well right now. July was the worst sales month in many years for the industry as a whole. I predict the Flex will do much better when the economy improves. Hopefully this will occur sooner rather than later. Yeah...but Ford has a smaller inventory level of the Expedition, Explorer, F-150, and (ancient) Ranger than they do the Flex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snooter Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 (edited) Yeah...but Ford has a smaller inventory level of the Expedition, Explorer, F-150, and (ancient) Ranger than they do the Flex. i like the flex from a design standpoint....the purple one i looked at tonight (are the cpying yoda with that white fj40roof) however did not impress on gas mileage and the cloth interior looks cheap....the gas mileage is far better then the expy and may be that a good thing for a large family trading off the waste away expy ps...my local dodge dealer had no 08 rams on the lot while the ford guy had a few with quite a few edges sitting collecting dust...1 new mustang which was the warriors in pink edition..not for me but the chicks should dig those pink stripes..its really slow out here in the corn belt Edited August 15, 2008 by snooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P71_CrownVic Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 ps...my local dodge dealer had no 08 rams on the lot That is what 40-50% off will do. Anyone who doesn't buy a 2008 Ram has something wrong with them. 35K truck for 17K and a lifetime powertrain warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ds91776 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Uh, Sorry P71 CrownVic, but any comments of yours are undermined by your "Whoops" banner showing the Focus......It seems to me that both Foci are selling very well thank you very much and an even better world-wide focus developed from the all around the Ford Republic, including NA. The Flex is doing fine, and will do great once the economy improves....just you wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbmphil Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I've seen a mule up close and it looks NOTHING at all like the Flex. It looks like it's gonna be a pretty goddamn sleek vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danup Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 So, the Flex is not doing well...and now they are going to introduce yet another overpriced seven seat station wagon??? Makes perfect sense to me. Yeah, I don't know what they were thinking when they set this product's entire development cycle in motion last week. What a bunch of idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown25 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 So, the Flex is not doing well...and now they are going to introduce yet another overpriced seven seat station wagon??? Makes perfect sense to me. Based on what? One month's inventory, sales, production? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 A Learjet of the road... I am intrigued. Yes, complete with retractable wings and jet engines.... It might be old news, but this is a public announcement in front of a discerning crowd. You sure don't want an Aztek reaction. I hope there is a luxury 2-row option. I too hope there's a luxury 2-row option with recliners ala Maybachs, etc.... I've seen a mule up close and it looks NOTHING at all like the Flex. It looks like it's gonna be a pretty goddamn sleek vehicle. We saw spy shots a while back..... http://www.leftlanenews.com/lincoln-mkt.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 So, the Flex is not doing well...and now they are going to introduce yet another overpriced seven seat station wagon??? Makes perfect sense to me. You whine and complain about a very competent vehicle here and every other message board you post on. It is a very well executed product that hit the market when automobiles as a whole are selling horrendously. How is this vehicle overpriced? What have the production numbers of the Explorer and Expedition been as of late? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Ford Plans New Luxury CrossoverBy MATTHEW DOLAN August 14, 2008 5:56 p.m. ... its chief designer has dubbed it the "Learjet of the road." ... But will they fire him a few months after the vehicle is launched ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 (edited) But will they fire him a few months after the vehicle is launched ? IIRC, the Flex designer was not fired, he voluntarily left the company. Edited August 15, 2008 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 With all the options you can get on a Flex here is a few I hope they include on the MKT mini-bar w/ice maker and decanters coffee maker power recliners on all 6 seats in addition to heated/cooled seats, built in massage interior matching neck pillows (horseshoe shaped) for rear passengers If you are going to try and be futuristic, BE futuristic ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 With all the options you can get on a Flex here is a few I hope they include on the MKT mini-bar w/ice maker and decanters coffee maker power recliners on all 6 seats in addition to heated/cooled seats, built in massage interior matching neck pillows (horseshoe shaped) for rear passengers If you are going to try and be futuristic, BE futuristic ! Well, if talking about the "luxury" 2 row model, I like these....maybe it'll be a starbucks store in your car, rather than a coffee maker? Anyways, how about as you mentioned power 10-way seats for all positions, except the rear seats, as I said above would have 2 extra ways (recline up and down). Oh, and the heated/cooled and massaged seats should be on ALL four seats. I like your thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadamaster Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 (edited) That is what 40-50% off will do. Anyone who doesn't buy a 2008 Ram has something wrong with them. 35K truck for 17K and a lifetime powertrain warranty. +1 Best looking fullsizer on the road, of course not much out to compete with in the "looks" dept. these days.... Edited August 15, 2008 by Armada Master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 +1 Best looking fullsizer on the road, of course not much out to compete with in the "looks" dept. these days.... Well, since looks is all that matters in the full-size truck department. Dodge must really be setting the world on fire with the RAM if they have to take 40-50% off sticker to sell them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 i like the flex from a design standpoint....the purple one i looked at tonight (are the cpying yoda with that white fj40roof) however did not impress on gas mileage and the cloth interior looks cheap....the gas mileage is far better then the expy and may be that a good thing for a large family trading off the waste away expy ps...my local dodge dealer had no 08 rams on the lot while the ford guy had a few with quite a few edges sitting collecting dust...1 new mustang which was the warriors in pink edition..not for me but the chicks should dig those pink stripes..its really slow out here in the corn belt There is no "Purple" option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snooter Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 There is no "Purple" option [/qu grape then...damn car is purple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 (edited) So, the Flex is not doing well...and now they are going to introduce yet another overpriced seven seat station wagon??? Makes perfect sense to me. They will also have the new 7 seater C Max Stateside in 2011 to complete. http://dikarockz.blogspot.com/2008/07/hot-...x-7-seater.html Edited August 15, 2008 by Ford Jellymoulds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battyr Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 With all the options you can get on a Flex here is a few I hope they include on the MKT mini-bar w/ice maker and decanters coffee maker power recliners on all 6 seats in addition to heated/cooled seats, built in massage interior matching neck pillows (horseshoe shaped) for rear passengers If you are going to try and be futuristic, BE futuristic ! I think you need to follow the lead of Maybach or Rolls so that you put in luxury items, and not gimmicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.