Thursday, September 9, 2010

America's Saab 9-3 Competitor...MKZ!

MKZ Zephyr Coupe—How about making the entry-level Lincoln MKZ a full model range, with sedan, coupe and crossover wagon? Let it fully bracket the 3 series/A4/9-3 market segment. The hatchback coupe would bring utility and sportiness to the line. There would be base, Hybrid and Zephyr top-of-the-line models.

Changes to the MKZ sedan include pushing the front wheels forward about four inches and lowering the roof two inches. I changed the C pillar to more of a fastback, to give the hatchback more utility as well as giving it a distinct look from the sedan. I also moved the keypad from just above the door handles, to a vertical position on the B pillar. The taillights were "frosted" and would be all LEDs.

14 comments:

  1. Casey,

    this is amazing! I totally love it. I guess that production sense would make a pillarless hatchback unlikely although it sure would look even hotter. I'd love to see the Zephyr as a convertible too -- and not a folding hardtop -- maybe even a closed quarter convertible top to recall the original Continental! I love the big wheels, too. It gives the car real presence.

    BTW, today's Hemmings Daily Blog has a short piece about a 1934 Ford station wagon built on a Ford truck chassis and used by Roy Rogers (as Leonard Slye) to transport his pre-Sons of the Pioneers band around the southwest. I tried to send you a link but the Hemmings site did not cooperate.

    Paul, NYC

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  2. Paul,

    See if this works:

    http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2010/09/09/triggers-rival-ford-woody-has-a-unique-past/

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  3. Very cool! It's clearly truck-based. I wonder if that's what was 'on the lot' when he was looking, or if he had it built especially to haul around a band? the regular Woody might not have been rugged enough. Gotta love the use of Roy's real name too!

    thanks for the link!

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  4. Had Ford bought AMC 40 years ago, this would have been the 2011 Marlin.

    -RW
    Scottsdale, AZ

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  5. hopefully a coupe MKZ would sell better than the Marlin! I think Lincoln needs a Javelin too!

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  6. Saw this link at Autoblog.
    Ford will be meeting with Lincoln dealers.

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-09/ford-has-called-its-1-187-lincoln-dealers-to-headquarters.html

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  7. thanks, Marius. They're going to name me as chief designer during the meeting, lol.

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  8. CAsey,

    If only they would -- chief designer and marketer! If only they would listen to you, they would be far ahead of the game!

    Paul, NYC

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  9. i hope that Lincoln is modern enough to do web searches every once in a while. i hope they see how much interest there is for their brand, even if it is all right here, lol.

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  10. I'd love to see you as chief designer - it's exactly what they need - fresh blood. Well, newer blood anyway ;)

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  11. I've never seen True blood. Blood suckers?

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  12. yes. Modern Vampires... sort of like Dark Shadows but a million times better. You should watch a few episodes of Season 2 or 3!

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