Lincoln has unveiled the Lincoln MKC concept, which is a preview of Lincoln’s new small crossover and that is debuting this week at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.
Lincoln has unveiled the Lincoln MKC concept, which is a preview of Lincoln’s new small crossover and that is debuting this week at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The small luxury utility segment grew almost 60 percent in 2012 and more than 200 percent in the last four years, which is why it’s part of Lincoln’s future strategy.
“We are reinventing Lincoln by focusing on the largest and fastest-growing segments of the luxury market, while offering clients something different,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln. “The just-introduced MKZ re-establishes Lincoln in the largest luxury segment, and the MKC Concept highlights a key opportunity in the fastest-growing part of the luxury market.”
The MKC builds on the same design language that is used on the new MKZ. “The MKC Concept has a wonderful stance and sits beautifully on its wheels,” said Murat Gueler, MKC Concept lead exterior designer. “It has a sleek, sculpted body and wheel arches and elegant shoulders. The lines of the vehicle appear relatively simple on first look but with a second view reveal a dynamic three dimensionality.
“The Lincoln design team has done an outstanding job with the MKC Concept in communicating Lincoln’s design vision for reaching a new and discerning clientele.”
Inside the MKC gets a design that is similar to the MKZ. The MKC gets a cool push-button gear shift selector and leather wraps everything from the pillars and seats to the instrument panel and cargo area.
“There is a rich softness to the exterior and interior palette of the MKC Concept,” said Susan Lampinen, group chief designer, Color & Material Design. “The leather-wrapped architecture complements the open-pore and designer hand-dyed woods.”
The Lincoln MKC Concept signals a new Ford Escape based Lincoln crossover that provides some hope that Lincoln will finally turn things around. Although the production version will be toned down a bit, do you think the Lincoln MKC Concept has what it takes to attract buyers in one of the fastest growing segments?
