The new 2011 Lincoln MKX has been unveiled bringing with it a refreshed exterior and interior design and a new engine. The 2011 Lincoln MKX will be available with a 3.7-liter Duratec V6 engine with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT), aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff and Smart Charging. With this engine, the 2011 Lincoln MKX develops 305 hp and 280 ft.-lb. of torque with a fuel consumption of 25 mpg. The V6 engine of the 2011 Lincoln MKX is coupled with a six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission.
The equipment list of the 2011 Lincoln MKX includes MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology and Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert.
The 2011 Lincoln MKX price and availability will be announced at a later date.
Lincoln Press Release:
In addition to the launch of MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology, the 2011 Lincoln MKX adds a suite of other convenience features and technologies, several of which are not available anywhere else in the midsize luxury crossover segment.
“The 2011 Lincoln MKX is the perfect vehicle to launch MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology simply because the original version of this luxury midsize crossover already is brimming with consumer-focused features,” said Jason Mase, crossover marketing manager. “The new model offers more of the conveniences and features our customers expect and demand, including ones our competitors can’t match at any price.”
Industry-first MyLincoln Touch comes standard on every 2011 Lincoln MKX. This intuitive solution addresses the infotainment evolution, taking vehicle interior design into the realm of popular
personal electronics devices such as laptop computers, mobile phones and MP3 players.
MyLincoln Touch includes two 4.2-inch configurable LCD screens in the instrument cluster as well as an 8-inch LCD touch screen in the center stack, five-way controls on the steering wheel – plus a new Media Hub with two USB 2.0 ports, video input jacks and an SD card reader.
MyLincoln perfectly complements Lincoln SYNC®, the award-winning voice-activated communications and
entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft that fully integrates Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones and digital media players into the vehicle. The latest generation is SYNC with Traffic, Directions & Information, which provides simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise turn-by-turn driving directions and up-to-date information including business listings, news, sports and weather.
Like the song? You can tag it
Also new on the 2011 Lincoln MKX is the world’s first implementation of iTunes Tagging in a factory-installed HD Radio receiver. With a simple push of the “TAG” button on the radio display, the song information will be stored in the radio’s memory.
Once a song is tagged, customers will dock their iPod to the SYNC system and the “tagged” song information will transfer to that iPod. Up to 100 tags on SYNC can be stored until the iPod is connected. When the iPod is then synced to iTunes, a playlist of tagged songs will appear. Customers then can preview, purchase and download tagged songs from the iTunes Store.
One significant benefit of HD Radio technology is that the sound quality of the broadcast is dramatically better because of the digital transmission – FM sounds like a CD and AM sounds like today’s FM broadcasts. And unlike analog broadcasts, digital broadcasts aren’t susceptible to interference, fadeout and other issues.
Content not found in any other competitors
New to the Lincoln MKX lineup as standard equipment is the popular MyKey programmable vehicle key. MyKey allows parents or other concerned owners to restrict certain features when in the hands of a MyKey driver. MyKey encourages safety belt usage, provides earlier low fuel warnings, engages applicable driver aid systems and sounds chimes at preset speeds while limiting audio system volume and top vehicle speed.
Other new standard content on every 2011 Lincoln MKX are remote start, Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel-Filler and Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, which unlocks the door automatically when the driver (with key) approaches, allowing for push-button start.
Also new for the 2011 model year is the six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, which provides customers the option of a fun-to-shift manual experience.
In SelectShift mode, the transmission doesn’t second-guess the driver, giving him or her total control over gear selection and performance feel. Upshifts, for instance, are not commanded at redline, and downshifts are allowed at the lowest gear possible as defined by the engine speed.
For instance, when a lower gear is selected while descending a long downhill grade, the Lincoln MKX in SelectShift mode will hold that gear until the driver manually upshifts or returns to the fully automatic setting. To ensure safe shifting, the transmission will downshift to the lowest acceptable gear, based on a calculated maximum speed. That means if a vehicle were traveling at highway speeds, the driver could not downshift to first gear in SelectShift mode.
The innovative Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support leads the long list of available technologies for the 2011 Lincoln MKX. Adaptive Cruise Control allows the driver to set the vehicle’s speed and maintain it without using the accelerator pedal and warns the driver of a collision risk.
Collision Warning with Brake Support uses radar to detect moving vehicles ahead and warns the driver of danger with an alarm and warning light. The system also automatically pre-charges brakes and engages an electronic brake assist system to help drivers stop more quickly.
Other available features and technologies on the 2011 Lincoln MKX include:
•Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert helps detect vehicles in blind spots during normal driving as well as traffic approaching from the sides when reversing out of parking spots.
•Available entertainment-related technology includes THX®-II Certified Car Audio System. THX-II Certified Car Audio System produces sound quality comparable to a THX Certified Home Theater, delivering digital sound to the system’s 14 strategically placed speakers.
•Available Gen II ambient lighting allows drivers to choose among seven colors with five intensity settings for interior accent lighting.
The lighting highlights the interior details but also creates a sense of equilibrium and comfort at night by softly illuminating and defining the complete interior environment. Cupholders, front door map pockets, door release handle pockets, the media bin, console bin and footwells can be highlighted with ambient lighting, adjustable in intensity to reflect – or soothe – any mood or moment.
•Other available convenience features include rear camera; adaptive HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps, which rotate according to speed and steering inputs to allow greater visibility around turns; rain-sensing wipers, which detect moisture on the windshield and activate automatically; a new power tilt-and-telescope steering column, which sets the location of the steering wheel based on memory selection and telescopes to aid ingress/egress when the door is actuated; and a new heated steering wheel.
“The 2011 Lincoln MKX is a technology showcase with convenience and entertainment features and technologies our customers want and our competitors can’t match,” Mase said.
The 2011 Lincoln MKX, with industry-first MyLincoln Touch™ driver connect technology, is a high-tech showcase. That is true of the luxury crossover’s powertrain as well.
Its new 3.7-liter Duratec V-6 employs advanced technology and clever control strategies to increase horsepower and torque to best-in-class levels while achieving unsurpassed fuel economy.
“Fuel economy continues to be at the top of customers’ minds,” said Greg Johnson, Lincoln powertrain manager. “But customers refuse to compromise on power. With the 2011 Lincoln MKX, they won’t have to. We’re delivering increased power and torque with unsurpassed fuel economy.”
2011 Lincoln MKX customers will enjoy a luxury crossover that delivers best-in-class power and torque versus all V-6 competitors with unsurpassed highway fuel economy of 25 mpg – all on regular fuel. Horsepower has been increased to 305 – a 15 percent increase compared with the outgoing product – while torque is up to 280 ft.-lb., marking a 12 percent improvement.
The 3.7-liter V-6 is mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, which gives customers the option of a fun-to-shift manual experience.
In SelectShift mode, the transmission doesn’t second-guess the driver, offering total control over gear selection and performance feel. Upshifts, for instance, are not commanded at redline, and downshifts are allowed at the lowest gear possible as defined by the engine speed.
“When the system is in manual mode, engine speed matching provides faster and smoother downshifts, and the customer gets the gear they request within the limits of the rev limiter,” said Johnson.
When a lower gear is selected while descending a long downhill grade, the 2011 Lincoln MKX in SelectShift mode will hold that gear until the driver manually upshifts or returns to the fully automatic setting. To ensure safe shifting, the transmission will downshift to the lowest acceptable gear, based on a calculated maximum speed. That means if a vehicle were traveling at highway speeds, the driver could not downshift to first gear in SelectShift mode.
Improvements to engine hardware as well as the powertrain control strategies account for the gains in power and fuel economy. Here’s a closer look at how the 2011 Lincoln MKX delivers increased power without compromising fuel economy:
Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT)
What it is: Ti-VCT technology creates precise, variable timing control of both the intake and exhaust camshafts, which control the valve opening and closing events. Each of the four camshafts is controlled independently. Ti-VCT uses the intake camshaft phasing to advance the intake valve opening and the exhaust camshaft phasing to retard the exhaust valve closing. Ford’s unique strategy involves using a mild Atkinson cycle during part-throttle operation for fuel economy improvement.
The Atkinson cycle: The Atkinson cycle is similar to the familiar four-stroke cycle – intake, compression, combustion and exhaust – except the intake valve closes well after the piston begins moving upward to compress the air-fuel mixture.
There are two key benefits of the Atkinson cycle. First, it reduces the “pumping losses” associated with all gasoline engines. Additionally, because a fraction of the air-fuel mixture is released from the cylinder back into the induction system without being burned, the effective displacement of the engine is reduced. The power stroke, or the distance that burning fuel pushes on the piston, is longer than the effective intake stroke. This helps extract more energy from each drop of fuel. The Atkinson cycle is employed in Ford’s hybrid lineup, contributing to the unsurpassed fuel economy of both the Fusion and Escape Hybrids.
How it helps: The ability to vary the overlap between the intake and exhaust valves helps eliminate compromises in the two processes. The result is greater efficiency, which leads to better fuel economy – approximately 3 to 4 percent improvement from this strategy alone compared to non-VCT engines. Another benefit of Ti-VCT technology is a broadened torque curve. Because the Ti-VCT strategy allows the intake valve to be advanced, instant power is delivered when the customer demands it. Approximately a 10 percent power improvement is enabled by this strategy compared with non-VCT engines.
Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off; torque-based deceleration control
What it is: A control strategy that shuts off the engine when the customer doesn’t command engine torque, which helps save fuel. A typical maneuver when this comes into play is during deceleration at freeway speeds when in fifth or sixth gear. The fuel flow seamlessly resumes when the vehicle reaches a low speed or when the driver accelerates again. All other powertrain, braking and electrical systems continue to function normally while the fuel delivery is stopped.
How it helps: The system uses the torque delivered to the transmission to keep the engine running at a low, more efficient point whenever possible, using the momentum generated rather than more fuel to keep the vehicle moving.
Battery management: “Smart Charging”
What it is: A system that allows the battery to be charged or discharged at optimal opportunities instead of allowing the alternator to continuously charge the battery independent of customer use, which wastes energy.
Smart Charging increases the alternator output when the vehicle brakes or decelerates, converting the vehicle’s kinetic (motion) energy into electric energy without having to use additional fuel.
How it helps: The “free” electric current is used to recharge the battery so that it can be used by the electrical systems later. This could be when the engine is switched off during a stop or when the generator is operating in a less efficient mode. The battery’s advanced management system continually monitors its status and communicates with Ford’s Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off system so the regenerative charging feature can charge the battery in the optimal way. The decel system knows how much battery charge is available so that it can leave the engine running if the battery does not have a sufficient level of charge.
Longer battery life, reliable starts: Smart Charging improves the life of the battery because it keeps the battery at a more consistent level of charge, which in turn aids in reliable starting. The one-touch starting in the 2011 Lincoln MKX enables starts of around seven-tenths of a second with precise fuel delivery for maximum fuel economy and minimal emissions.
Engine hardware improvements
What was added or changed: Piston-cooling jets, polished valvetrain buckets, improved intake manifold and cylinder head port flow.
How they help: The piston-cooling jets spray oil on the underside of the pistons and enable faster oil warm-up and a higher compression ratio; the polished valvetrain buckets reduce friction, which in turn aids fuel economy and also improves durability (wear) of the cam and bucket tappet; the improved intake manifold and cylinder head optimizes engine “breathing,” contributing to overall system efficiency.
“The key to the performance gains and fuel economy with the 2011 Lincoln MKX is that we don’t look at power and fuel economy as being mutually exclusive,” said Mazen Hammoud, Lincoln powertrain calibrations manager. “Instead, we focus on optimizing every component, every system and every control in the powertrain for greater efficiency overall, which enables increased power, better performance and response and helps to maintain the fuel economy found in smaller-displacement engines.”
The addition of the new MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology to the 2011 Lincoln MKX provided a tremendous opportunity for the vehicle’s design team to redefine its premium interior.
Standard on the popular luxury crossover, this class-exclusive system allows users seamless and easy access to media or vehicle information at the tip of their fingers through the full-color 8-inch touch screen, five-way switches on the steering wheel or voice commands.
“MyLincoln Touch represents technology that ushers in a new era of how people interact with media and information in their vehicles,” said Jim Smithbauer, interior design manager. “The 2011 Lincoln MKX interior had to reflect this tremendous leap forward. For us, that meant an even greater emphasis on what defines Lincoln DNA: luxury, craftsmanship, genuine materials and sharper execution.”
The MyLincoln Touch displays in both the center stack and in the instrument cluster receive an innovative treatment befitting this luxury leader. In the center stack, the full-color 8-inch touch-screen LCD (liquid crystal display) provides interface to multimedia and climate control systems through full touch-sense switches on the finish panel. Unique to Lincoln is a touch-sensitive slider feature with LED chaser lights to adjust fan speed and volume. At night, signature Lincoln White illuminating indicators enhance each touchpoint.
A new wrapped and stitched instrument panel and flowing center stack highlight the interior of the 2011 Lincoln MKX.
The new wrapped and stitched instrument panel conveys Lincoln style. The stitching carries through on the center console rails, integrating seamlessly with a dramatic flowing center stack, further echoing the signature Lincoln split bow on the front grille. Lincoln style is reinforced in the dark, bronze-like finish highlighted by a chrome frame, giving the appearance that the center screen is floating.
The two full-color 4.2-inch LCD screens in the instrument cluster are surrounded by chrome trim to reflect Lincoln style. The left LCD includes traditional vehicle information such as trip odometers, average fuel economy and vehicle settings. The right LCD allows customers to interface with multimedia technology. Each screen is accessed through respective five-way switches on the steering wheel.
The new Media Hub allows customers to integrate standard Lincoln SYNC®, the award-winning, fully integrated, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system for mobile phones and digital music players. The Media Hub seamlessly connects the center stack and the independent console bins; its push-push lid allows personal electronics devices to remain hidden and includes two USB 2.0 ports, video input jacks and an SD card reader.
Improved craftsmanship and materials throughout the interior
Subtle details that bring out Lincoln standards of quality and excellence include brightwork on the vents, genuine stitching on the doors and softer armrests with upgraded materials. The cupholders, with available ambient lighting, are found beneath the independent sliding leather-covered console lids, which feature decorative stitching. A power tilt/telescoping steering column and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel are available.
All-new leather-trimmed seats, comfort sections and standard tuxedo stripe embrace the new Lincoln DNA sew style. The new Limited Edition Package extends style further with premium leather-trimmed seats in Bronze Metallic with tuxedo stripe and Charcoal Black piping, unique aluminum appliqués and premium floor mats with the distinctive MKX logo. Charcoal Black and Stone are the environments.
More genuine aluminum appliqués are standard, with aluminum accents on the door added to the spears on the instrument panel. Customers also can opt for shantung aluminum. Shantung is a type of silk, sometimes used in sports coats for a rugged yet refined look.
The available wood accents on the steering wheel, dashboard and doors add character and form and are available in Olive Ash or Walnut Swirl; each selection has a livelier, natural appearance, adding even more character to the interior. With either choice, the spears on the dashboard and upper doors contribute to harmonious lines, reinforcing the flowing, vibrant design.
“The upgraded materials plus the refined execution just by themselves raise the bar for the 2011 Lincoln MKX,” Smithbauer said. “Adding MyLincoln Touch completes the package.
