So for any of you kiddies looking for a Black Friday steal and deal, snap up the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII Prototype Concept Car with doors that disappear under the car. Be wary however, as this concept car seems to head back to eBay every six months or so. Probably because nobody can figure out how to get that pesky driver's side door to work right. Get it now while you still can because the auction on this one-of-a-kind rarity of a minor internet meme ends at 10:00 PM EST Sunday night. Look at it this way, it's like owning Rick Astley at the start of his second career as a rick-roller. [via eBay]

As the sales leader of the CD3 triplets, the 2010 Ford Fusion is the most important of the trio and does its best to pave the way for the new European-derived models that Ford plans to have appear shortly (pending any Carpocalypse-related financial troubles) and the new 2010 Ford Taurus we expect to see hit the show floor at the Detroit Auto Show. For starters, the most noticeable changes to the 2010 Fusion happen in the front fascia. Ford designers seem to have tried to split the difference between the “Hi, I’m Dave” bold American design and the more sophisticated Euro Ford styling. They may have failed. Instead, the three bar grille retains the signature best-a-man-can-get look, but does so in a much larger “Hey, look at me, I’m Dave’s garish cousin from fake America” fashion. Gone are the simplistic geometric forms, replaced by a swoopy, upswept chrome three bar treatment with a bevel running through the bottom, leading up and over the headlights. The headlights have lost both the squircles and the vertical design from the previous model, replaced by an aggressive horizontal set encompassing a pair of projector lamps.

The hood has now been completely reshaped, taking some of its design from the 2007 Ford Interceptor concept, featuring a simulated high-rise power dome. If there’s one design element we truly like, it’s the leading edge of the hood, helping the overall front design in its message of strength and sophistication; without it, this design would look contrived and weak.

The lower fascia is now comprised of a large central opening flanked by chrome detailing wrapping around the outer edge, giving visual continuity with the upcoming Fiesta small car. The outer surround features an aggressive trapezoidal form diving into the lower fascia opening while housing two small projector fog lamps. The chrome detailing here represents Ford’s attempt at heightening the perceived quality of its new mid-size contender. We’re not sure why Ford decided to move the side marker lamps lower in the fascia - their placement seems a little haphazard and we would have preferred that they follow the same design as the 2010 Mercury Milan by sitting on the front wheel arch. But whatever, it’s an improvement over the Bland Moves of the original Fusion.

The rear end of the 2010 Fusion has the same overall feel of the outgoing 2006-2009 model, but the devil’s in the details. The use of existing rear quarter panels dictated the use of a similar shape for the taillights, but the detailing is all new. The dip to the lower lamp surface mimics the dip in the trunk surface and helps lift the rear visually. The taillights have lost the visual depth from the previous model (and the squircles!), but have gained an attractive honeycomb pattern that will help make up the difference.

The trunk surface gains a horizontal bevel that dips to mimic the taillights and borders the new, narrower license plate pocket. Another horizontal line runs through the top surface of the plate pocket and leads into the taillight to provide a resting place for the newly-chromed badge surround with integrated CHMSL.

Ford interior designers for some reason decided the Fusion’s interior wasn’t in need of a full refresh though the changes made were for the better. By moving the belt line of the IP up, the 2010 Fusion now appears less cramped and more inviting though we’re not sure how we feel about the painted accents in the Sport model which remind us more of boy-racers than urban sophisticates. The horizontal break line splitting the top of the center stack reminds us of the horizontal lines of the front and rear, a nice tie-in to the exterior. The center stack now houses new HVAC controls and Ford’s awesome SYNC 2.0 multimedia system. The steering wheel is a carryover piece but now features some aluminum bright work to help lessen the visual weight of the overwhelming black plastic.

Easily the coolest part of the 2010 Fusion interior is found in the Hybrid model. The greener-than-gas-alone model features two high resolution LCD displays on either side of the speedometer that give valuable information such as battery power levels, average and instant mpg. Ford really hit a home-run with this display and weíre excited to see future applications of this system.

The 2010 Milan takes a subtle approach to its front end sheet metal changes. The waterfall grille is now wider and takes on a trapezoidal form with a large chrome strip on its top edge. An upward facing bevel runs around the lower edge and rises to meet the hood, running rearward to the outer edge of the windshield. The headlights lose their horizontal form from the previous model and now feature an attractive vertical layout flowing downward from the hood. The peak of the front fender runs down to the edge of the lower fascia and wraps rearward to create a small light catcher just before the front wheel arch. The front reflector has moved from the fascia cutline of the previous car to the flat edge of the wheel arch, following in line with the revised vertical headlight design. The lower opening of the fascia is now lower and wider and has two projector fog lamps neatly tucked within.
Rear

Differences between the rear design of the outgoing model and the new 2010 Milan are again, very subtle. The use of the existing rear quarter panel once again dictates the outer edge of the tail lights and it seems as if Fordís designers gave up changing the overall form. The carry over trunk surface features a horizontal crease that runs into the tail light housing and forms the break-up of brake and reverse lamp details which now feature vertical elements that follow the trunk cutline and talk to the vertical elements of the front fascia design. The rear fascia has subtle differences that help modernize the car and visually tighten up and shorten the rear view.
Interior

The 2010 Milan shares it’s interior with the 2010 Fusion and thankfully loses some of the outgoing cars cheap looking metallic surfaces. As with the 2010 Fusion Hybrid, the Milan Hybrid gains the visually stimulating SmartGauge with EcoGuide; a sharp twin LCD unit displaying information to the driver about fuel economy and other vehicle functions.

The 06-09 MKZ had to defend its spot in the Lincoln lineup when the handsomely designed MKS made its debut this year. The 2010 MKZ can rest easy knowing while still not as attractive, it received a worthy upgrade to its front sheet metal, highlighted by a stunning double-grille/headlight setup. When the 2007 MKR concept made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, many heralded it a design renaissance for the Lincoln brand and the 2010 MKZ represents this philosophy well. The modern double-wing grille was first seen on the MKR concept and is also featured on the ‘09 MKS. Its historical inspiration is the 1938 Lincoln Zephyr.

This split grille is designed to resemble the bow of a boat cutting through the water while the new, larger Lincoln star sits proudly dead center. The grille features jewel-like chrome elements on the vertical blades and a finely detailed chrome strip runs around the full shape of grille and headlights. The headlights themselves carry most of the MKR concepts form until the unfortunate outer edge where they meet the carryover front fenders, resulting in a limp execution to an otherwise precise form.

The front fender peak runs downward through the headlights and wraps underneath the grille to meet the centerline peak. The lower fascia features a wide opening flanked by two fog lamp openings on either side. The design tries to communicate a similarity to the MKR concept through a chrome detail that runs along the lower edge of the fascia and the surrounding for the fog lamp bezels but fails to execute in the same delicate fashion.
Rear

The 2010 MKZ carries on with horizontal LED tail lights that are now much wider, prominent and better detailed, almost touching in the center of the trunk surface. The top edge of the bumper surface wraps upward toward the front of the car and ties in with the rear forward swept surface of the MKR concept while the lower edge features two blackout sections for the dual exhaust and reflectors. Overall the rear design appears taller, wider and more elegant than the 06-09 MKZ.

The 2010 MKZ interior has been significantly upgraded over its Fusion and Milan siblings. A strip of either Swirl Walnut or Olive Ash wood runs horizontally across the center of the instrument panel and finishes on the newly designed door panels. The IP surface now features a horizontal layout as opposed to the vertical dual cockpit design of the outgoing model. The HVAC and radio controls run vertically, sitting below the wood trim line and a new larger NAV system with SYNC sits above. Square vents sit to the side of the NAV screen and the whole lot is surrounded by an aluminum trim piece that also runs parallel down the center stack and onto the center console. Twin beveled pads sit on top of the IP and help retain the feel of the front and rear exterior design by centering the THX center speaker. The steering wheel is mostly a carry-over unit but now features its wood trim between the 10 and 2 positions rather than being encompassed by the spokes. The door pads now feature a wrap up 360 degree door pull featuring a chrome strip that runs upward and towards the rear, above the wood trim. The leather used on the seats and the clamshell armrest is the same leather that was originally used on the Lincoln Continental Mark II and now features tuxedo stitching.

Dissection Conclusion

Ford has pulled off three successfully redesigned mid-size sedans for 2010, each carrying their own flavor and flair above and beyond the cars they replace. Each car has a decidedly European look and feel and we give kudos to Ford for showing it can still compete against the best the world throws at it. At least in design refreshes anyway. Call us when any and all of them get an Eco Boost engine under the hood.

It's funny, we're pretty excited about the new Fusion, but these two cars offer much the same package and yet we're apt to give them both a "meh" (look it up in the Collins English Dictionary, it's a real word now). Where the Fusion provides a perfect example of an American car done right, the Milan and the MKZ are perfect examples of one luxury car that could be great but is split in two to satisfy the dealers.

2010 Lincoln MKZ builds on success with new interior, more features, more quiet experience

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19, 2008 – Customers who have come to equate Lincoln with elegant, modern design, unparalleled comfort, unrivaled features and top quality have still more reason to favor the brand: the new 2010 Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan.

“The new MKZ improves on the success of the current vehicle with Lincoln’s new signature look, appointments that amplify and expand the Lincoln portfolio and a faster, more refined powertrain,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas.
New for 2010, the MKZ features a new sport version with special sport suspension tuning with stiffer springs and larger stabilizer bars, 18-inch Euroflange polished wheels, unique grille, darkened headlamps, a decklid MKZ badge with a red “Z” and an interior with contrasting piping and unique appliqués.

The new Lincoln MKZ also offers segment-exclusive features, including first-in-class Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA), which makes navigating traffic and parking lots safer and easier.

BLIS tracks vehicles in the blind-spot zones on either side of the vehicle using two multiple-beam radar modules behind the rear fenders. Indicator lights in the outside rear-view mirror on both sides of the vehicle warn the driver when a vehicle enters the defined blind-spot zone, extending from the side mirror to 10 feet behind the vehicle and 10 feet away from the vehicle.

CTA uses the BLIS radar sensors to alert the driver of approaching traffic while in reverse and backing out of a parking spot. The CTA tracks up to 65 feet on either side of the vehicle and warns the driver through both audible and visual alerts.

In addition to this new technology for mid-size sedans, MKZ offers SYNC, Next-Generation Voice-Activated Navigation, keyless entry, Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filler, THX-branded audio­ and adaptive headlamps.

The new MKZ also features Lincoln signature design elements, including the split-wing grille and thinner wraparound head lamps for a wider, sportier look. Its chamfered front fascia mirrors the MKS, with a sculpted hood and ridges flowing into the A-pillar. In the rear, which features a new decklid, LED taillamps accentuate the width of the car, separated by the Lincoln star.

The Lincoln MKZ’s presence is enhanced by 17-inch aluminum wheels, available 17-inch chrome wheels, and available 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, which are included in the Sport Appearance Package with sport-tuned suspension.
Inside, MKZ’s cabin reflects and even more upscale look, featuring more chrome, genuine aluminum and wood depending on the trim package, an all-new instrument panel, detailed touches including new welcome lighting, chimes, tuxedo stitching on luxury leather seats and Bridge of Weir leather.

The world-renowned luxury leather from Scotland, pioneered on the classic Lincoln Continental Mark II and used on the MKS, wraps the MKZ seats. The MKZ leather is unembossed, allowing the natural beauty and character of the grain to shine through.

The leather is milled for up to 12 hours to ensure a buttery soft hand, and Bridge of Weir uses a chromium-free tanning process, which makes it easier to recycle.

“We’ve increased the luxury feel and improved on what was already a great interior,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas. “We have a new interior theme with all-new primary touchpoints, complemented by new features and technologies that make the 2010 Lincoln MKZ stand out in the competitive mid-size segment.”

Additions or improvements to the 2010 Lincoln MKZ interior include:
Armrest clamshell storage
New instrument cluster layout with center speedometer
New door trim with 360-degree door handles
Redesigned center stack with high-mounted, Next-Generation Navigation system
Leather-wrapped steering wheel with real wood insert
Available perforated suede seat style
Interior schemes include Dark Charcoal or Steel Gray with Swirl Walnut accents, or Light Camel with Olive Ash wood accents

Technology and information at your fingertips
The new Lincoln MKZ is more than just a pretty face and striking new interior. New technology features help Lincoln’s new mid-size sedan stand out, too. They include:
SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities – plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees.
911 Assist: When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
Vehicle Health Report (VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes. That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone.
Voice-Activated Navigation, which integrates several functions including voice recognition destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch-screen display. The navigation system’s text-to-speech function calls out street names while in route to a destination and reads incoming text messages when the system is linked to SYNC. The integrated DVD player is capable of reading CD-Audio, MP3 CDs, DVD, DVD-Audio and DVD-ROM (for digital map updates). A music jukebox function stores more than 150 hours of music. The screen even can be customized with personal photos.
SIRIUS® Travel Link™, an industry-leading technology that, when combined with the voice-activated navigation system will provide users with real-time traffic data with accident and incident information, coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts, and fuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations.
Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.
Reverse Camera System mounts a small camera on the decklid that is activated when the Lincoln MKZ is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle.

The video image is displayed in the optional navigation screen on Lincoln MKZs equipped with that option or in the self-dimming rearview mirror vehicles without navigation.
Ambient Lighting System is displayed around the footwells, cup holders, door map pockets, door release handles, door and instrument accents and scuff plates – plus special “Welcome” and “Farewell” sequential lighting.
THX II Premium Certified Audio System with 5.1 Surround Sound, which is provided by a 12-channel amplifier that delivers 600 watts to 14 strategically placed speakers, including two subwoofers. A center channel speaker array features THX Slot Speaker™ technology, which allows for a wider sound image and better control of how music distributed throughout the vehicle’s acoustically engineered cabin. In addition, the system features a 10 GB hard drive jukebox, allowing Lincoln owners to store up to 2,400 of their favorite music tracks.

Other features for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ include:
Rain-sensing wipers, which detect moisture on the windshield and are activated.
A new cabin air filter, which removes respiratory irritants and toxins caused by traffic and industrial pollution. Additionally, the air filter protects the HVAC/climate control system by blocking water and moisture.
Segment-exclusive Adaptive HID headlamps, which rotate according to speed and steering inputs to allow greater visibility around turns
SOS Post Crash Alert, which activates the horn, emergency flashers, automatically unlocks doors and turns on the interior/puddle lamps when an air bag is deployed. The system activates the emergency flashers when a spinout is detected.

Faster engine performance, strong fuel economy
The award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine powers the 2010 Lincoln MKZ, delivering 263 horsepower and 249 pounds-feet of torque. The 3.5-liter uses a compact, lightweight dual-overhead cam valvetrain for peak power and smooth operation at high RPMs.

This engine also incorporates intake variable cam timing to optimize valve timing for a smooth idle and an impressive broad torque curve with good power.

The six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, which is front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive availability, is standard on the 2010 Lincoln MKZ. Powertrain performance is improved dramatically, with 0-60 mph times dropping from 7.7 to 7.1 seconds.

The engine – and the MKZ itself – is quieter. Every piece of sound packing was redone.

“The customer definitely should notice how quiet the new MKZ is,” said Chief Engineer J.D. Shanahan. “That’s important – especially in the luxury sedan buyers who perceive that quietness equates to quality.”

The MKZ engineering team also concentrated on the engine mount subsystem, finding the sound that balances sportiness and luxury, said Matt Hettenhouse, powertrain team leader.

A high 10.3:1 compression ratio and aluminum cylinder heads designed for high air flow and optimized combustion help complete the package, supporting the engine’s ability to deliver great performance and fuel economy, along with low emissions.

Unique to the 2010 Lincoln MKZ are re-engineered resonators on the air-induction system. “They deliver the powerful, refined sound Lincoln MKZ customers expect,” Hettenhouse said.

The six-speed transmission allows for lower early gears for better acceleration and taller high gears for better highway mileage. Downshifts are locked out to protect the engine from over-revving. The “enhanced overdrive cancel” mode locks out the fifth and sixth gears, allows shifts at higher speed for more engine braking and downshifts for “grade assist” functionality.

Unique tuning, too
The 2010 Lincoln MKZ was completely revised and uniquely tuned for ride comfort.
The team changed the rear suspension in the lower control arm control point to move the roll center closer to the center of gravity, which improved the ride-handling characteristics. A hydraulic variable-flow steering pump changes the flow rate at lower speeds to give better response, improving the turning circle and easier parking efforts.

The Lincoln MKZ’s available all-wheel drive (AWD) system has been retuned for better traction and lower noise, vibration and harshness. The system uses an electro-mechanical clutch and employs two basic modes of torque transfer – pre-emptive torque (before wheel slip) and slip-control torque (after wheel slip). This dual system gives the driver confidence in any situation, while the suspension has been specially tuned to be more neutral when cornering.

“When the Lincoln MKZ accelerates, even lightly, from a stop on any surface – dry pavement, wet pavement, sand, gravel, ice, mud – pre-emptive torque is transferred to the rear wheels,” said Jim Fritz, AWD product development engineer. “As an added measure to control front wheel slip on slippery surfaces, slip control torque is added to equalize front and rear wheel speeds.”

The AWD system works in harmony with brake traction control to deliver more confidence to Lincoln MKZ customers. Ford’s AdvanceTrac electronic stability control keeps drivers in command as well.

“The driving experience has been improved, delivering a better ride and vehicle control,” Shanahan said. “Ride enhancements, a new sport package, new technologies, the signature Lincoln design and a strong quality story help the new 2010 Lincoln MKZ set a new standard in mid-size luxury sedans.”

The 2010 Lincoln MKZ is built at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant and will be in dealer showrooms in spring 2009.

[Source: Ford]

FORD OFFERS BRAND NEW BONUS INCENTIVE FOR FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES PLUS EMPLOYEE PRICING

* Ford, Lincoln and Mercury are announcing a new plan to offer employee discount pricing plus additional cash back for customers who purchase a range of 2008 or 2009 Ford, Lincoln or Mercury cars, crossovers or trucks between Wednesday and Jan. 5
* Zero percent financing for 36 months will be offered as an additional ‘plus’ for buyers of the company’s most fuel-efficient 2009 cars, crossovers and trucks
* Ford Credit provides additional $500 Ford Credit Bonus Cash on most Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 18, 2008 – Ford is offering a first-ever bonus incentive tied to fuel-efficient vehicles, extending an extra benefit to customers beyond “Employee Pricing Plus” deals it’s already offering across its 2009 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle lineup.

Customers who buy one of the company’s nine most fuel-efficient Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles will be offered the bonus incentive of 0 percent financing from Ford Credit for 36 months in addition to Employee Pricing. The fuel-efficient vehicles include:

* Ford Focus, delivering up to 35 mpg: The sporty small car comes equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I-4 Duratec 20 engine producing 140 horsepower and mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission.
* Ford Fusion, up to 29 mpg: The current model of this mid-size car is a leader in driving dynamics, offering up 29 mpg on the highway, with the front-wheel-drive Fusion’s 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine.
* Ford Escape, up to 28 mpg: Equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, Ford Escape delivers best-in-class fuel economy in the small SUV segment with 28 mpg highway/20 mpg city.
* Ford Flex, to up 24 mpg: With front-wheel drive, the Ford Flex offers unsurpassed fuel economy in its segment – up to 24 mpg on the highway. Even with standout fuel economy, Flex offers creature comforts and room for up to seven passengers.
* Mercury Milan, up to 29 mpg: Mercury’s most fuel-efficient car delivers up to 29 mpg on the highway, courtesy of it 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine.
* Mercury Mariner, up to 28 mpg: New, 171 hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing enhances fuel economy and performance, gaining 2 mpg in highway fuel economy when equipped with the new six-speed transmission.
* Lincoln MKZ, up to 28 mpg: Equipped with Duratec 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the Lincoln MKZ features a premium six-speed automatic transmission with standard electronic stability control.
* Lincoln MKS, up to 24 mpg: Powered by a new 3.7-liter V-6 engine, this Lincoln MKS powertrain has been derived from the proven 3.5-liter V-6 found in the Lincoln MKX and MKZ, which was voted one of Ward’s 10-Best Engines for 2007 – and delivering fuel economy among the best in its class.
* New F-150, up to 21 mpg: Unsurpassed fuel economy in the full-size pickup segment delivering up to 21 miles per gallon highway with F-150 SFE “superior fuel economy” edition.

Note: 2009 F-150 not included in the “Employee Pricing Plus” program – but is eligible for the special 0 percent financing offer tied to the company’s most fuel-efficient models.

“Ford is bullish on fuel economy,” said Ken Czubay, Ford’s vice president of Sales and Marketing. “Each new and significantly freshened vehicle we’ve brought to market in the past year has the best or among the best fuel economy in its segment, and we want to provide customers an extra reason to drive one of these high-quality, fuel-efficient cars, crossovers and trucks.”

The Plan
Beginning Wednesday and running through Jan. 5, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury are making their highly prized employee discount pricing even more attractive through the “Employee Pricing Plus” program.

The special incentive not only offers customers employee pricing on most 2008 and 2009 Ford, Lincoln Mercury models but will additionally offer up to $6,000 cash back. Alternatively, if customers select one of Ford’s most fuel-efficient vehicles, they will have the option for 0 percent financing for 36 months. For example:

Excluded from the Employee Pricing Plus plan are 09MY F-150, 08/09MY Escape/Mariner Hybrids, 08/09MY Shelby GT500, F-Series chassis cabs models and E-Series cutaways models.

“Now is the best time to buy one of our Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles,” says Czubay. “The Ford Employee Pricing Plus program offers customers an unparalleled value on Ford’s fuel-efficient, technology-leading, high-quality lineup.”

[Source: Ford]

Near Clybourn & Belmont, I discovered the front of a GMC truck mated to the back of Lincoln Premiere. Include a transformers theme, and you have one seriously bizarre car. A look under the car revealed well fab'd true dual straight pipes.

LINCOLN MKS, FORD FOCUS STAND OUT AT SEMA

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 31, 2008 – With its sleek design and strong wheel base, the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS is opening doors in the aftermarket for customization enthusiasts looking for a full-size sedan to make their own.

To demonstrate the personalization potential of Lincoln’s new flagship sedan, Ford will shine the spotlight on three MKS project vehicles at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, which will be held Nov. 4-7 in Las Vegas.

“The MKS has many different facets,” said Ford designer Melvin Betancourt. “You can hot rod it, add a body kit and still maintain that luxury feel, or you can simply dress it up with a nice set of wheels.”

Custom rims are hot in the aftermarket, and unlike many of its competitors in the full-size luxury segment, the MKS was designed to accommodate larger wheels. The stock vehicle comes with 18-inch wheels, and 19- and 20-inch wheels are optional.

“The larger wheelbase gives the option to migrate to a more aggressive, sporty appearance,” said Pei-Wen Hsu, Lincoln MKS marketing manager. “It gives customers a way to make the vehicle unique for themselves.”

Ernie Bunnell, owner of 3dCarbon, had 22-inch NC Forged aluminum wheels custom designed for his 3dCarbon MKS. He also dressed the vehicle in a five-piece custom body kit.

“The styling of the MKS is very appealing to begin with, but the body kit makes a dramatic difference,” he said. “It really jazzes it up and gives it a more European feel.”

A “more European feel” is also what Robert K. Smith, president and CEO of RKSport, was trying to achieve with the MKS he customized for the SEMA show.

“We did the car in silver with 20-inch wheels and black rims, and we also brought the car down to a lower profile as far as ride height is concerned to make it more European-looking,” he said.

To give the car a more muscular feel, Smith says he added an extractor hood with carbon fiber components that look a little more aggressive than the stock hood. He finished off the look with a black Roadwire leather interior.

“The interior on the MKS is extremely nice,” he said. “We applied a bit of silver in the seating area and in the door panels to contrast with the exterior and give it a little more pizzazz.”

In addition to the MKS, the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe will also have a presence at the SEMA show with three project vehicles designed to show that a fuel-efficient small car – it gets 35 mpg on the highway — doesn’t have to fall short on performance and style.

“Based on feedback from our customers, we redesigned the Coupe for 2009 to include new front and rear fascias, a new roof-line spoiler and standard 17-inch aluminum wheels on the SES model,” said Sam De La Garza, Focus marketing manager. “The vehicle is positioned for the youth market as a good value for the money in terms of power and overall feature content, which really gives us a good step in the right direction for this car in the aftermarket.”

Stout Performance worked together with the Barber Driving Experience (BDX) to customize a Focus Coupe for the SEMA show. Chris Stout says he chose the Focus because it offers a very good platform to build upon.

“It’s lightweight. The chassis is very stiff, and the suspension geometry is world-class to the point that it was copied by a few other manufacturers,” he said.

Stout, who is also an instructor for BDX, says he plans to use the vehicle to teach performance driving on the tracks.

“We added a six-point roll cage, which not only makes the car safer for occupants but it stiffens the chassis a bit, which is what you need on a road course,” he said. “We modified the suspension, and we added an F2 Turbo kit for power. So you get better compression, better dampening and a lot more power.”

Bunnell, who also customized a Focus for the SEMA show, enhanced the exterior styling with wheels and a custom body kit.

“We added 19-inch wheels and a five-piece body kit that gives the car a sporty look that’s lower to the ground without actually lowering the vehicle per se,” he said.

In addition to the new MKS and Focus Coupe, Ford will feature other vehicles at SEMA, including the Lincoln MKX, the Ford Edge, Escape and the new Transit Connect. This year’s project vehicles include:

2009 Lincoln MKS by 3dCarbon

Lincoln’s newest luxury vehicle, the 2009 MKS, defines the future of luxury with a sleek, road-hugging stance and elegant design that exudes power and luxury. Now, this breakthrough American luxury car gets a touch of European flare and luxury styling courtesy of 3dCarbon’s “Euro Series” styling kit.

Outfitted with 3dCarbon’s five-piece body kit and NC Forged wheels, this MKS looks ready to drive off the showroom directly onto the autobahn. The dramatic 5-piece “Euro Series” styling kit includes front air dam, side skirts, rear lower skirt, and deck lid spoiler.

2009 Lincoln MKS by Godfather Customs

Designed with crafted precision and intuitive technologies, the 2009 Lincoln MKS is already a vehicle that’s in a league of its own. Godfather Customs has moved this singular luxury car even further from the rest of the field with their own version of the MKS.

Building upon the luxurious Lincoln sedan, Godfather added even more refinement to the interior with an OEM integration that allows full control of the audio and video systems. An additional three video screens provide back seat drivers with their own access to state-of-the-art navigation. At the same time the superior audio quality has been further enhanced with the addition of Excelon components. On the outside, signature 22-inch wheels and tires make a statement that can’t be ignored. With this edition, Godfather Customs moves the MKS from luxurious elegance to pure extravagance.

2009 Lincoln MKS by RKSport

Not all cars are created equal. Designed with crafted precision and intuitive technologies, the 2009 Lincoln MKS offers a unique, personalized driving and ownership experience that represents the ultimate convergence of performance and luxury.

RKSport started with the signature styling and performance powertrain and added a unique look and enhanced performance that make the 2009 Lincoln MKS even more distinctive to own and exciting to drive. Wherever it goes, this car will make a statement about the discerning owner and provide a personalized luxury performance experience second to none.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe by 3dCarbon

Small cars are big news and the 2009 Ford Focus is a solid contender in this fast growing, quickly evolving segment. 3dCarbon brings their experience and expertise to this important market with the introduction of the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe “Euro Series” Styling Kit.

This radically modified “Euro Series” Focus is outfitted in 3dCarbon’s all-new five-piece styling kit that includes a front air dam, side skirts, rear lower skirt and deck lid spoiler. Add high-performance BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires mounted on R1 Racing GTR-4 wheels and you’ve got a small car that delivers on the promise of its sporty European good looks. This modified Focus makes for a vehicle that exudes confidence with a brash stance and aerodynamic, road-hugging attitude. On the inside, it features fine and fun touches that include Katzkin leather trim, a suede headliner and Sundial tinted windows.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe by Stout Performance and Barber Driving Experience

The 2009 Ford Focus is built to deliver serious fun. Starting with this capable platform, Stout Performance worked with the Barber Driver Experience to create a vehicle also built for serious competition.

This modified Focus offers dual purpose use, both as a contender in time attack races and as vehicle for the Barber Driving Experience performance driving instruction. It features functional aerodynamics, chassis stiffening via a roll cage, and a high output powerplant. With only mods that are in the spirit of street class competition, this specially prepared Focus will be a true contender on the race course.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe by FSWerks

The 2009 Focus SES coupe has a sharp new look and a long list of equipment designed to deliver an exhilarating driving experience. Focus SES is the coupe for those who want it all…great fuel economy, attention-getting style and responsive performance.

Drawing on years of performance tuning success, the FSWerks crew has taken the newly restyled Focus coupe and transformed it into a head turning example of performance and cutting edge style. It has a bold, bad, attention-grabbing look and the guts to with it, delivering more than double the horsepower and torque of the sporty Focus SES. Yet, this high performance, high-profile coupe is still refined enough for daily driving in comfort and style.

(No photo available at publication)

2008 Lincoln MKX by Street Concepts

The 2008 Lincoln MKX combines capability with luxury and performance in a head-turning package that gets noticed wherever it goes. The available intelligent all-wheel-drive system helps drivers handle the curves and keep a grip on things in any weather while traveling in style and comfort.

The Street Concepts version adds some serious attitude to the Lincoln MKX with 22-inch MOZ Wheels, Continental Tires, 3DCarbon’s body kit and monochrome blackout exterior treatment. On the inside, it entertains and connects with a complete Kenwood audio and video system that includes a Visulogic VMOD unit for wireless internet within the vehicle. For added driving excitement, this proven performer gets a sweet-sounding Magna flow cat back exhaust system and easy breathing K&N air intake system.

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid by EcoTrek

For those who really care about saving gas and saving our planet, Ford made Escape Hybrid the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet. Now for the ultimate environmentalist, EcoTrek offers a Ford Escape Hybrid with the ultimate “Environmental Integration” package.

In this uniquely green vehicle, EcoTrek augments the earth-friendly features of Ford’s revolutionary hybrid SUV with premium components made from recycled and recyclable materials. The interior includes rugged yet luxurious faux leather suede seat covers and carpeted floor mats made from recycled plastics. Key exterior parts, including the tires, wheels, running boards and the skid plate, are all made from reusable materials. Despite this serious commitment to being green, the Escape Hybrid from EcoTrek is also equipped for ultimate fun with enhanced off-road capability and a Hobie watercraft used to assist San Francisco’s Heal the Bay efforts.

2009 Ford Escape by HPA Motorsports Inc.

For active people with demanding lifestyles, the 2009 Ford Escape delivers driving fun and practical utility in the city or in the wilderness. The “Sport” Edition 2009 Ford Escape from HPA Motorsports takes this unique blend of off-road potential and urban performance to the extreme.

Custom wide body flares and brawny exterior styling cues present a street stance worthy of the sure-footed “intelligent” 4WD system. The finely tuned suspension delivers no-compromise handling on or off the road while passengers can chill out and enjoy the comfortable ride with today’s hottest in-car-entertainment.

Ford Transit Connect Concept by H&R Special Springs, LP

The award-winning Transit Connect has established a reputation as the best small cargo van in Europe. In the summer of 2009 this segment busting versatile workhorse will be coming to America.

H&R has taken the popular Ford Transit Connect, redefined it into a get-up-and-go stylin’ street van like no other. Their Transit Connect has been lowered 3 inches in the front, and 4 inches in the rear, enhancing the visual impact of the huge 19-inch tires and wheels. Piloti shoes drew on their design expertise to create a unique interior that employs fine high fashion materials showcasing a palette of colors and textures with the finest workmanship. This unique treatment of a breakthrough vehicle explores the range of customization possibilities for Transit Connect.

2009 Ford Edge "Sport" Edition by Steeda

The 2009 Ford Edge Sport offers a factory-quality, customized crossover for buyers who want added attitude. This customized version of America’s best-selling crossover is available from Ford dealers with many of the appearance mods seen here, including 22-inch polished aluminum rims, an attractive 8-piece body kit, blackout headlamps and taillamps, a dark brushed interior center stack, bold contrast stitching on the shift knob and steering wheel, and the Edge Sport badging.

Drawing on two decades of experience working exclusively with Ford products, Steeda took the 2009 Ford Edge Sport to another level. A host of performance mods provide added power and even sportier handling. On the inside, leather seats and billeted trim deliver increased comfort and amped-up attitude. Unique Steeda graphics let the whole world know that this Edge Sport is something very special.

[Source: Ford]

This car has had a mild donk treatment, but it's just the wheels- no suspension destruction, bubbly purple window tint, or rhinestone emblems indicating wheel diameter. If you like the way it looks with these wheels, great… and if you don't, it could be switched back to factory wheels and hubcaps in a matter of minutes.


For '66, the four-door sedan Continental listed at $5,750, which was 169 bucks more than the Cadillac DeVille four-door hardtop and just $17 more than the Imperial four-door. The Lincoln came with a 340-horse 462 engine, the Cadillac had a 340-horse 429, and the Imperial won the luxo-barge horsepower war that year with 350 horsepower out of its 440-inch plant. Which one was the best-looking of the three? I just can't decide!

I couldn't resist sending these camera phone pix of a couple contrasting gems, despite the crush of work the summer brought to my doorstep:
I was helping the housekeeping crew catch up on a busy day at the hotel I run and as I was lugging a barrel of trash down the fire escape, I noticed a 1960's MG Midget that is a familiar sight behind my hotel, in a parking lot that serves the most popular greasy spoon in town. But today it looked even tinier than usual, for some reason. Maybe it's that late 70's Lincoln Mk IV that adds that additional-shrinkage perspective. That great white shark and little grey minnow were landed in Port Angeles, WA, which is a pretty good base for fishing of all kinds. Steelheads in the Sol Duc and Elwha rivers, the elusive monster Beardsleys of Lake Crescent, Kings, Cohos and Chinooks running the Strait of Juan de Fuca, bays full of delicious Dungeness crab, and of course, Lincolns and Midgets in the parking lot of the local greasy spoon.

-Lascauxcaveman

We caught a convoy of 2010 Buick Lacrosse prototypes running on public roads—this time with drastically reduced camouflage. Prior Lacrosse test vehicles had always been clad under oppressive covers, but now we can see all but the finest details on Buick's new sedan. The prototypes captured here definitely show a resemblance Buick's Invicta concept car shown in China earlier this year.

Two distinct prototypes were identified in the group: one with no visible exhaust tips and a clean rear bumper, the other with sporty dual exhaust tips cut into the bumper and larger, more aggressive wheels.

We also managed a revealing interior shot, showing the impressive feeling of craftsmanship that will be applied to the Lacrosse's passenger compartment. It looks as if Buick stylists have learned a lesson, or two, from the Cadillac CTS' interior design.

The test group had an interesting mix of comparison vehicles along for the ride, covering a wide range of market segments. Running alongside the Lacrosse prototypes were a Mercedes E-class, a Lincoln MKS, and a Volkswagen Passat.

Lincoln MKT Spy Report
Lincoln's Ford Flex-based MKT crossover made an appearance in Death Valley to do some hot-weather mountain runs in the 120-degree heat. Our desert sighting gave us a chance to get a closer look at the MKT, and this production model's faithful transition from the MKT concept which appeared at the last Detroit Auto Show.

Ford made the MKT's future official with an announcement at the recent Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, confirming that the Lincoln would be built alongside the Ford Flex at Ford's Oakville, Ontario assembly plant. A 3.7-liter, V-6 engine will power the standard MKT, while the MKS' EcoBoost turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 will be optional, putting 340 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque at the ready. A six-speed automatic transmission be used in all MKTs.

A glass roof was visible on this prototype, to add to the MKT's upmarket cachet.

Continental: Found this convertible MKIII Continental appeared yesterday around the corner from my house (Boston, MA). You can see a tarp in the back seat, so I am guessing the top isn't working at the moment. You can also see some wires bleeding from the driver door. You can't really see much from the pictures, but the car is beat-up from head to toe. It has a Key West "Mile 0" marker sticker, so I am wondering if or when it made that 27+/- hour trip. Im not sure who the "Quinn 74" sticker is for. Trying to find a specific Quinn in Boston is like trying to find a needle in a needle-stack. It has Mass plates, so I am surprised the body panels are not eaten-up. There is also a forth-gen Continental that lives on my street, I was going to send pictures with my better camera with that one.

Nova: I was riding around on my lunch time and found this early 70's Nova. It was sitting in the middle of a loading dock around an industrial/warehouse area in South Boston. I think it is a straight-six from the look of the oil pan.

Spitfire: Funny, after all that British Leyland talk, I rode past this Triumph yesterday after work. Seems to be in good condition, even the top looked good. I didn't spot any rust on it, besides on the muffler. I thought it was funny to see the Mass plate that says "Spirit of America" just over the Triumph badge. Spotted in an industrial area in South Boston.

As you may (or may not) know, I'm a factory rep for an Import Truck Distributor, and one of my dealers in the New York region is Jim Reed. He is a minor legend in NASCAR (when they actually drove real Stock Cars, not fake ones). Here is a small biography of Jim when he was racing.



Anyway, today was nearly perfect weatherwise, so I convinced Jim to let me take pictures of two of his prized vehicles. I'll start out with a Beige 1941 Lincoln Zephyr V-12 Club Coupe. The 1941 Model used a 292 Cu. In Flathead V-12, linked to a 3 Speed Manual. This car is equipped with a Borg Warner Overdrive, giving the car the ability to cruise over 75 MPH with no problems. Jim owned this car over 4 years, and during that time he has built it up to be a driver, not a trailer queen (as you can see, it is currently registered in New York, and is driven an average of 3,000 miles a year. The car was in rather poor condition when purchased, and was a Dark Brown color. The V-12 has been rebuilt, including a performance camshaft, the Chrome was all re-plated, the O/D was rebuilt, and even though the sheet metal was relatively rust free, it was refinished in it's current light sandstone finish. The interior was refinished two years ago, with a special seat cover made to keep the seats in good condition, since Jim uses it as a real car, and transports his Jack Russell terrier Bocci with him when he comes to work. The work took over 3 years to get into it's current condition, with the engine taking over a year just to get running again.

Ok, some details about the photos. Take a look at the floor pedals. There is a high/low beam switch to the left of the clutch, and a Radio Station Changer button right between the Clutch and the Brake pedals. Notice the Art Deco details, including the Bumpers, the Tail Lights, and the Zeppelin shaped turn signals. The "wood" (used on top of the doors, and the dashboard) isn't wood, but hand painted to look like wood. Take a look at the dash, and you will see a hood release, one of the very first offered in any car at the time. On the outside, the hubcaps let you know this was a Lincoln V-12, as does the chrome stip on the hood. Now take a look at the twin carbureted V-12. Isn't that a thing of beauty? I drove this beautiful car short distance, and would love to do it again.



Now, let me introduce you to the 1937 Cord 812. Cord pioneered front wheel drive in production applications with the L-29 in the late 20's. The A-C-D company then created a "Baby" Duesenberg which became in 1936 the Cord 810 with front wheel drive, Lycoming V8 power and a legendary body design from Gordon Buehrig. A year later, in 1937, came modest changes as in this distinctive example of the beautiful Beverly 4-door sedan body style. Finished in green with green cloth interior, the car is used as a driver, and not as a trailer queen. Jim uses this car for about 1,500 to 2,000 miles a year, and he just completed a round trip to an Auburn, Cord, Dusenberg club meet. This car was purchased a couple of years ago through a Hemmings ad. Since Jim took possession, there has been some improvements made, including new wheels and wheel discs, hubs, joints, brakes, tires, and other special features. The Shift controls were thoroughly rebuilt with new servos and micro switches.

A bit of history. The 289 Cu In V-8 was made by Lycoming, and it's actually installed backwards, since this car was Front Wheel Drive. The transmission was also unique, as it was the 4-speed manual with helical-cut gears and Bendix "Electric Hand" vacuum-servo pre-selector remote control. The Pre-selector always proved to be problematic, and this car was no exception.

Now, some of the photos. Take a look at that aircraft inspired dashboard, with a full set of instrumentation. Notice the two cranks at each side. Those are used to raise and lower the headlamps. This is one of the first cars to use a full wheelcover, instead of hubcaps (notice how these are tied on using zip ties!). The shift lever is the pre-selector. Now take a look at those trunk locks, heavy, and well made. The Art Deco details abound. Under the hood is that Lycoming V-8, and take a look at how the exhaust is routed! In front of the radiator is the Bendix Electric pre-selector shifting mechanism. Notice that the Front Doors are suicide, and the rears are not!




Now, the trucks:

1)The Green one is a 1948 International K-Series 1 ton truck, with a Chrysler Flat head 6 Cyl Engine. This is a truck that is owned by an International Dealer in Plattsburgh, NY. The owner stated that he has two of them, since he was born in 1948. It's all there, but currently not running, as is used as eye candy in front of the dealership.

2) The Ford is a 1964 Ford F250 Camper Conversion. It is currently registered, but there is some major work that has to be done to it. The cab is a custom cab, and is quite unique and interesting. This was also shot in Plattsburgh, NY (where the classic Airstreams were parked.)

3) The Maroon/Black Wrecker is a fully functioning 1966 International V200, and it has a Huge Gasoline 549 Cu. In V-8. I can't tell you the horsepower, but it sounds menacing. One thing I did spot when taking pictures was the fact that this still sports split rims, which are somewhat of a hazard if you try and change the tire... ugh!

The official announcement is scheduled to occur on Thursday, which leaves plenty of time for all of the talking heads to speculate away. We'll look for the full program later this week.

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: If this is true, and the NYT's Ford sources are better than those from Edmunds Inside Line (A journalistic smackdown, if you will, from Bill Vlasic of old media to Edmunds' Ed Hellwig, representing new media), we're just happy to see a brand coming back from the brink.

Given the also-ran status of Mercury over the last decade(s), this news is a bit of a surprise, but a moment's thought makes the strategy seem perfectly logical. Mercury has been positioned as a premium — but not too premium — brand within Ford of the Americas. Slotted in between Ford and Lincoln, Mercury, awash with new small and mid-sized European cars, will be able to position the vehicles as premium European-style small cars. Just like what GM North America has done with Opels imported into the US as Saturn. And look how well that's turning out for them, right? [NYTimes]

In 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower popularized the term "Military-Industrial Complex" in his farewell address, but what about the Rust-Missing Parts Complex that dominates your typical 1961 Hell Project? You'll have an even more tenuous connection to your sanity than Eisenhower does to Project Car Hell when you peel off 45 Benjamins to obtain this pair of 1961 Lincoln Continental convertibles. Some of you quitters might take one look at those photos and figure there's no way in hell anyone could ever make even one nice car out of those heaps, but that's like looking at the plans for the Bay Of Pigs invasion and saying it could never work! What if Ike had done that? The seller claims these two '61s are "90 to 100% complete," and that each car has "low original mileage." You see? Easy! At most you'll be chasing down 10% of the parts that make up an automobile, and how hard could that be? You could make one car and use the other for parts, or go for broke- literally- and restore them both.

Is it fair to make anything American- even a two-for-one deal- face off against a French car in a Choose Your Eternity challenge? Maybe not, but we're going to give Detroit a shot at a stunning upset over the perennial PCH Champeen today; just imagine that Project Car Hell trophy sitting in the lobby of Ford's HQ... in a mound of kitty litter, to catch all the leaking oil and rust flakes. We're not making it easy for Dearborn, however, because we've got this '61 Simca Aronde, with a what-the-hell price of just $650. Look at that fine French machine and try to tell us you wouldn't feel like a million francs driving it down the boulevard after a full restoration and/or customization. The latter approach might be best, since it already comes with an unnamed Datsun engine. We're sure that engine will work just fine, because the seller wants us to know it "is supposed to be a good one." It might be absolutely impossible somewhat challenging to get all the glass you'll need, because "Some of of the windows are good," but the contacts you'll cultivate in France while searching for a windshield will come in quite handy when it comes time to locate all the missing trim pieces.

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For starters, we've set up some ground rules:

1) Measurements are taken across the major axis of the badge vertically or horizontally, none of that diagonal baloney.

2) Script logos where not considered. Spreading letters out is too easy. So sorry Hummer, Jeep, GMC, Land Rover and others with the name spelled out in long-hand, get a real badge.

3) Only vehicles on the dealer lot of the Troy Motor Mall in Troy, MI where considered. Thus, this field study was subject to dealer availability. However, we did find ourselves some of the fattest, juiciest dealers in all the land, so not much was left out.

Test Case: The Cadillac Escalade didn't even register on the list of the ten biggest sizes. The 'sclade sported a puny five-and-a-half-inch rear badge (by far the most prevalent size) and a six-inch diameter front badge. Surprising, right? Then we thought about the big Caddy's target market: Eight-foot-tall professional basketball players. And the new Cadillac CTS designed for investment banking weenies? An Escalade-besting 6.125" badge on its snout. So, even in this test case, maybe we're on to something. Anyway, here's the resulting badge-o-meter as proof of our contention that size matters — and an explanation of each below:

10) Mazda CX-7 and Mazda CX-9
As predicted, the nearly twin Mazda SUV's did indeed have some massive badges on them. Coming in at an impressive 7.125 inches horizontally, the big ol' badges didn't make us think "Zoom Zoom" any more than the tiny ones on the Miata. However, a male Miata driver generally needs to have pretty strong self-confidence given the public's general lack of awareness of its track performance potential — so maybe it means he's got nothing to worry about in his self-confidence in other areas.

9) Mercedes Benz R-Class
The minivan wagon Sport Activity Vehicle from Mercedes came in with a pretty substantial 7.25 inch diameter three-pointed star. The target buyer's a rather emasculated member of the male gender — the successful dad who doesn't want to seem like he's driving a minivan after he drops his kids off at school. Poor man.

8) Lincoln MKS

The Lincoln MKS has a pretty strong upper hand in this challenge — being one of the newest cars on the lot, it knows just how far the big-badge arms race has gone. With a target market of old men on Cialis, the 7.625 inch vertical badge snags an eighth place finish, making a statement that screams "Viva Viagra!"

7) Lincoln MKX
Sure, the MKX is a bigger vehicle than the MKS, so obviously it has to have a bigger logo, right? That's how the logic goes. True to form, the Lincoln MKS scores with 7.875 vertical inches of logo love. And considering the average buyer may very well be limited to bespectacled marketing metrosexuals, it makes sense they'd be even less endowed than their Viagra-popping pops driving the MKS.

6) TIE: Infiniti QX56 and Mercedes Benz C-Class
Both of these luxury rollers offer up some whopping chrome accentuation in the form of an 8.75 inch badge on both the Infiniti QX56 and Mercedes Benz C-Class. Sounds about right since they're pretty much both wheels for the white tennis playing country club types. We've been told by our female friends they truly need all the help they can get.

5) Almost Everything Ford Makes
What do we expect from a brand who uses a country crooner who uses his guitar as a phallic extension of his self? Anything bigger than a Focus in the Ford brand beloved-by-Toby Keith wears the same 7.875 inch big blue oval. Because if you're a Ford truck man, self-confidence is only as big as your truck with the big blue ovaled badge.

4) TIE: Chevrolet Tahoe and Lincoln Mark LT
Chevy's rolling tribute to the suburban lifestyle sports a hefty 9.75 inch bowtie mounted right on its nose. While it's a good way to tell you're not driving a GMC SUV, you'd need to somehow explain what the nine-and-three-quarters-inch sized badge means about what you've got in your pants. Same's true we guess of Lincoln's luxury truck.

3) TIE: Chevrolet Silverado and Lincoln Navigator
Our third place goes to two vehicles on the same platforms as the fourth place holders, each sporting a humongous 10.25 inch ornament to a lack-of-johnson size are the Chevrolet Silverado pickup and the Lincoln Navigator SUV. Sounds about right to us.

2) Chevrolet Express
This one was a shocker for us, we were really pulling for the even-bigger Silverado HD models, but they sport the same plate as the regular trucks. On a whim, we ran the ruler across the nose of the Express and lo and behold, a stupendous 10.5 inches of bowtie bone-compensation. Who said van owners can't hang high with the smallest of em?

1) Audi Products
We'd always known Germans were into some seriously freaky stuff. Something about issues of sexual repression. But we never knew the levels to which they were over-compensating. Every single member of the Audi family — with the exception of the TT — sport the same impossibly large 10.75 inch Audi badge. Maybe now it is the time on Sprockets when they dance and show off flat-as-the-world-is-round pants bulges.

So what did we learn from all this? In reality, badge size probably does not correspond to bulge size. Especially considering I own a nearly ten-year-old Audi with the same sized badge as its new breathren, and I was confident enough to put together this list. So go figure. (Hat tip to Mackenzie!

Sadly, this is just the fourth vintage Lincoln I've found for this series. That's enough cars for us to have a poll, though! I found this car parked on the same block as the '67 Vista Cruiser and just around the corner from the Volvo P1800.


This might actually be a '71; the external appearance of the '70 and '71 Mark IIIs is pretty much identical. Both came with the 365-horse 460 engine, which was needed in order to get this two-and-a-half-ton machine moving.


You don't need a Continental kit when you have an actual Continental! And, yes, I'm aware of the pair of Cougars in the background; we'll see them later. The car in the driveway is off limits, unless it moves onto the street at some point.

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First up is what appears to be a '40 Ford Mercury with a towbar semi-permanently attached. It looks like it runs under its own power, so perhaps it lives behind a giant RV most of the time; bet that makes an impression at the campground! The chainsaw manual on the front seat is an interesting touch.


Now here's a pack of three Ford products- technically, two Fords and a Lincoln- that live together in EJacobs' neighborhood. Looks like we've got a '68 Fairlane 500, a '53 Ford, and a '77 Lincoln Continental Mark V coupe. Fords from three different decades, and virtually no parts interchangeability!


Last up are some photos of a matched set of three Fairlane 500s, clearly owned by the same person. It seems to be a Denver tradition to own three similar old cars and park them on the street, and the owner of these Fairlanes might well have more of them stashed in the garage and/or the back yard. I believe we're looking at two '65s and a '67, two coupes and a sedan. The rough-looking '65 in the middle is clearly the hot rod of the trio, with traction bars, dual exhaust, the half-Cragar treatment, and a floor-shift manual transmission. It's got 289 emblems, but there's no telling what's really under the hood; let's hope it's a 427!

The Lincoln MKS is the biggest car I've driven in 6 years, I'll admit. It rides low enough to the road that I'd be concerned about scraping its cute-as-a-penny bottom in more than a few steep driveways, but it does look pretty damn cool — much more so than any Lincoln we've seen since the era that brought us Ben's personal project car hell. In the pre-driving presentation the design guys kept droning on and on and on about their new paint color "tuxedo black," which contains bits of glass to make it sparkle in a different way. But then they told us we'd be driving for two hours before getting to the next presentation, so I was more concerned with running for the bathroom and missed the assembled auto journalists making cute cooing noises when they got outside and saw it in the sun. At least I think they were. It was either "ooooh!" or "eeeeww!" — it's hard to tell from the bathroom stall. But it really does look like they poured glitter in the paint, though, so I felt like maybe it wasn't a total "old person" car.

Then they partnered me up with another to-remain-nameless reporter and we went rock-paper-scissors for who got to drive first and I lost, damn him. He started up the car and admitted he doesn't own one and never drives, so I knew I'd at least have one up on him even if he did go first. But for the moment, I looked at the route of windy back roads and hoped to God the airbags worked as we started off. Since he had to pay so much attention to the road, I got to play with the gadgets — it didn't read my off-brand MP3 player (but I guess if you buy a $46,000 car you'll probably also have an iPod), the jukebox selection was lame and just as I was settling on a musical choice the ass coolers kicked in. The seat blows cold air on your butt, which feels good for about a minute before it feels weird to have cold puffs of air constantly assaulting your ass and thighs.

But, it turns out, even with one of the world's least experienced drivers at the helm, the car handled pretty good, and I only worried about going off the road three or four times, so I looked around some more. They designed the glove compartment so that only one edge shows (which sounds good, but really just makes it easier to manufacture). For as big as it looked on the outside, it wasn't really all that spacious. The dashboard is all stitched leather, the seats were comfy and the moonroof extends into the back seat besides — but while opening it is pretty intuitive, it isn't quite as easy to get it shut. I probably should've read the manual, but I didn't want to be too much of a girl.

It was also a damn quiet ride, which made it hard to hear the engine shifting on the hills and such, but the tachometer said that, even on hills, the RPMs were pretty low. It's also a little strange to be roaming around the Virginia countryside (looking out for cops, even) in a huge car that feels like something a driver would drive you around in if you had a driver, but maybe that's just me.

When we got to switch positions, I realized that my companion was a rather unassertive driver. My concerns about pickup and handling were pretty much assuaged when I had to take a left turn across 4 lanes of highway traffic to head back to D.C. and laid rubber in the parking lot and didn't fishtail in the left lane, though I'm not sure he felt the same way about it.

As a short person, my problem with driving big cars is that I often can't visualize the corners because I can't get up high enough or forward enough without bumping my chest up against the steering wheel. Somehow, despite the size, I was able to get the MKS's seat adjusted to a point where I didn't feel like the air bag would kill me in a collision and I could see enough of what I was driving to take curves at appropriate speeds without worrying if I was over the line, and I never once felt that sliding sensation that the car was about to lose it no matter what the curve was or how fast I stopped. For a car that's bigger than my dining room, that's a pretty impressive accomplishment.

My biggest concern, other than not getting pulled over by the cops when my lead foot got the better of me, was how much gas I was using. On a 20 gallon tank, we went somewhat less than 200 miles on back roads (most of which was not in traffic, thankfully) and used up about half a tank, meaning we'd spent about $40 in gas to just tool around. Do people still buy huge leather-filled cars with backseats they'll never use (and navigation systems that will tell them sports scores, but not while the car is moving) when gas is this expensive? It was a question that I pondered pretty heavily as I sat in traffic in I-66 on the way back into the city to give the car back and retrieve my cuckolded Corolla.

While we already knew we'd see a hybrid version of the 2009 Ford Fusion — a fellow member of the threesome of Ford's CD3-platformed mid-size econoboxes — we didn't know anything about a Lincoln version running on both gas and electricity. We mean, it could just be comparing the fuel economy of the traditional MKZ with that of a hybrid, but this seems like something Ford would do in their attempt to move Lincoln from being seen as the Pinocchio of entry-level luxury into a real live luxury-loving boy. So it's not totally unsurprising considering how locked-at-the-lips the Ford and Lincoln brands have become as of late when it comes to product. Only Mercury app