Lincoln MKT: Lincoln’s three-row luxury crossover

The Lincoln MKT is a full-size luxury crossover SUV with three rows of seats, sold by Lincoln from 2010 to 2019 in a single generation. It shared the Ford D4 chassis with the Ford Flex and the Ford Explorer and was built at Oakville, Ontario.

Lincoln MKT at a glance

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the MKT.

History of the Lincoln MKT

The MKT was shown as a concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, with a full-length glass roof, a 2+2 seating layout and a 415 hp twin-turbo 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6. Production began at Oakville Assembly in July 2009 for the 2010 model year. Lincoln was moving from traditional SUVs to crossovers, and the MKT had no direct predecessor; it was developed against the Acura MDX, Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz R-Class as one of the largest and fastest luxury crossovers in its price class.

Under the skin was Ford’s D4 platform, a variant of the D3 designed for crossovers, with a 3,066 mm wheelbase – the longest of any D4 vehicle and the third longest in the Lincoln range after the Navigator and Navigator L. The standard engine was the 3.7-litre V6, rated at 268 hp until 2012 and 303 hp from 2013, with an optional 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 of 355 hp, raised to 365 hp in 2013. Both used a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive was standard with all-wheel drive optional, and all-wheel drive was standard with the 3.5-litre engine. A 2.0-litre turbo four was offered from 2013 as a special order on the Town Car livery version. Electric power steering worked with ultrasonic sensors for Active Park Assist.

The production car differed from the concept mainly in its larger rear quarter windows, wraparound headlamps and a revised lower grille, but kept the vertically slatted split grille first seen on the 2007 MKR concept. To save weight the tailgate had a cast magnesium inner panel and an aluminium outer skin, and magnesium replaced steel in the radiator support and the rear seat frames. Seven seats in a 2-3-2 layout were standard, with an optional six-seat 2-2-2 arrangement using second-row buckets and a full-length console.

The MKT changed little during its life: the front was redesigned in 2013 with a narrower grille, Sync 3 replaced MyLincoln Touch for 2016 and the nose was updated again in 2017 with a horizontal grille shared with the MKC and MKX. From 2010 to 2016 cars were sold without trim names, identified by engine and drivetrain, but for 2017 Lincoln added Premiere and Reserve trims. For 2019 the naturally aspirated V6 was dropped, leaving the EcoBoost as the only engine. In October 2010 Ford announced livery and limousine versions to replace the Lincoln Town Car, and the MKT Town Car was shown to the trade in February 2011. The MKT was discontinued after 2019 and not directly replaced.

Design and features

• Three rows: seven seats as standard or six with second-row bucket seats and a console.
• Longest D4 wheelbase: 3,066 mm, longer than any other Ford D4 model.
• Magnesium and aluminium body parts: weight-saving tailgate, radiator support and seat frames.
• Active Park Assist: electric steering that parks the car by itself.
• Livery version: the MKT Town Car for limousine and hearse work.

Lincoln MKT versions

• MKT 3.7 (2010–2018): the standard V6 car, 268 hp then 303 hp.
• MKT EcoBoost (2010–2019): twin-turbo V6 with standard all-wheel drive.
• MKT Town Car (2011–2019): livery and limousine version, later with a 2.0-litre option.
• Premiere and Reserve (2017–2019): the first named trim levels.

The MKT shared its platform with the Lincoln MKS and sat between the Lincoln MKX and the Lincoln Navigator, later taking over the livery role of the Lincoln Town Car. More Lincolns are in the Lincoln collection.

Video: 2013 Lincoln MKT Ecoboost AWD Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Review

Video by the uploader on YouTube.

Sources

• Lincoln MKT, English Wikipedia: concept, chassis, engines, trims, livery