Lincoln MKZ: the Zephyr renamed, and Lincoln’s first hybrid

The Lincoln MKZ is a mid-size four-door luxury sedan with front or all-wheel drive, sold in two generations for the 2006–2020 model years. It was launched as the Lincoln Zephyr, took the MKZ name for 2007, and was the first Lincoln offered as a hybrid.

Lincoln MKZ at a glance

History of the Lincoln MKZ

The car was shown in concept form at the 2004 New York International Auto Show with Lincoln’s split-wing waterfall grille and quad projector headlamps. The production Zephyr arrived in the autumn of 2005 for the 2006 model year, built on Ford’s CD3 platform shared with the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Mazda 6. It was styled under chief designer Darrell Behmer and used a 3.0-litre Duratec V6 of 221 hp with an Aisin six-speed automatic, at prices from $28,995 to $35,340.

Although smaller and front-wheel drive, the Zephyr replaced the rear-wheel-drive Lincoln LS as the entry model, and the two were sold side by side through the 2006 model year. For 2007 the car was renamed MKZ, fitting Lincoln’s new three-letter naming scheme, and from mid-2006 it took over the LS’s market. The interior was more elaborate than the Fusion’s, with genuine ebony or maple inserts, chrome-bezelled gauges and circular chrome vents, and Lincoln offered an industry-first THX II certified audio system, later a 600-watt, 14-speaker version with a 10 GB jukebox.

A 3.5-litre V6 of 186 kW joined the range for 2007, available with all-wheel drive. The spring 2009 facelift was accompanied by the arrival of the MKZ Hybrid, Lincoln’s first, which shared its technology with the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids. The car was criticised in 2006 by Car and Driver for anonymous styling, disappointing performance for a Lincoln and interior materials below the class standard.

The second generation was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2012 and went on sale in 2013 after quality problems delayed deliveries. It introduced Lincoln’s new brand design and used the second-generation Ford Fusion platform, known in Europe as the Mondeo. Three powertrains were offered in North America: a 2.0-litre turbo four of 240 bhp, a 3.7-litre V6 of 300 bhp and a 2.0-litre hybrid at no extra cost, which the EPA rated at 5.1 l/100 km in both town and country cycles, making the 2013 MKZ the most economical premium car in the United States. The 2016 facelift brought a single larger grille, a revised cabin and a 400 bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 in place of the 3.7. Production ended without a replacement on 31 July 2020.

Design and features

• Zephyr origins: launched in 2005 as the Lincoln Zephyr before taking the MKZ name for 2007.
• Lincoln’s first hybrid: the MKZ Hybrid arrived with the 2009 facelift for 2011.
• THX audio: up to 14 speakers and 600 watts with a 10 GB jukebox in the first generation.
• Economical hybrid: the 2013 hybrid was rated at 5.1 l/100 km in both cycles.
• Two platforms: Ford CD3 in the first generation and the Fusion-based CD4 in the second.

Lincoln MKZ versions

• Zephyr (2006): the original 3.0-litre V6 car.
• MKZ (2007–2009): renamed model with an optional 3.5-litre V6 and all-wheel drive.
• MKZ Hybrid (2011–2012): the first hybrid Lincoln.
• Second generation (2013–2020): 2.0-litre turbo, 3.7-litre V6 or hybrid.
• 2017 update: new single grille and a 400 bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.

The MKZ succeeded the Lincoln LS as Lincoln’s smallest sedan and borrowed the Zephyr name from the 1930s Lincoln-Zephyr. More Lincolns are in the Lincoln collection.

Video: 2014 Lincoln MKZ EcoBoost AWD Test Drive Video Review

Video by the uploader on YouTube.

Sources

• Lincoln MKZ, English Wikipedia: development, first generation, equipment
• Lincoln MKZ, German Wikipedia: second generation, engines, hybrid economy, end of production