MKT Concept: Lincoln’s Private Jet for the Road

Lincoln’s big launch at Detroit this year will be the precursor to its upcoming full-size crossover vehicle, which will be based on the Ford Flex. Dubbed the MKT, it is another strong, bold and eye-catching interpretation of Lincoln’s classic design language with the bow nose, slatted grille and full-length taillights as seen with the likes of last year’s MKR Concept.

Depicted as a “Learjet for the road” by Peter Horbury, chief of design for the Americas, the MKT offers luxurious accommodations for four, made true with modern American interior design and high-end materials such as silks and chromium-free leathers. Innovations in lighting allow for backlit controls on curved surfaces for the center console, giving designers newfound freedom and the interior of the MKT a very modern look.

Power for the MKT will come from the same 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo gasoline direct injection engine as the MKS, but the heat has been turned up so it now produces 415 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque while running on E85. That gives it a very un-Lincoln like specific output of 118 horsepower per liter. Power is distributed through all four wheels that drive through a six-speed auto.

As an environmentally friendly touch, Lincoln is introducing a variety of new body materials with the MKT Concept developed by Ceric / GEPlastics. Xenoy iQ and Valox iQ, made from recycled plastics, were used on the panels, energy absorbers helping to reduce weight and carbon dioxide emissions, all while keeping waste out of landfills.

While some of the concept’s elements may not make it to production, Lincoln is serious about the MKT. Prototypes have already been spied in testing, a sign that a production debut might not be too far down the road.