We talk about virtually anything (and everthing) on four wheels here in this forum.....CAR CHAT. You certainly know that.....you're one of our regular members. In fact, by my ears, we've probably discussed Lincoln more recently on CL than Cadillac, in spite of the fact that I recently did a review of the Cadillac ATS and am planning one soon for the XTS flagship.

 

Eh, money to develop a new platform or access to the Mustang platform would go a long way to creating a solid RWD entry or entries. Lincoln has to share everything.

 

Are you refering to the present or future Mustang platform? The present one has a more or less 1960s-vintage live rear axle, which would simply be unacceptable for an upscale Lincoln product. The future Mustang platform (if the spy-stories are correct) will finally convert to IRS across the board.

 

Lincoln cancelled TTAC's PR cars after bad review:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ul-mkz-review/

 

I was referring to the future platform, which seems like it's going to be quite athletic.

I'm not surprised. TTAC has a habit of going overboard in their reviews. They tear into cars sometimes to the point where it seems quite exaggerated.

 

so it is their fault that Ford sent them crappily built Lincoln?

No wonder their sales are crap.

 

Oh I know buddy, I was just joking around. Thanks for all of those amazing reviews. I really enjoy reading them and I love how in depth you go. Please remember that we do appreciate the work. I know how long my short reviews take on the rare occasion I did them. I can only imagine how long it takes for a mmarshall review

 

For everything (research, overview, static-inspection, test-drive, note-taking, drafts, final write-up, and posting on CL)........about 8 to 10 hours on average. I don't always do it all in one day (I'm getting older, and tire more easily now), but sometimes spread the work out a little.

Glad you enjoy them. Cadillac XTS, BTW, coming up soon.

 

Lincoln Takes on Lexus in New Ad Campaign

Introducing #LuxuryUncovered - YouTube

Lincoln is launching an advertising campaign today, themed "Luxury Uncovered," in which its 2014 MKZ takes some jabs at rival Lexus.

The commercials, which will run through at least the end of the year, will be shown on prime time network and cable TV shows and will have a social media component.

But Lincoln officials said in a media briefing on the campaign Tuesday that they will not advertise on the 2014 Super Bowl. Lincoln did run a spot on the 2013 Super Bowl, in advance of the launch of the redesigned 2013 MKZ.

Lincoln has another launch on the horizon -- the MKC luxury compact crossover -- but officials have not announced when a production version will appear.

Several of the new spots, featuring the 2014 MKZ sedan, show young couples on a couch in a studio posing questions to a pair of cars facing them: the Lincoln MKZ and the Lexus ES.

In one ad, the man says: "Which of you offers the largest retractable panoramic roof?"

The camera shifts to the cars, which don't utter words. Rather, cartoon-style bubbles appear. The words "That's me" appear above the MKZ in answer to the roof question. The words "I'm very shiny" appears above the Lexus.

The woman then says: "I want standard adaptive suspension. Anybody?"

The MKZ replies: "I have that." The Lexus says: "So shiny."

The man then asks: "Which of you offers inflatable rear-seat belts?" The MKZ again says: "I have that." The Lexus says: "Inflatable what?"

A voiceover says: "When you're looking for a luxury car, make sure you ask the right questions."

In another spot, a couple is shown congratulating an MKZ on winning a 2013 JD Power APEAL Award for best compact premium car. The silver MKZ says "Thank You." The camera returns to the couple, and the woman says: "But wait, are you blushing?"

The camera goes back to the car, which has now turned red.

Lincoln is in the midst of an attempted reinvention that began with the launch of the redesigned 2013 MKZ last spring. Lincoln heralded the MKZ as the 1st in a new generation of Lincolns that would appeal to a new, younger generation of owners Lincoln calls "progressive luxury customers".

The brand's U.S. sales have skidded 6 percent this year through September in an overall market that has expanded 8 percent.

Andrew Frick, Lincoln group marketing manager, said the MKZ has begun winning more conquest customers. The MKZ Hybrid in particular has won customers from other brands, he said.

"Conquest rates are over 45 percent with the hybrid," he said. 2 two vehicles most frequently traded for an MKZ are the Lexus ES and Toyota Prius, he said.

Lincoln earlier announced it was doubling production of the MKZ Hybrid from 20 percent to 40 percent of the mix.

The MKZ Hybrid has also helped lower the average Lincoln owner age, 1 of the highest in the industry. The average age of the 2013 MKZ Hybrid owner is 57, compared with 61 for the previous MKZ Hybrid.

The average household income has also risen to $122,000 for 2013 MKZ Hybrid owners. Lincoln did not give an average income figure for the previous model.

Lincoln will begin the advertising campaign with the MKZ and follow later with ads for some other models, including the MKX crossover.

The ads were created by Lincoln's ad agency Hudson Rouge, an affiliate of Ford's Team Detroit.

 

Brands with the challenge of making a mark in a particular segment regularly compare their entry to a segment leader. Think LaCrosse/ES350, Veracruz/RX etc.

Also using young, hip 30 something actors in MKZ, ES, Buick etc. ads is popular right now although that's not who is actually buying these cars.

 

Sounds like a pretty bad commercial...

 

sorry for the belated response, just saw this.

The latest Fusion and its chassis have thus far wow'd consumers, publications and myself. A lot of car for the money, safety, tech, efficiency and to a subjective view stylish. Let's not forget it's also the only one in its segment other than the Legacy to offer AWD - a serious omission by the others IMO

By contrast you have the MKZ though while competent really doesn't do anything to standout, and it's certainly not a bargain when pricing it out.

Once again the biggest disappointment is the differentiation between the MKZ and it's Fusion platform mate

 

Yup, something they didn't figure out with the previous gen either and this also plauges Acura and even Infiniti. The cars from the parent brand and the cars from the luxury brand are not distinctive enough.

I saw the Lincoln ad and I see what they were trying to do and the car is nice in person but I never understand trying to knock-out a champ that won't be knocked-out. Buick tried this approach with the LaCrosse and the LaCrosse sells well and guess what the ES sells just as good as before.

The ES is now a 20 year old champ, literally since the 2nd gen in 1992. I think Lincoln maybe should showcase those new red, etc interiors they are going to offer.

 

Cadillac did well enough to break away and keep their core RWD. I wish Acura and Lincoln would do the same

 

I respect your opinion, but don't quite see it that way. Cadillac's true "core" was clearly not those buying the RWD CTS/ATS, but the legions of (mostly) older people buying the DeVille/DTS as repeat buyers for decades. They were the ones that were effectively ignored when the DTS was dropped for the new XTS....which (admittedly has more-plush interior trim and a more efficient, modern drivetrain than the DTS, but, IMO, is otherwise NOT a adequate DTS replacement for that traditional "core" crowd.

And, of course, that group can't cross-shop Lincolns or Buicks any more either, because both of those divisions dropped their large soft-riding sedans, too. If Lincoln hadn't dropped the Town Car, many of the former DTS owners would probably have turned to it....and vice-versa. What's probably going to happen (and we're starting to see signs of it) is that we'll see more buisness for the DTS/Lucerne/Town Car in the used-car market, with vales for those models (especially clean, well-cared-for ones) appreciating in value....or at least lower rates of depreciation.


Except for maybe the fairly large number of loyal buyers with the MDX (and to a lesser extent the TL), I don't see Acura as having much of a "core" at all any more. They have simply driven away too many people with their parrot-beak grilles, awkward styling, and silly designs like the ZDX.