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2016 Lincoln MKX gets 330-hp EcoBoost V6, new auto braking system

Lincoln has been treading water with the MKX. The crossover's sales were flat in 2014, and its appearance and mechanicals have been largely unchanged since its last redesign in 2011. That changes this fall, when the redesigned 2016 MKX goes on sale in the United States with a more powerful EcoBoost engine, an upgraded cabin and a host of new comfort and safety features designed to make the crossover more competitive and increase its sales. The MKX debuts Tuesday at the Detroit Auto Show, though pictures leaked last weekend. The new vehicle has at least 36 new features compared with the outgoing model, and perhaps the most significant is the addition of the optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, which is expected to make more than 330 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. That's a major jump from the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6, which is the only engine option available on the current vehicle. It continues as the standard engine for the 2016 model and is rated at 300 hp and 280 lb-ft. The engines are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions. Front wheel-drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is an option. Lincoln engineers focused on improving the driving character of the new MKX. The chassis is revised, and the rear suspension uses an integral link setup. It's also the first Lincoln to get adaptive steering. The body structure is updated and designed to keep more outside noise from the cabin. "Quietness is luxury," chief engineer Elaine Bannon said. The MKX was also redesigned with a focus on safety. The MKX is among the first Ford Motor Co. vehicles to get a new feature, called pre-collision assist. The technology will warn the driver if it senses a crash is imminent and apply the brakes. The technology is also launching this year on the European version of the Ford Fusion, the Mondeo. Additionally, the MKX gets a 360-degree camera that aids with parking. The camera is mounted behind the Lincoln star badge in the middle of the split-wing grille. It extends to offer a view of up to seven feet around the perimeter of the crossover. Lincoln also added an auto hold feature, which keeps the vehicle from moving when it is sitting in traffic. Lincoln underscored the MKX's new safety and technology with a more dramatic design for 2016. It has a swoopy appearance with fender flares similar to those on the MKC, and it's curvier and more creased than the outgoing MKX.

May 2016: FCA wins, Ford and GM stumble on weak car volumes

The May 2016 sales numbers are in, and it looks as though FCA is getting some vindication for boldly cancelling two slow-selling car models. Meanwhile, Ford saw overall sales dip and GM's May volume took a big dive versus the same month in 2015. While Marchionne's decision to axe the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart has drawn criticism as being short-sighted, it's working for FCA so far. Although the Dart and 200 aren't out of production yet and no capacity has been shifted to crossover or trucks, May's numbers show that the emphasis on Jeep and Ram models makes sense right now. FCA's US sales rose 1 percent last month compared to May 2015, putting the year-to-date total at 955,186 vehicles, an increase of 6 percent compared to the same period last year. Standouts included the Jeep Renegade, Compass, and Patriot, and the Fiat 500X. Ram pickup sales were down 3 percent. And your fun fact is that Alfa Romeo sales were up precisely 10 percent, for a total of 44 4Cs sold versus 40 in the same month last year. At FoMoCo, the Ford brand took a hit to the tune of 6.4 percent from May 2015 to 2016, registering 226,190 sales last month. Lincoln showed improvement on its modest numbers, going from 9,174 to 9,807, a 6.9 percent increase. Overall, Ford was down 5.9 percent for the month to 235,997; despite the slump, year-to-date total Ford sales are up 4.2 percent to 1,112,939. Strong sellers included Escape, Expedition, F-Series, and Transit - big stuff. Most small and/or efficient models (Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, C-Max) saw sales slides. Fusion sales were also down, likely due to effects of model changeover to the freshened 2017 model. Ford has promised four new crossovers and SUVs by 2020 and if things keep trending this way the company will be able to sell them, but things could change in the next four years. GM saw the worst of it for domestic brands. Retail and fleet sales were down for each of the four divisions, with the May 2016 total dropping 18 percent to 240,450 vehicles. GM's year-to-date sales are down 5.0 percent in 2016 to 1,183,705. Both the Sierra and Silverado were down significantly, and the majority of Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac nameplates saw sales decreases, with both small cars and larger utilities included. Not even big stuff could help GM this month, it seems. We'll have more on the rest of the industry's May sales as those figures trickle in.

Ellen DeGeneres sends up Matthew McConaughey's Lincoln ad

Lincoln had to have known that when it released its new ad campaign for the new MKC with Matthew McConaughey, it would open itself up to a bit of good old fashioned ridicule. The television commercial was, after all, good for a laugh or two. And true to their mission, talk show hosts haven't missed the opportunity to have a little fun at Lincoln's and McConaughey's expense.
Conan O'Brien was first to send up the television spot, but now Ellen DeGeneres has taken a stab at it too, superimposing herself in the back seat of the compact luxury crossover, downing some pot brownies and generally playing Costello to McConaughey's Abbott. It's worth a watch, if only to see Ellen getting down in her usual, offbeat style.