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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.

Mustang parts under the new Lincoln Aviator mean good things for Ford

NEW YORK — As we mentioned last night, underneath the new Lincoln Aviator "concept" there appears to be an independent rear suspension lifted right from the Ford Mustang parts bin. And while it's pretty cool on its face that Mustang rear-drive platform bits are being reused in the broader Ford universe, what this means for the next Explorer could be really cool. A quick caveat: The Aviator here in New York is very close to the production version, but it's not technically a production car. It looks hand-built, with temporary exhaust and some show-car touches. The suspension underneath looks exactly like a Mustang's, but the actual production Aviator will almost certainly use beefier components with the same basic design and geometry, since the Aviator will be much heavier than the smaller Mustang. That being said, we're fairly confident that even at this early stage, the Mustang-derived suspension seen in New York is a preview of what'll be under the production Aviator. Furthermore, Ford won't say it, but based on what we're seeing on Aviator, it's a safe bet that Ford will utilize the Aviator platform for the next Explorer. That would enable the economies of scale necessary to produce a brand new rear-drive-based SUV platform in the first place. It also means that the Explorer should be available without AWD — and given the stable of powerful EcoBoost engines, and the competent 10-speed automatic in the parts bin, a rear-drive Explorer has a shot at being a decent driver. Aviator wouldn't go rear-drive-based if driving dynamics weren't important; Explorer should inherit these priorities. More evidence: The Explorer spy shots we saw back in February sure share the Aviator's general proportions. Even back then, before Aviator was revealed, we were hypothesizing that an EcoBoost 3.5-liter-powered version could boast as much as 400 horsepower, if the Expedition's tune were adopted. Suddenly, the Explorer seems very interesting. So, an EcoBoost, rear-drive Explorer sure sounds like something Ford Performance would be interested in, right? We knew an Explorer ST is coming, but with 365-400 horsepower potential and a chassis designed with dynamics in mind, it doesn't seem like as much of a stretch as the Edge ST. And a performance-oriented AWD system is a possibility, too. That's an area where Ford has been gathering experience at a rapid pace. What do we not expect from a new Explorer? A V8.

We test Lincoln's 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo with a rock star

If there's two things Detroiters know, it's music and cars. So when Lincoln approached us with big claims about their latest stereo system, the Revel Ultima System, we sought out a veteran of the Motor City music scene to test it out. First unveiled at the 2015 Detroit International Auto Show in the Lincoln MKX, Revel is bringing its bumping bass to the 2017 Lincoln MKZ. We had Dick Valentine, lead singer of Electric Six and favorite son of Detroit, try out the 20-speaker, 1200-watt system. If you want it on your MKZ, Revel Ultima is part of the $4,400 Luxury Package. Electric Six is perhaps most famous for its early hit, Gay Bar, and the music video filled with shirtless Abe Lincolns in the White House. Since their debut release, Fire, E6 has backed up a regular touring schedule with ten more studio albums, both a live album and live DVD, and an upcoming quasi-reality film titled Roulette Stars of Metro Detroit. We met up with Valentine on the set of the Roulette Stars to explore the depths of his sardonic wit that oozes through every E6 song. Lincoln says that Revel is the best in the biz. And we'll admit, the stats are impressive. But are 20 speakers and marketing terms like Quantum Logic Surround Technology, Clari-Fi Technology and Point Source Architecture enough to impress a Detroit legend? Valentine knows a little something about sound. As the lead singer and frontman of the Electric Six, he's spent over twenty years hearing his tunes played through speakers. While Valentine hasn't owned a car in a while, he does have opinions on jamming inside of them. We played songs from the band's latest album Bitch, Don't Let Me Die to see if Revel truly delivers on it's bold claims. Related Video: Celebrities Lincoln Ownership music audio sound system