Skip to main content

Lincoln’s MKC crossover cleverly conceals its blue-collar Ford lineage

Recently, Lincoln has been trying to emerge from Ford’s shadow, even renaming itself the Lincoln Motor Company. Those efforts are apparent in its newsiest model, the 2015 MKC, which is set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Introduced as a concept at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the MKC is based on the blue-collar Ford Escape, but Lincoln hopes it’s added enough luxury and tech to make this new crossover a viable competitor to German standards like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK.

The transformation’s most apparent effect was on the exterior, which is almost identical to the Detroit concept. The MKC features many styling cues from the MKZ sedan, including the brand-signature “split-wing grille” and an (optional) panoramic glass roof. There’s also a wraparound liftgate and taillights, which help distract from the crossover’s tallness.

While the MKZ has trouble competing visually against the Ford Fusion and its Aston Martin-like face, the MKC definitely stands out from the Escape.

The MKC will come standard with Ford’s familiar 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder engine, which produces 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Buyers can upgrade to a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost with 275 hp and 300 lb-ft.

Front-wheel drive will be standard; all-wheel drive will be optional. The latter includes Continuously Controlled Damping, which allows drivers to select from three suspension settings (comfort, normal, sport) to suit their moods.

On the inside, Lincoln made sure not to skimp on the leather, wood, and technology.

Like the exterior, the interior appears substantially different from the Escape’s, right down to the new steering wheel Lincoln says will become a fixture on future models.

The MKC features an eight-inch center-stack touchscreen, for the Sync with MyLincoln Touch infotainment system. The system is controlled through the screen or through voice commands, but Lincoln also included some buttons. Given past customer frustration with MyLincoln Touch and MyFord Touch, this was probably a good decision.

Another, slightly creepy feature is Approach Detection. The MKC senses when its driver is approaching and illuminates “welcome mats” on the ground in front of the doors, as well as illuminating the exterior lights. Owners can also use the MyLincoln Mobile app to locate, unlock, and remotely start the car, or even program a delayed remote start.

The 2015 Lincoln MKC will debut at the 2013 LA Auto Show, which opens November 20. It’s expected to arrive in showrooms next summer.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.
costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

Read more
The UK’s Wayve brings its AI automated driving software to U.S. shores
wayve ai automated driving us driver assist2 1920x1152 1

It might seem that the autonomous driving trend is moving at full speed and on its own accord, especially if you live in California.Wayve, a UK startup that has received over $1 billion in funding, is now joining the crowded party by launching on-road testing of its AI learning system on the streets of San Francisco and the Bay Area.The announcement comes just weeks after Tesla unveiled its Robotaxi at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California. It was also in San Francisco that an accident last year forced General Motors’ robotaxi service Cruise to stop its operations. And it’s mostly in California that Waymo, the only functioning robotaxi service in the U.S., first deployed its fleet of self-driving cars. As part of its move, Wayve opened a new office in Silicon Valley to support its U.S. expansion and AI development. Similarly to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) software, the company says it’s using AI to provide automakers with a full range of driver assistance and automation features.“We are now testing our AI software in real-world environments across two continents,” said Alex Kendall, Wayve co-founder and CEO.The company has already conducted tests on UK roads since 2018. It received a huge boost earlier this year when it raised over $1 billion in a move led by Softbank and joined by Microsoft and Nvidia. In August, Uber also said it would invest to help the development of Wayve’s technology.Just like Tesla’s FSD, Wayve’s software provides an advanced driver assistance system that still requires driver supervision.Before driverless vehicles can legally hit the road, they must first pass strict safety tests.So far, Waymo’s technology, which relies on pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar), is the only of its kind to have received the nod from U.S. regulators.

Read more
Pirelli’s new ‘Cyber Tyre’ could be the next traction control
Red Pagani Utopia Roadster in a spotlight on a white background

If you’ve heard whispers about the “Pirelli Cyber Tyre,” or spotted the news about the Italian manufacturer’s work with Bosch, Pagani, and McLaren, then you may be wondering: What makes the new tire so clever? Smart tires as a concept go back a few years, and Pirelli has a habit of squeezing in tech wherever possible. So, what's different this time?

Well, plenty of drivers know what happens when you hit a patch of ice, or test your luck through a particularly bad downpour. Your vehicle loses grip and unless you have the skills needed to get it back on track, you’re probably going to wind up pitched into a ditch or headed sideways into a tree. Things like stability control and traction control help a lot, but they can’t do much when you do start hydroplaning.

Read more