2006 Lincoln Mark Lt 4wd on 2040-cars

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Lincoln confirms the MKZ only has a few months left to live

Lincoln confirmed it will put the MKZ out to pasture in 2020. The sedan is based on the Ford Fusion, which is also scheduled to retire in the coming months as the company pivots towards high-riding models. Introduced at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the MKZ is the oldest member of the Lincoln portfolio by a wide margin, so its demise hardly comes as a surprise. The firm quietly broke the news as it announced plans to release an electric SUV built using technology borrowed from Rivian. The 2020 model is already out, and Lincoln tells Autoblog production will end in mid-2020, with sales continuing through the rest of the year. There will be no 2021 model.   Though never a home run, the MKZ will be remembered as a significant car because it ushered in the design language that characterizes every model Lincoln sells in 2020 when it received a mid-cycle update for the 2017 model year. And, with up to 400 horsepower on tap, it also stood out as the most powerful production Lincoln ever released. Power and an elegant design weren't enough to give the nameplate a significant boost, and annual sales dropped to 17,725 units in 2019 from a peak of 34,009 cars in 2014. Even the Navigator outsold it. In recent years, the MKZ perplexingly became the autonomous car world's darling. Faraday Future, Didi Chuxing, Aurora, and Qualcomm are among the companies that tested their technology with MKZ-based prototypes. Lincoln explained the Hermosillo, Mexico, factory that makes the MKZ and the Fusion will "prepare for production of new Ford vehicles," but it didn't specify which ones. There's absolutely no evidence the company is developing a direct replacement for its entry-level sedan, so the Continental will carry the torch on its own. Its days might be numbered, too, because several unverified reports claim Lincoln will again consign the nameplate to the attic in the coming years to free up the production capacity it needs to build electric cars in Flat Rock, Michigan. Once it goes, Lincoln's range will be entirely sedan-free for the first time since the company was created in 1917. Some automakers still believe in the sedan, like Audi, but Lincoln seems to be a student of Ford's philosophy. Related Video:    

2024 Lincoln Aviator and 2024 Ford Explorer lose hybrid option

The 2024 Lincoln Aviator will not be available with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, a spokesman for the brand confirmed. Lincoln dropped the gasoline-electric option to focus on more popular variants of the SUV, and it's making a handful of small changes for the new model year. "Given timing, the 2024 Aviator is a limited production run and as such, we are focusing on our most popular offering," a spokesman told Autoblog via email. While nothing is official yet, unverified reports suggest that the SUV will receive a major round of updates for 2025. In the meantime, the Aviator will enter the 2024 model year with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 as its only engine option. The six-cylinder makes 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, and it spins the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is offered at an extra cost, though keep in mind that Lincoln hasn't published the full list of changes it's making to the model for 2024 yet. Ditching the hybrid system means buyers now have three trims to choose from. Previously named Standard, the entry-level trim is called Premiere for 2024. The mid-range Reserve and the range-topping Black Label carry over. Pricing starts at $53,340 excluding destination. More details about the 2024 Lincoln Aviator should emerge in the coming weeks. Lincoln parent company Ford is axing the Explorer's available hybrid system in the civilian model as well. But the police version of the SUV is only available as a hybrid, and will continue to be. "To meet continued strong demand for the Ford Police Interceptor Utility hybrid and other Ford hybrid vehicles, the 2024-model-year Explorer will only be offered with the fuel-efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder Ecoboost and the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. Those two engines account for the majority of Explorer sales," a spokesperson for the Blue Oval confirmed to Autoblog. There's no word on when or if the hybrid will return for civilian Explorers. Offered through 2023, the Explorer's optional gasoline-electric drivetrain was only available on the top-of-the-line Limited and Platinum variants. And, like the Aviator it's related to, the Explorer is expected to get a round of updates inside and out for the 2025 model year.

Jay Leno recaps Pebble Beach

Each year at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance the picturesque, ocean-side setting of the golf course becomes a parking lot for a vast array of multi-million dollar vehicles. However, if you missed the posh event this year, then Jay Leno has you covered yet again. For a nearly hour-long installment of Jay Leno's Garage, the comedian has dumped his denim in favor of a suit to take viewers on an insider tour of the lavish gathering. He interviewed some of the most talented designers in the auto industry, too. Leno starts off checking out a few beautiful classics by the shore, but things really get interesting for his stroll down the Concept Car Lawn for a scoop on the vehicles of tomorrow. Ed Welburn tells Leno all about the Buick Avenir, and Shiro Nakamura offers a tour of the Infiniti Q60. Plus, there are detailed looks at the Lincoln Continental, Hyundai Vision G Coupe, and Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6. News Source: Jay Leno's Garage via YouTube Bentley Buick Hyundai Infiniti Lincoln McLaren Classics Videos Pebble Beach Jay Lenos Garage infiniti q60 buick avenir bentley exp 10 speed 6