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Matthew McConaughey Lincoln pitches drive on with new MKZ ads

You didn't think a few spoofs were going to break up Lincoln and pitch-man Matthew McConaughey, did you? With more than three million extra free views of Lincoln products on YouTube because of the send-ups – and no one is making fun of the car, remember – the brand rightly concludes, "We couldn't ask for better." That's why the pair are back, this time working on behalf of the MKZ and MKZ Hybrid. The two commercials "Balance" and "Diner" are new, but the formula is the same - cinematic, contemplative, channeling more than a bit of True Detective. They'll hit broadcast channels during college bowl games on New Year's Day. You can watch "Balance" above and "Diner" below, and the press release further down has more details. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Matthew McConaughey Gets Behind Wheel of 2015 Lincoln MKZ in New Ads Airing Jan. 1 - The Lincoln Motor Company teams up again with Academy Award™ winner Matthew McConaughey to create Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ad campaign that will begin airing during high-profile New Year's Day college football bowl games - Two new TV and online ads will promote Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid midsize sedans, which have given a new direction to the brand with their introduction two years ago - Lincoln's previous collaboration with McConaughey, the "Live in Your Moment" campaign, fueled early sales success of 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2014 – In the bright spotlight of New Year's Day college football bowl games, The Lincoln Motor Company will launch its newest ad campaign promoting the 2015 Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and featuring Matthew McConaughey. Filmed in a style and tone consistent with last summer's much-talked-about "Live in Your Moment" ads for the first-ever Lincoln MKC, the new campaign brings the attention back to the premium midsize sedan that has been Lincoln's best-selling vehicle since arriving in showrooms two years ago. "The overwhelming response to the MKC campaign sparked truly great awareness for Lincoln," said Andrew Frick, Group Marketing Manager Lincoln. "Matthew's natural storytelling ability perfectly complements the Lincoln story as we continue to raise awareness and drive conversation in creative and unexpected ways.

Dodge Dart falls short of Consumer Reports Recommended, Caddy XTS and Lincoln MKS, too

The Dodge Dart, Cadillac XTS and Lincoln MKS all failed to earn a "Recommended" rating from Consumer Reports. When it came to the compact Dart, the organization's testers thought the vehicle offered a quiet cabin, solid-feeling chassis and nimble suspension, but the new model ultimately fell short of the coveted rating due to powertrain issues. The institute's reviewers found the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to be underpowered and noted "drivability issues" when the available turbocharged 1.4-liter four was paired with the optional dual-clutch transmission (some of our editors disliked it paired with the six-speed manual). CR also dinged the latter powerplant for sounding "raspy." For what it's worth, we think the forced-induction engine offers an excellent and playful exhaust note, but that's just us.
As for the XTS, CR lauded the car for its luxurious cabin, but the vehicle's experience was dulled by its finicky CUE infotainment interface. Overall, the big Cadillac scored much higher than its cross-town rival from Lincoln. While testers found the American luxury sedan to offer a quiet ride and quality fit and finish, they felt the MKS delivered a "cramped driving position, ungainly handling, uncomposed ride, and limited visibility." Ouch. At the end of the day, both cars fell short of rivals from Japan, Germany and Korea. Check out the full press release below with more details, along with CR's musings on the Chevrolet Spark and Lexus ES.

NHTSA upgrades Ford floor mat unintended acceleration probe

According to a Bloomberg report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded an investigation into complaints of unintended acceleration lodged against Ford vehicles. The investigation began in June of 2010 when just three complaints had been received and it only concerned the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, but this was at a time when the phrase "unintended acceleration" made grown men go pale. With 49 additional complaints received since then, the investigation has been reclassified as an engineering analysis - the last phase before a recall - and it has been expanded to include the Lincoln MKZ, making for a total of "around 480,000" units affected between the three sedans from the 2008 to 2010 model years.
The ostensible cause is that floor mats are trapping the accelerator pedal, but according to a Ford statement at the time, the entrapment is due to owners placing the optional all-weather floor mats, or aftermarket floor mats, on top of the car's standard floor mats. NHTSA has backed up that assessment, pinning the blame on "unsecured or double stacked floor mats."
On the face of it, it would appear that NHTSA has upgraded the status not because of Ford's error, but owner error, and Ford has stated publicly that it is "disappointed" in NHTSA's move. On top of NHTSA still being skittish after that other unintended acceleration debacle, it could be seen to be taking its time investigating all of the variables: it's reported that Ford changed its accelerator pedal design in 2010, a "heel blocker" in the floorpan has been considered a potential culprit in how the floor mats could be trapping the pedal, some drivers have said the floor mats weren't anywhere near the pedal, and according to a report in the LA Times, in "a letter sent by Ford to NHTSA in August 2010, the automaker said it found three injuries and one fatality that 'may have resulted from the alleged defect.'"