2004 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate L on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2020 Lincoln Corsair Review & Buying Guide | Old-school, value-priced luxury

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair is a compelling alternative to the compact luxury crossover establishment. It’s distinctively stylish inside and out, very spacious, and it clearly focuses on comfort rather than performance. Not only that, it has a base price that's thousands of dollars cheaper than its German rivals. It has a couple of drawbacks. Its quest for comfort does sacrifice some of its handling capability, and its overseas rivals still have nicer cabin materials. But there are enough positives that youÂ’ll still want to give the Corsair a closer look. What's new for 2020? The Lincoln Corsair is a completely new model introduced this year. It replaces the Lincoln MKC, and like that crossover, the Corsair still shares its platform with the Ford Escape. 2020 Lincoln Corsair Beyond Blue interior View 9 Photos What's the Corsair's interior and in-car technology like? While the Corsair is based on the Ford Escape, you wouldnÂ’t be able to tell from the inside, and thatÂ’s a very good thing. The little Lincoln crossover has a unique interior, both in relation to the Escape and to the rest of its luxury segment. There's nothing remotely like it. The dashboard itself is low and wide, emphasized by the split-level design and the faux full-width air vent. The center stack has a cantilevered design that floats above the center console area and features chrome-plated switches and knobs. Base models get a stylish pinstriped aluminum trim panel on the dash paired with one of three upholstery color options including black, gray and beige. However, the Reserve steps things up considerably with differing wood and metal trim choices that correspond to the expanded leather color options that include a camel tan and dark turquoise (pictured above). All Corsairs get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system mounted high on the dash within easy sight and reach. It uses a reskinned version of the latest Ford SYNC interface. The layout is straightforward and easy to navigate, and the more muted color options on the Lincoln system are easier on the eyes than the stark white Ford version. ItÂ’s a little bit slow to load new menus, though, and this carries over to the optional 12.3-inch instrument cluster screen available on the Reserve trim. The Corsair comes standard with an analog instrument cluster with a 6.5-inch info screen. We appreciate that many stereo and climate controls have dedicated switches and knobs on the center stack, and they have a nice heft to their actions.

MyFord Touch getting buttons and knobs back to counter criticisms

Ford deserves credit for being a front-runner in offering advanced infotainment technology with its Sync and MyFord Touch systems, but continued consumer complaints over its confusing touchscreen interface and capacitive controls has made the automaker relent. The Wall Street Journal reports that physical buttons and knobs for controlling tuning and volume will be coming back to Ford vehicles equipped with the controversial infotainment system.
The 2013 F-150 with MyFord Touch gives us a glimpse of what the new layout with buttons and knobs might look like, as Ford says a similar balance of touch screen capability and buttons/knobs are what's being planned for future models. And, while capacitive controls have no fans in the halls of Autoblog, many of Ford's models with MyFord Touch do have a large physical knob for adjusting volume with integrated buttons for tuning and advancing tracks, though most of those are models with the optional upgraded Sony Audio system. Lincoln models with MyLincoln Touch, however, feature only capacitive controls for all stereo and climate functions.
Despite receiving enough complaints to throw buttons and knobs back into the mix (a move that reminds us of BMW's iDrive trajectory, among others), Ford reports that Sync and MyFord Touch have still been sold on 79 percent of its 2013 model year vehicles, a number it claims is double the rate that Honda and Toyota are getting for their infotainment systems. Ford also states that owners who do opt for the duo of technologies are more satisfied with overall vehicle quality than those who don't have it.

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.