Lincoln Mk 9 Concept unveiled
2 May 2001: Ford's luxury new Lincoln MK 9 coupe concept was unveiled at this year's New York Auto Show and is described by the company as 'timelessly elegant' and 'exuberant'. according to Lincoln Design Director Gerry McGovern, during the next several years, Lincoln will build on the design direction evident in the MK 9 through new concept and production vehicles.The styling features a chrome-accented upper shoulder line that runs the length of the vehicle, and other details inlcude an evolution of a Lincoln signature grille flanked by twin xenon gas discharge headlamps. Aluminum door handles are flush-mounted to the MK 9's door skin and present themselves to the driver and passenger by remote control.
The 22-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels are fitted with P275/45/R22 Continental tires in front and P295/40/R22 tires in the rear.
Inside the MK 9, a combination of Dark Cherry Red and Marlboro Red leathers with accents of polished metal create a luxurious lounge environment. The front seats are cantilevered off the center console to improve passenger foot space. Etched glass instruments are crafted with jewel-like quality and are illuminated indirectly. Navigation and telematics information is displayed on a reconfigurable screen in the center console and transmission selection is by an electronic, column-mounted paddle shifter.
Mark Hutchins, president of Lincoln Mercury, says the company plans to grow the business and achieve global desirability.
Lincoln achieved great commercial success in the decades leading up to the early 1990s with full-size cars such as the Lincoln Town Car which primarily appeal to affluent consumers who favored large, conservatively styled vehicles. But the Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicle, introduced as a 1998 model, and the Lincoln LS sport sedan, introduced as a 2000 model, are attracting a new customer base.
The company's new direction comes as the number of millionaires in the US are growing approximately 20 times the rate of population growth as a whole. Lincoln intends to enter new market segments while continuing to refine the luxury and performance of its current vehicles.