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Mustang MKZ

6775 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Telepathy, 
Z
There are rumors swirling the next gen S550 mustang chassis will underpin a future Lincoln, immediatly a couple ideas popped into my head about what exactly a mustang chassis could be used for.

Firstly would be to use the S550 platform for either a halo car very similar to the mustang, but with luxury and maybe even performance cranked up, it could be a bonafide range topper. Or if Lincoln wants to go the direct competitor route S550 could just become an MKZ coupe to go head to head with the BMW 4 series and Infiniti Q60...

Second it could be lengthened and used to underpin a new MKZ. With the MKZ RWD it would become much more appealing to performance or driving dynamic oriented shoppers and put it in line with the RWD BMW 3 series, Cadillac ATS and Infiniti Q50. That would be one way to dissipate the old man feel of the MKZ.

And why wouldn't they use the S550 platform for an MKZ? the Alpha platform that underpins the Cadillac ATS (same size as MKZ) is going to underpin the new Camaro, its the exact same thing as MKZ sharing the S550 platform. It would also make the MKZ more competitive against the ATS which has been taking a fair chunk of sales from the 3 series.

Most importantly 65% of ATS' are being sold to buyers new to the brand, you don't think Lincoln could benefit from an injection of fresh blood?

If an S550 chassis is used for a halo car or something relatively low volume it loses the benefits it would get from under pinning a high volume model. Lincoln needs as many people as possible to experience their transformation, Which scenario do you think has more people experience the new exciting Lincoln under pinned by mustang, an MKZ or a range topping Halo car?

If S550 underpins MKZ it falls into the price range of many more buyers than an $80k Halo car for example. $40k is about the sweet spot in the auto industry right now. If you give people refined and exciting cars to drive they will come. The ATS is proof...
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M
It would be great if Lincoln can make an MKZ coupe that is much more performance oriented, and keep the sedan version as-is and maybe in the future offer a performance styling package like Lexus's "F-Sport"
There's a very good chance we can hear more about this at the upcoming auto shows
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M
Yeah like an MKZ coupe PF model using the platform from the mustang but use a slightly different suspension for comfort but still sporty.
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MKZephyerstein said:
Yeah like an MKZ coupe PF model using the platform from the mustang but use a slightly different suspension for comfort but still sporty.
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The problem if you split MKZ coupe and sedan onto different platforms is that they can now not roll down the same assembly line together. Cars have to be kept as modular as possible to make manufacturing as efficient as possible...

But i do agree that and MKZ sedan based on Mustang should have a softer suspension feel than the coupe does, however the BMW 3 series doesnt have a soft suspension, neither does the ATS. I think these are the two aims Lincoln should have for the MKZ at the moment...
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G
The S550 chassis would probably be used for the flagship Lincoln.
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T
Aren't they planning to use the platform for the MKS which is larger than the MKZ?
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Tungsten2 said:
Aren't they planning to use the platform for the MKS which is larger than the MKZ?
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well to use the S550 platform under the MKS it would have to be stretched anyways, besides there's no reason that MKZ and MKS can't ride on the same platform...

Plus the Ford Fusion just started production this August in the Flat Rock plant, where they currently build the Mustang.

The S550 Mustang is expected to be produced at Flat Rock again, but the Detroit News also broke the story that Ford will definitely make the next gen Lincoln MKS at Flat Rock...

So with the MKS moving from the Chicago Assembly plant it should be moving away from sharing with the Taurus and Explorer, all of which are built on the same FWD/AWD platform.

Now we can speculate wildly....

Assuming MKS isn't built on a Fusion platform, its possible they build MKS on the new Mustang platform, making the idea even more palatable the S550 is going to have IRS for the first time ever...

But now where it gets interesting is when we look at Fusion moving to Flat Rock, MKZ and Fusion have always been built side by side so in the big move it is also possible that instead of chopping up fusion demand to build MKZs, they swap the MKZ to the same S550 platform and instantly Lincoln is a real competitor again...

Also worth noting is that the S550 platform is an all new development for Ford so at this point they will be looking to get that platform into as many vehicles as possible to recoup development costs as quickly as possible. I truely believe the S550 platform is a response to Chevys Alpha platform that will underpin the new Camaro and next years CTS and already rides under the ATS...
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T
My vote would be for the Mustang chassis to be used for a MKZ Coupe. I think that that would be a great offering from Lincoln. I could also see it making a halo car. Lincoln really needs a range topping vehicle that really shows off what it can do. I think that people knowing that the Mustang chassis is being used for a Lincoln would get people excited. People love mustang so why not have a Lincoln that is a Mustang at its core?
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R
It could be an easy way to transition those mustang lovers or previous owners in to something more comfortable. A MKZ coupe wouldn't hurt the line up either. Lincoln needs to stop being so conservative.
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Z
Check it, if MKZ Sedan was underpinned by S550 it already has far and away better performance.. The S197 with 5.0 Coyote can more than hang with an M3 coupe around the track, and that was wit the old live rear. Now imagine what S550 will do with the same engine and IRS? Its a ready made competitor for the 3 series and ATS it just needs an MKZ body...

MKZ coupe is easy, they need the volume of a competitive sedan first. Lincoln sold all of 12 MKS' in Canada during August 2013....
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V
that might just work, It would help save Lincoln since this would be their last draw the way I see it going.
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Vendetta said:
that might just work, It would help save Lincoln since this would be their last draw the way I see it going.
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it would but if they really want to stand out, sharing platforms might not be the best thing to do, if they do, things have to be completely different.
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MKZFan said:
it would but if they really want to stand out, sharing platforms might not be the best thing to do, if they do, things have to be completely different.
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Thats completely unture. Things can be completely different if you want to pay $100k/car. Audi/VW has one modular platform that underpins everything from Golf to Q7. GM shares the Alpha platform with CTS/ATS and 2016 Camaro will ride on it. There is nothing wrong with sharing platforms, its just an architecture that the rest of the vehicle is built on.

All houses are built on foundations, not all houses are alike, but they all have a base to build off of. In a way moving MKZ to S550 platform would give Ford even more manufacturing capacity. If you take MKZ off of Fusion architecture Fusion production can go on uninterrupted while MKZ can share the line with S550 which is a much lower volume model than Fusion.
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T
Regardless to say I would like to see the MKZ on a different platform. I just want to see a change to be honest.
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