[zep]

...well sort of

Actually its RWD dash to axle proportions.

But a RWD dash-to-axle ratio on a large FWD sedan isn’t so much “creative” as it is handsome. It’s the kind of proportion that can make a large car look more elegant, even to those who don’t know what they’re looking at, so designers love to work with it. The easiest way to determine dash-to-axle is to look at the width of the sheetmetal between the rear of the front wheel wells and the front door cut of the front doors.

Using a north-south engine layout on a FWD-based car (with an all-wheel-drive option) is potentially costly, though far cheaper than switching to a dedicated RWD platform. This raises the question, too, of whether the Ford Taurus, on which the current Lincoln MKS is based, would come along for the ride. Exclusive use of the RWD dash-to-axle could provide Lincoln much-needed differentiation from the Taurus, as well as from its own midsize MKZ.

Rear-Wheel-Drive Proportions, China Production-Only for Lincoln's New Big Sedan?

Basically a FWD with RWD proportions. Although where it gets interesting is when you consider something like the A4, which even though it is a FWD based car the engine is still mounted longitudinally. Coupled with Quattro the A4 is capable of feeling and behaving like a RWD vehicle. A party Lincoln is potentially interested in crashing...

 

[Truthiness]

This article tells us that an example of this RWD dash to axle proportions can be found in many recent Volvo vehicles, which I think are looking good these days.

 

[golfball]

so just a wider back compared to the front? is that what they mean?

 

[MKZFan]

so just a wider back compared to the front? is that what they mean?

Yes, basically they're trying to make a FWD vehicle look like it's RWD with the typical design cues of a RWD vehicle that makes it's obvious it's RWD.

 

[golfball]

that is kind of lame...

 

[MKZFan]

it is, not sure if I would want to drive a car like that which is trying to pose as something it's not. Weird.

 

[zep]

so just a wider back compared to the front? is that what they mean?

no a longer front end. look at this picture, notice the space in between the front fender and the door, and the shorter front overhang on the BMW. characteristic of RWD...

 

[MKZFan]

It's that and even likely wider rear fenders or just fenders that just aren't flat. Basically they will hint at the vehicle being RWD.

 

[golfball]

what lincoln needs to do is come out with a real RWD car

 

[Truthiness]

It doesn't really bother me if the car is trying to look like its RWD when its actually FWD. Its just a different way of designing the car. As long as it looks good I'm not going to fault the vehicle simply because it "is trying to be something its not," which I don't think is a very fair label anyways.

 

[golfball]

well its kind of lying. i dont think you have to look like a RWD to be a nice car

you just need to be RWD if you want to be a good handling car..

 

[MKZFan]

That is very true.
To me, this is not the way to go about bettering their vehicles. Many FWD cars look great and not once do people consider it needing "RWD looks"

 

[golfball]

you dont always have to look like a RWD to look like a nice car.

not all RWD cars are nice looking cars

and not all FWD cars are ugly