In recent years, Lincoln has been best known for building the favorite car of limousine services everywhere, as well as for building controversially-styled interpretations of Ford’s sedans, crossovers and SUVs. What it hasn’t been best known for is cutting-edge design, or even class-leading luxury.
As part of the brand’s re-make, it’s now opened a separate design studio just for the Lincoln marque, its first since the 1970s. Staffed by designers, sculptors and modelers from around the globe, the studio is part of the growing Lincoln Product Development organization. Its task may seem monumental, but it’s essential to the survival of the brand: by 2015, Lincoln will launch four new models, each targeted to segments of the luxury industry experiencing growth.
The 2013 Lincoln MKZ sedan, which goes on sale later this year, is the first model from the newly energized brand. While it’s clearly a departure from Lincoln models of the recent past, it remains to be seen if buyers will find it different (and appealing) enough. Ford deserves credit for sticking by the Lincoln brand, though: if it does wind up going the way of Mercury, Saturn, Hummer and Saab, at least it’s going down fighting.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
