A new car has entered the Lincoln fold, an entry level luxury automobile by the name of Zephyr. Based on the highly touted Mazda 6 platform and sharing many components with the all new Ford Fusion, the Zephyr is designed to do two things for the luxury brand: bring in younger buyers to Lincoln showrooms as well as invigorate a make more noted for the aging Town Car as well as for the LS.
The all new Zephyr is a sedan, slightly smaller than the LS, and it is being released with only one engine/transmission combination and that will be a 210 hp 3.0L V6 mated to a six speed automatic transmission. In 2007 an all wheel drive version of the car will also become available to consumers.
Other key features of the Zephyr include:5 passenger leather seatingDual zone air conditioningHeated front seats10 way adjustable driver and front passenger seats4 wheel disc brakes with ABSWood instrument panel and door trimsDriver/Passenger side air bagsTraction control
Lincoln’s selection of the Zephyr name seems somewhat curious at first especially for those who remember the Mercury Zephyr of the early 1980s. The Mercury Zephyr, along with its twin the Ford Fairmount, were basic and forgettable offerings from parent Ford Motor Company for that era. However, a look further back into Lincoln’s history reveals that an earlier Lincoln Zephyr was sold from 1936 to 1942. The first Zephyr was noted for its V12 engine, sleek lines, and long, tail shaped trunk. Indeed, some of Lincoln’s earliest advertising campaigns for the all new Zephyr have it standing next to the original Zephyr. Beyond the name there is no link between the two, so it remains to be seen if Lincoln can recapture the spirit of the original car.
With a MSRP of $28,995 the Zephyr will have some stiff competition for younger buyers from the BMW 325i, Mercedes “C” series, Lexus IS 300, Infiniti G35, and a host of other vehicles in the entry level luxury category. Still, it is a step in the right direction for Lincoln which has ceded too much of the marketplace over the last two decades to competitors. With the introduction of the all new Zephyr, we will soon learn if they are successful or not. buy a plane