2009 Lincoln MKS

The MKS is the latest addition to the Lincoln range in the GCC, having been unveiled for the first time in the States during 2008.

It shares its foundations with the Ford Taurus, but represents a much more luxurious saloon option from the Ford family. It’s also the first car to sport the latest design style from Lincoln, and it’s not half bad. The massive silver front grille and sculpted bonnet make it stand out, although the rest of the exterior is nothing to write home about.

Inside, the design is similarly uninspiring, although the quality of workmanship and materials used is thoroughly decent. There’s a very solid, chunky feel to everything, and plenty of room both front and back.

Just one version of the MKS will be sold here. It’s a front-wheel drive model, powered by a 3.7-litre V6 engine that develops 275bhp and 371nm of torque – enough to pull the car along very briskly, although it’s at the limit of what the front wheels can take. If you’re familiar with the term torque steer, there’s more than a hint of it under hard acceleration, and if you’re not, it means the car can try and dart slightly sideways as the front wheels struggle to cope with the power.

This is a small gripe though, as the Lincoln makes up for it with a very impressive equipment list. Standard features include keyless entry, rear parking sensors and a tyre pressure monitoring system that can alert you to a puncture.

The MKS rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and LED rear lights, while inside it comes as standard with heated and cooled electric seats, upholstered in leather, and dual-zone climate control.

Options include adaptive cruise control, which uses radar in the front of the car to detect vehicles up ahead, and slows the car down automatically before speeding up to the selected speed once the slower car moves out of the way. A dual-panel sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and a keyless entry system can be specified too.

Also available in an impressive audio system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft. Not only does it let you plug in an iPod, USB stick or any other auxiliary device, it also lets you search and select tracks by simply saying the name of the artist or song. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of it it’s rather cool. The standard audio system has six speakers and a CD changer.

The MKS is a solid offering from Lincoln. It has a bit of style and plenty of gadgets available for it, and it’s a comfortable, well-put-together ride. The only drawback? It’s a little bit pricey – you can get a Lexus for less.

Specification

Price Range (AED): 175,000