2013 Refreshed MKT Gets New Grill, More Powerful Engine and New Standard Features

Lincoln's second refreshed car that it is showing at the LA Auto Show is the 2013 MKT. It gets the same Continuously Controlled Damping system and Lincoln Drive Control that will be found on the new MKS. It also gets a 1mpg boost of highway fuel economy. The exterior also gets the new grill also found on the MKS. 

The MKT is a full-sized crossover with three rows of seats. It comes with a standard panoramic sunroof. The exterior wears a new grill with two sections of multiple vertical slats across a horizontal span. 

The Continuously Controlled Damping system and Lincoln Drive Control monitors the road and tunes the suspension for the conditions and lets the driver control the system from the cockpit. The system has normal, sport, and comfort modes.

Like the MKS, the MKT's 3.5 liter V6 gets a power bump to 300hp, but in the MKT the fuel economy improvement is just one mile per gallon at 17mpg city and 25mph highway. Both engines come with a six-speed automatic transmissions with Select Shift that allows manual shifting from the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. All-wheel drive is also optional. 

Also like the MKS, the MKT has a faster steering ratio. It is now 15:1 compared to 17.1:1 last year. It also now has electric power steering and optional Active Park Assist. The brakes have been enlarged to 13.86in in the front and 13.58 in the rear, an increase of an inch of diameter in the front and half an inch in the rear. It comes with curve control that can reduce vehicle speed by 10mph if it detects the driver is entering a corner too quickly. 

On the interior, there is a lot of available technology if the drivers desire it. There are optional heated and cooled rear seats with a second row refrigerator. As standard the MKT comes with a 4.2in LCD located next to the speedometer that is controlled with a small joystick on the steering wheel. There is also an 8in multi-function display in the center stack to display radio controls, navigation and the backup camera. There is also a heated steering wheel with leather interior and 12-way adjustable seats. 

The 2013 MKT will be available at Lincoln dealers in the spring of 2012.