The all-new Lincoln Zephyr will grab your attention when you see it on the road. There's little doubt about that. But under those great looks is a car with a purpose. In fact, several big-picture goals have been heaped onto the Zephyr project and the future of Ford's luxury nameplates are riding on its success.
The way I see it, besides fighting falling domestic sales across the board, Lincoln has an additional, more peripheral challenge to contend with - Cadillac has remade itself and is seeing an amazing resurgence in sales. They have achieved this by re-making themselves.
Enter the Lincoln Zephyr. A Lincoln unlike any other you have seen before. It's more sporty, more sleek and sculpted, more European looking than the big boats that have for decades defined Lincoln. This direction, and the Zephyr, is a great follow-up to the Mark LT, the first of the new image products attempting to turn the tide of fortune for the automaker.
I like this direction for the Zephyr. The understated exterior design allows for additional play for Lincoln's signature waterfall grille. For me, the optional 17-inch chrome wheels on my tester, a steal at $895, were essential to completing Zephyr's transformation.
While the Zephyr is an upscale sibling of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the differences certainly qualify this sedan as a luxury entry. The 3.0-liter (221 hp) V-6 engine with six-speed automatic transmission is the starting point for all Zephyrs. Add to that the quieted interior and softer ride characteristics and you'd be hard pressed to say you knew it was anything other than a Zephyr.
Inside the Zephyr, I immediately took to the gauge cluster with its round, dual dials in white LED light. My tester had a refined golden-wood finish in the dash, doors and steering wheel. Along with a metallic accent strategically placed among the cabin, I found the more youthful sportiness of the exterior making its way into the interior.
Seating is roomy and comfortable with sightlines open and non-restricted at any angle. I enjoyed a big moon roof in my Zephyr, a $1,200 option, but a real asset to the feel of this vehicle. Like several of the options available, you will have to judge just how many fit your budget, but I can assure you they all fit the image of this sedan.
Worthy of note was my tester's THX II Audiophile system, a 14-speaker, two-subwoofer, 600-watt gem that delivers amazing sound quality in a relatively small cabin space. THX is the same company that supplies sound on many feature films, and this is big screen quality in a Zephyr.
With 205 pound-feet of torque produced by the V-6, and a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the Zephyr provides competent acceleration and reasonable gas mileage (20/28). You won't be outgunning the competition from a dead stop, but that is not what Lincoln's are about. At least not yet.
Overall, the Lincoln Zephyr is a truly competent premium midsize sedan. It offers great value compared to some of its higher-priced import competitors as well as distinct handling that is refined rather than sport-oriented.
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