Friday 26 / April / 2024
Here in Oman, there are many European, Asian, and American car brands that are well known in the market, though up until recently, Lincoln wasn’t one of them. As an American, I grew up with the Lincoln brand, whose classic models still carried with them an air of romance and the glamour of a bygone era, while the contemporary town cars, operated by hired drivers, ferried the rich and important around big cities. It was a world we all wanted to be part of.
With fabulous re-designs that harken back to the brand’s heyday as premium automakers, Lincoln vehicles are sophisticated, while also practical, choice for those who want the comforts of a premium vehicle, with uniquely usable design and function.
To understand and appreciate this brand, it is important to understand the history of the luxury automobile. Luxury is defined as, “an inessential, desirable item that is expensive or difficult to obtain” and “the state of great comfort and extravagant living”. Sometimes, particularly where automobiles are concerned, luxury stems from the imagined status that owning a particular car can impart. This is the easiest kind of luxury for the marketers to promote among the middle class and the aspiring, nouveau-riche.
But this is a flimsy kind of luxury, one which rarely stands the test of time. The 1920s were a time of American indulgence, over-the-top opulence, fuelled by manic spending and exaggerated showiness of the rich and newly-rich. The luxury auto business boomed as cars were made by hand for these “special few” with Lincoln leading the charge. Then the great depression hit.
With dire economic times plaguing the country the “showy wealth” soon went out of style. (Sound familiar?) However, there were still wealthy buyers who wanted something more than the basics, not to flaunt their wealth, but to enjoy “a state of great comfort”. They wanted luxury, but with a purpose. The Lincoln brand adapted to this need then, and they have done it again with vehicles like the MKX.
I drove the MKX in the city, on the highway, up Jabal Akhdar, on paved roads, and over gravel paths. I’d forgotten I was driving a so-called “luxury vehicle” when it was time to veer off the beaten path to catch the best angle for a sunset, because I wasn’t worried about a delicate car. I felt confident in the construction of the crush proof, roll-over steel frame as we zig-zagged up the mountain after dark.
I didn’t flinch when we turned off the main road, because I knew we had the ground clearance and torque to do what we needed to do, on or off the beaten-path. And in every situation, oh how comfortable it was. I kept waiting for the needle to dip, indicating that we needed to fill the tank, but the twin turbo eco-boost engine did its job, offering us fast, sporty acceleration, easy driving up the steep inclines of Jabal Akhdar, and better fuel efficiency than many sedans. It felt hearty, well-built, and practical.
But luxury has never been just about practicality, and the Lincoln automakers know that. Sitting in the interior felt like lounging in the first class cabin of an airplane with the lines of the dash and display as curvaceous as a wave, the delicate styling reminiscent of a cockpit. The smooth premium leather seats, which feel as supple as they look.
The 19-speaker Revel Audio sound system eradicates any other thought from your mind as you submerge yourself in the sounds of your favourite tunes. It is an unbelievably immersive experience that really needed to be experienced to be appreciated. There are other little details that give you the pleasing visual reminder that you aren’t in “just another car”, like the signature wood trim options, carved from solid wood in finishes, such as their signature sultry espresso ash swirl.
In addition to the expected amenities like a panoramic sun roof, 360-degree camera, and park assist, you will find other subtle touches: There’s no stick shift in this awesome automobile. Instead, you will find the park, drive, and reverse options on a push button panel to the side of the entertainment display.
Your six-speed transmission is optionally controlled by paddle shifters built into the steering wheel, which are ergonomically located to make the transition smooth and effortless, and, when you approach your MKX, the car will sense the key in your pocket, lighting up and projecting the Lincoln logo like a doormat in front of the driver’s side door, in a totally unnecessary, (but utterly charming) touch.
This is a vehicle that is fun to drive, as all luxury cars should be. It is filled with every amenity from safety features to state-of-the art audio to adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance that one would expect of a fine, modern vehicle. And, it makes you feel special when you drive it — confident and relaxed.
Isn’t that what we are really paying for in this segment?
Though it is incredibly comfortable and stylish, the best features remain its most pragmatic ones. When you combine the practical engineering minds of the Ford Motor Company — industry pioneers from the first Model-T in 1908 to the game-changing Eco-boost engines of 2012 — with the design-focused, bespoke sensibilities that the Lincoln brand was built on, you get what I call “legitimate luxury”.
Because at the end of the day, if you strip away the logos and leather, what you are left with is an excellently engineered and well-designed driving machine, priced thousands of rials less than the other sport utility and crossover vehicles in the lux segment.
Perhaps America never quite recovered from the Great Depression. We never again saw Gatsby-esque parties, castle-like mansions, or hand-built cars come back into fashion. And I’d argue that this is for the best, especially when it comes to our automobiles, for we know that even luxury needs a dose of pragmatism, some substance on which to build our fantasies. And that is exactly what you get in the new era of Lincoln vehicles.
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Lincoln MKX
Trims available in Oman: Premier/ Select/ Reserve (reviewed)
Engine: 3.7L twin turbo Ecoboost
Transmission:
6-Speed SelectShift® automatic transmission with paddle activation
308 Net PS (227 Net kW) @ 6,500rpm
379Nm of Net Torque @ 4,000rpm
Highlights:
Active noise control
4-Wheel anti-lock disc brake
AdvanceTrac with roll stability control
Specially designed dual stage front airbags, driver knee airbag, and side air curtains to minimise trauma when deployed
SecuriCode keyless entry
Inflatable rear seat belts
Adaptive led headlamps
Revel ultima audio with 19-speakers
Adaptive cruise control
Active park assist
Front camera with 360-degree view
Automatic wash and wipe rain sensing wipers
Automatic headlamps with auto high beam
10-way power driver seat, heated and cooled
Door handle illumination
Approach detection with Lincoln logo welcome mat
Hands-free power lift gate
Remote start
Voice-activated entertainment system
Authentic wood trim inserts
Starting Price: OMR18,500
Authorised Oman Dealer:
Arabian Car Marketing
Wattayah Showroom
+968 2457 5900
+968 9288 0658
me.lincoln.com
