2009 Lincoln MKS

The MKS sedan joins the Lincoln lineup this summer. The MKS shares many under-the-skin parts with the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable, but the Lincoln gets its own unique exterior and interior design.

The MKS was previewed at the 2006 Detroit auto show by a concept car of the same name, and the production model is essentially the same, except that its front grille is divided into two parts, a styling feature that Ford designer Peter Horbury relates back to the 1941 Lincoln Continental. Unlike that long-ago Lincoln, the MKS rolls on standard 18-inch wheels, with 19s and 20s also available.

While its Ford and Mercury counterparts use a 3.5-liter V-6, the MKS engine is enlarged to 3.7 liters. It makes 273 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Within a year of launch, Lincoln will add a second engine, which supposedly will offer the power of a V-8 and the fuel economy of a V-6.

The company it likely referring to its TwinForce V-6, which features twin turbochargers and direct injection. That engine was showcased in last January's MKR concept, where the 3.5-liter unit claimed an output of 415 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.