Lincoln MKZ officially revived the Zephyr name in the fall of 2005; the vehicles were based on the CD3 platform, which was derived from the Mazda 6.
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17 Facts About Lincoln MKZ
2.
Lincoln MKZ had previously used the Zephyr name in the late 1930s for the smaller Lincoln MKZ-Zephyr line of mid-size vehicles.
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3.
For 2007 the model was renamed Lincoln MKZ, and took over the LS' market with sales beginning in September 2006.
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4.
Management at Lincoln originally announced the MKZ with a "mark-zee" pronunciation during the 2006 auto show circuit, but eventually changed it to the phonetic "em-kay-zee" due to confusion observed among focus groups and dealership personnel.
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5.
Powering the Lincoln MKZ, and taking a large step toward further differentiating the car from the Fusion and Milan, was Ford's new, all-aluminum 3.
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6.
One of the few other changes applied to the 2007 Lincoln MKZ was a revision to the available THX II-certified audio system to increase speakers to 14 and its peak output to 600 watts.
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7.
Inside, the Lincoln MKZ's interior was revised, using real wood accents and metal surfaces.
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8.
Mechanically, the Lincoln MKZ featured suspension revised to improve ride quality and handling and a new 'SelectShift' six-speed automatic transmission.
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9.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid carries over the hybrid powertrain from the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, including the 2.
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10.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid offers an improvement of Ford's Smart Gauge with EcoGuide, first introduced in the 2010 Fusion Hybrid.
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11.
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is marketed by Ford as a competitor to the Lexus HS 250h and Lexus ES Hybrid.
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12.
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was one of the five finalists for the 2011 Green Car of the Year awarded by the Green Car Journal in November 2010, which was won by the Chevrolet Volt.
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13.
Nevertheless, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ranked higher than the Lexus on all factors: consumer value, hybrid technology, fuel efficiency, and pollution reduction.
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14.
The UCS's Hybrid Scorecard ratings for the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid are higher than the nonluxury Toyota Prius for environmental performance, and hybrid value; both are rated the same for forced features; and the Prius scores higher in fuel economy.
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15.
Lincoln MKZ was originally set to be released in November 2012, but this was set back to January after Fusion production was delayed, which is produced at the same plant.
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16.
The hybrid, like the previous-generation Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, was available for the same price as the non-hybrid model.
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17.
Lincoln MKZ received no more major changes, with the new model years bringing new colors and a gradual diminishing of the lineup.
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