The new Lincoln Zephyr

Good luck getting it serviced should you import one into the US.

I think it is a very beautiful car but I was disappointed when he mentioned the engine.  A small turbo 4 cyl. would have to work very hard to move this car around; which IMO would spell expensive repairs down the road.  A healthy 6 cyl. seems more appropriate to me.  Perhaps in the traffic congested major centers of China strong, smooth acceleration is less of a priority.  I assume Ford market research has found that such a car would not be enough of a seller in SUV focused North America.  What a shame; its lovely.

Really,  This is just a rebadged Ford Fusion.  The 2.0l liter eco-boost is a really great engine with a lot of pep.  My 13 Fusion had one and I loved to open it up.  It was really quick off the line and passing on the highway was phenomenal.  Shame this is not being offered in the U.S.  I would love to get one.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

I think it is a very beautiful car but I was disappointed when he mentioned the engine.  A small turbo 4 cyl. would have to work very hard to move this car around; which IMO would spell expensive repairs down the road.  A healthy 6 cyl. seems more appropriate to me.  Perhaps in the traffic congested major centers of China strong, smooth acceleration is less of a priority.  I assume Ford market research has found that such a car would not be enough of a seller in SUV focused North America.  What a shame; its lovely.

Jack, many turbo 4s today can blow away 6 cyl engines, so much so that 6s are being phased out/replaced by turbo 4s.  Most turbo 4s have close to or more than 300hp....which is plenty of muscle. When mated to 8-10 speed transmissions, there no such thing as "ruff" acceleration.

Prior to my current 1:1 2020 Dodge Charger AWD I had a 2017 Lincoln MKZ AWD with the 400-horsepower twin-turbo V-6. It was beautiful, fast, and my favorite car I've ever owned. I'd be the first on line to buy this new Zephyr, and I think it would sell well in the U.S.

Interesting vehicle JK. I'm not a lover of SUVs so I would not mind this one being offered as a potential future purchase if it ever gets imported to North America.

Posted by: @chris

Posted by: @jack-dodds

I think it is a very beautiful car but I was disappointed when he mentioned the engine.  A small turbo 4 cyl. would have to work very hard to move this car around; which IMO would spell expensive repairs down the road.  A healthy 6 cyl. seems more appropriate to me.  Perhaps in the traffic congested major centers of China strong, smooth acceleration is less of a priority.  I assume Ford market research has found that such a car would not be enough of a seller in SUV focused North America.  What a shame; its lovely.

Jack, many turbo 4s today can blow away 6 cyl engines, so much so that 6s are being phased out/replaced by turbo 4s.  Most turbo 4s have close to or more than 300hp....which is plenty of muscle. When mated to 8-10 speed transmissions, there no such thing as "ruff" acceleration.

My main concern is how  hard such a small engine would have to work and early repairs.

@jack-dodds, this is a hard one for us old gear-heads to grasp. But many of the new 4cylinders manage to produce prodigious amounts of horsepower and a more-than-respectable amount of torque at relatively lower RPMs than in the past. The engine doesn't have to work harder to do that, it just works far more efficiently. This was the major concern many of the more traditionalists among us had with the most recent Ford GT which came with a twin-turbo 6 cylinder rather than a honking V8. Ford proved everyone wrong by giving us a high output 6 cylinder that is not only powerful but reliable as we have seen in so many of Ford's passenger cars and trucks over the last 5-6 years. Maserati is doing the same thing with their Netuno engine.

Posted by: @jkuvakas

@jack-dodds, this is a hard one for us old gear-heads to grasp. But many of the new 4cylinders manage to produce prodigious amounts of horsepower and a more-than-respectable amount of torque at relatively lower RPMs than in the past. The engine doesn't have to work harder to do that, it just works far more efficiently. This was the major concern many of the more traditionalists among us had with the most recent Ford GT which came with a twin-turbo 6 cylinder rather than a honking V8. Ford proved everyone wrong by giving us a high output 6 cylinder that is not only powerful but reliable as we have seen in so many of Ford's passenger cars and trucks over the last 5-6 years. Maserati is doing the same thing with their Netuno engine.

Correct, right, yes, yes, correct and right!

Even I, who loves the sound of a honking V-8 engine have to admit that my son's 2021 Ford Explorer ST with its 400 hp, 3.0L twin turbo 6 has my respect.  With a 5.3 second 0 - 60 it is a blast to drive and still gets 25 MPG.

Posted by: @kocour

Even I, who loves the sound of a honking V-8 engine have to admit that my son's 2021 Ford Explorer ST with its 400 hp, 3.0L twin turbo 6 has my respect.  With a 5.3 second 0 - 60 it is a blast to drive and still gets 25 MPG.

Frank;  This engine is what I was suggesting might suit the subject Lincoln Zephyr for North American application.  That combo would definitely tempt me.

@jack-dodds @kocour

That's the same engine that was in my MKZ. It made it an absolute blast to drive!