Lincoln MKS generations: what actually changed
The catalogue lists two entries that are the same generation, not two generations: 1 generation (2008-01-01 to 2012-12-31, sedan, 3 versions) and 1 generation, restyling (2012-01-01 to 2016-12-31, sedan, 3 versions). Every version is a 6-speed Automatic. Every engine is Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder.
The catalogue lists two entries that are the same generation, not two generations: 1 generation (2008-01-01 to 2012-12-31, sedan, 3 versions) and 1 generation, restyling (2012-01-01 to 2016-12-31, sedan, 3 versions). Every version is a 6-speed Automatic. Every engine is Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder.
What the restyling changed, by arithmetic on the same names:
- 3.5 AT (Turbo, AWD): power rose from 355 hp to 365 hp (+10 hp). Torque fell from 475 Nm to 350 Nm (−125 Nm). Peak power rpm moved from 5700 to 6500. 0–100 km/h slowed from 5.8 s to 6.1 s (+0.3 s). Kerb weight rose from 1872 kg to 2012 kg (+140 kg). Mixed consumption is 11.8 L/100 km on the original 3.5 AT and not measured on the restyled 3.5 AT. Top speed is 260 km/h on the original and not measured after restyling. Rear brakes are Disc on the original 3.5 AT and Disc ventilated on the restyled 3.5 AT. Ground clearance is not measured on the original 3.5 AT and 137 mm after restyling.
- 3.7 AT (No boost): power rose from 274 hp to 304 hp (+30 hp). Torque rose from 270 Nm to 379 Nm (+109 Nm). Peak torque rpm moved from 4250 to 4000. Peak power rpm moved from 6250 to 6500. The restyled FWD 3.7 AT matches the original FWD 3.7 AT 0–100 of 7.0 s only in name: restyle FWD is 7.3 s (+0.3 s). Restyle AWD 3.7 AT is 7.3 s versus original AWD 3.7 AT 7.4 s (−0.1 s). Top speed is 242 km/h (FWD) and 239 km/h (AWD) on the original 3.7 AT and not measured on both restyled 3.7 AT versions.
If the question is “which generation to buy,” the original 3.5 AT still has the highest torque (475 Nm), the fastest 0–100 (5.8 s), the only measured 260 km/h top speed, and the lowest measured kerb among Turbo cars (1872 kg). The restyling is the only place the naturally aspirated 3.7 AT reaches 304 hp and 379 Nm.
Lincoln MKS engine options: specs table
Exact catalogue names. Two 3.7 AT rows in each period are the same power, distinguished by drive.
| Period | Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation, restyling 2012–2016 | 3.5 AT | 365 (268 @ 6500) | 350 @ 1500–5000 | 3496 | 95 | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 6 | AWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 2012–2016 | 3.7 AT | 304 (224 @ 6500) | 379 @ 4000 | 3726 | 92 | 6, V-shaped | No | Automatic 6 | AWD |
| 1 generation, restyling 2012–2016 | 3.7 AT | 304 (224 @ 6500) | 379 @ 4000 | 3726 | 92 | 6, V-shaped | No | Automatic 6 | FWD |
| 1 generation 2008–2012 | 3.5 AT | 355 (261 @ 5700) | 475 @ 3500 | 3496 | 95 | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 6 | AWD |
| 1 generation 2008–2012 | 3.7 AT | 274 (202 @ 6250) | 270 @ 4250 | 3726 | not measured | 6, V-shaped | No | Automatic 6 | FWD |
| 1 generation 2008–2012 | 3.7 AT | 274 (202 @ 6250) | 270 @ 4250 | 3726 | not measured | 6, V-shaped | No | Automatic 6 | AWD |
Engine position: Front, transverse on all three restyled versions and on the original 3.5 AT. Original 3.7 AT (both FWD and AWD): not measured. Injection: Direct injection (direct) on both 3.5 AT versions; Distributed injection (multi-point) on all four 3.7 AT versions. Compression and bore × stroke are measured only on restyled 3.7 AT: 10.5 and 95.5 × 86.7; all other versions not measured.
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): restyled 3.5 AT 104.4 hp/L; original 3.5 AT 101.5 hp/L; restyled 3.7 AT 81.6 hp/L; original 3.7 AT 73.5 hp/L. The Turbo 3496 cc unit is the denser engine in both periods. The restyle added 2.9 hp/L on 3.5 AT and 8.1 hp/L on 3.7 AT.
Lincoln MKS horsepower, 0–100, and mpg
Fastest 0–100 km/h: original 3.5 AT AWD, 5.8 s. Restyled 3.5 AT AWD is 6.1 s. Gap: 0.3 s, while mass rose 140 kg and torque fell 125 Nm — the restyle is not the quicker EcoBoost even though it has +10 hp.
3.7 AT 0–100: original FWD 7.0 s; original AWD 7.4 s (AWD costs 0.4 s); both restyled 3.7 AT versions 7.3 s. After restyling, AWD no longer costs a measured 0–100 penalty versus FWD on 3.7 AT. Versus original FWD, restyle FWD is 0.3 s slower despite +30 hp and +109 Nm; kerb on restyle FWD 3.7 AT is 1872 kg, while original 3.7 AT kerb is not measured, so that 0.3 s cannot be assigned to mass from this dataset.
Top speed: original 3.5 AT 260 km/h; original 3.7 AT FWD 242 km/h; original 3.7 AT AWD 239 km/h (AWD −3 km/h). All three restyled versions: not measured.
Fuel (L/100 km, city / highway / mixed):
- Restyled 3.7 AT AWD: 13.1 / 9 / 11.2
- Restyled 3.7 AT FWD: 12.9 / 8.4 / 10.7
AWD costs +0.2 city, +0.6 highway, +0.5 mixed.
- Original 3.5 AT AWD: 13.8 / 9.4 / 11.8
- Restyled 3.5 AT, original 3.7 AT FWD, original 3.7 AT AWD: city, highway, mixed all not measured.
The only Turbo car with a measured mpg set is the original 3.5 AT. Its mixed 11.8 is 0.6 above restyle 3.7 AT AWD and 1.1 above restyle 3.7 AT FWD. Tank volume: not measured on every version. CO2 and eco class: not measured on every version.
Lincoln MKS weight, dimensions, clearance
Wheelbase, length, and wheel sizes: not measured on every version. Gross weight: not measured on every version.
Kerb weight (kg):
- Restyled 3.5 AT AWD: 2012 (heaviest measured)
- Restyled 3.7 AT AWD: 1984 (−28 vs restyle Turbo)
- Restyled 3.7 AT FWD: 1872 (−112 vs restyle AWD 3.7 AT; −140 vs restyle 3.5 AT)
- Original 3.5 AT AWD: 1872 (same as restyle FWD 3.7 AT)
- Original 3.7 AT FWD and AWD: not measured
Kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp), only where kerb is measured: original 3.5 AT 5.27 kg/hp; restyled 3.5 AT 5.51 kg/hp; restyled 3.7 AT FWD 6.16 kg/hp; restyled 3.7 AT AWD 6.53 kg/hp. The original Turbo remains the lightest car per horsepower in the table.
Ground clearance: 137 mm on all three restyled versions and on both original 3.7 AT versions. Original 3.5 AT: not measured.
Chassis common to all six: Independent, spring front and rear; Ventilated disc front. Rear: Disc on original 3.5 AT only; Disc ventilated on the other five.
Which Lincoln MKS version to buy
Buy original 1 generation 3.5 AT (355 hp, AWD) if the numbers that matter are torque, 0–100, and kg/hp. It is the only version with 475 Nm, the only 5.8 s 0–100, the only 260 km/h top speed, and the lowest measured kg/hp (5.27). Fuel is measured (13.8 / 9.4 / 11.8). Rear brakes are Disc, not Disc ventilated. Clearance is not measured. It uses 95 and Direct injection (direct). Versus restyled 3.5 AT, you give up 10 hp and ventilated rear discs and take 125 Nm, 0.3 s, and 140 kg.
Buy restyled 1 generation, restyling 3.5 AT (365 hp, AWD) if peak power and the wide torque band are the point. 365 hp is the catalogue maximum. Torque is 350 Nm from 1500–5000 — the only range in the data, 1500 rpm earlier than original 3.5 AT peak at 3500. You pay 140 kg, 0.3 s, and 125 Nm versus the original Turbo. Mixed mpg, top speed, tank: not measured. Fuel 95.
Buy restyled 3.7 AT FWD (304 hp) if the goal is the lightest restyle car with a full mpg set. 1872 kg, 7.3 s, 12.9 / 8.4 / 10.7, fuel 92, compression 10.5. Versus restyle 3.7 AT AWD: −112 kg, −0.5 mixed L/100 km, same 7.3 s and same 304 hp / 379 Nm. Versus restyle 3.5 AT: −140 kg, −61 hp, +29 Nm, +1.2 s, and measured mpg the Turbo restyle does not have.
Buy restyled 3.7 AT AWD (304 hp) if AWD is required after 2012 and Turbo is not. Same engine as FWD 3.7 AT. Cost of AWD in this pair: +112 kg and +0.5 mixed L/100 km, 0–100 unchanged at 7.3 s. Versus original AWD 3.7 AT (274 hp): +30 hp, +109 Nm, −0.1 s; original AWD top speed 239 km/h, restyle top speed not measured; original AWD mpg and kerb not measured.
Buy original 3.7 AT FWD (274 hp) only if 7.0 s is the target in the naturally aspirated pair. It is 0.4 s quicker than original AWD 3.7 AT (7.4 s) and 0.3 s quicker than both restyled 3.7 AT versions. Power is the catalogue minimum (274 hp). Torque 270 Nm is 109 Nm below restyle 3.7 AT and 205 Nm below original 3.5 AT. Fuel grade, consumption, kerb, engine layout: not measured. Top speed 242 km/h is the highest among original 3.7 AT rows.
Buy original 3.7 AT AWD (274 hp) only if the requirement is AWD in 2008–2012 without Turbo. It is the slowest 0–100 in the catalogue (7.4 s) and the lowest top speed among measured cars (239 km/h). Versus original FWD 3.7 AT: same 274 hp and 270 Nm, +0.4 s, −3 km/h. Versus original 3.5 AT AWD: −81 hp, −205 Nm, +1.6 s, −21 km/h.
What the extra specification buys, in this dataset only: Turbo versus No on AWD in 1 generation is +81 hp, +205 Nm, −1.6 s, +21 km/h, and a full mpg set the original 3.7 AT AWD does not have. Turbo versus No on AWD in the restyling is +61 hp, −29 Nm, −1.2 s, +28 kg versus restyle 3.7 AT AWD, and mpg not measured on the Turbo restyle. AWD versus FWD on restyle 3.7 AT buys no 0–100 change and costs 112 kg and 0.5 L/100 km mixed. AWD versus FWD on original 3.7 AT costs 0.4 s and 3 km/h; mass and mpg of that pair are not measured.
Reliability, “years to avoid,” trim levels, and sale listings are not measured here. Years in the data are 2008–2012 for 1 generation and 2012–2016 for 1 generation, restyling — overlapping 2012 is in both windows. Model years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 fall inside those windows but are not separate catalogue versions. Comparison to MKZ, Continental, Taurus, or Taurus SHO is outside this dataset.
Short ranking by the measured objective: original 3.5 AT for pace and torque; restyled 3.5 AT for peak hp; restyled 3.7 AT FWD for the only complete mpg-and-weight package at 304 hp; restyled 3.7 AT AWD when AWD is required after restyling; original 3.7 AT FWD for the 7.0 s naturally aspirated time; original 3.7 AT AWD last on 0–100 and top speed among rows that have those figures.