Photos: 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Jeep Renegade

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 roadster

Land Rover LRX concept

Lexus LF-A

Li Shi Guang Ming

Lincoln MKT

Mach5 Supercharged Race

General Motors vintage Corvette 1953

Mercedes GLK

Mercedes GLK

Mercedes GLK

Ford Verve

Ford Verve

Audi R8 V12 TDI

Photo: Reuters, AP, AFP, DPA, Getty Images, Bloomberg News

2008 Lincoln Navigator

2008 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR AND NAVIGATOR L BRING MORE STANDARD FEATURES TO FULL-SIZE LUXURY SUVs

Standard Comfort: Several comfort and convenience features are now standard for 2008, including power liftgate, heated and cooled seats, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, THX® II- Certified audio system, and PowerFold™ Third-Row Seat.
Customer Convenience: A new Rearview Camera System is added to Navigator's available features for 2008.
Lincoln Navigator L (Long Wheelbase): Provides an additional 25 cubic feet of cargo space
Dramatic, distinctive design: Lincoln Navigator's look combines power and refinement for the American luxury SUV customer
Quiet, confident driving experience: Navigator's frame and independent suspension deliver superior ride and handling. Acoustic windshield, thicker glass and tuned mirrors contribute to Navigator's "whisper quiet" interior
The Lincoln Navigator, America's original full-size luxury SUV, continues to deliver uncompromising levels of luxury, capability, functionality. For 2008, the award-winning Navigator raises the bar by offering many must-have comfort and convenience features as standard equipment. In addition, the newly available Rearview Camera System adds even more appeal for full-size SUV owners.

The Lincoln Navigator's expressive design brings a unique elegance and an unrivaled presence to the full-size luxury-utility segment.

Lincoln Navigator charts its own path, offering confident ride and handling, outstanding comfort and craftsmanship, and class-leading capability. Lincoln extends luxury SUV capability with the Lincoln Navigator L (Long Wheelbase), 15 inches longer than the regular model and offers luxury buyers an additional 25 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third-row seat.

Navigator and Navigator L are both available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. All Navigators are built at the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich.

New for 2008
For 2008, Lincoln has simplified the packaging of the Navigator and Navigator L, making many optional features standard items.

Standard items now include: Power liftgate; heated and cooled front seats; PowerFold™ third-row seats; and a 14-speaker THX® II-Certified audio system with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio.

A newly available Rearview Camera System mounts in the rear liftgate handle and is activated when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle or the hitch for ease of hooking up trailers. The video image is displayed in the self-dimming rearview mirror.

A Monochrome Limited Edition Package also is new for 2008 and features a unique badge, along with body-color exterior accents including lower grille, lower bodyside cladding, upper chrome grille and power-folding heated mirrors with puddle lamps. This package is offered in four monochromatic exterior treatments: White Chocolate Tri-coat, Black Clearcoat, Vapor Silver Clearcoat Metallic and Stone Green Clearcoat Metallic. Inside, the package includes unique black carpet and floormats, Ebony wood trim, and unique Stone or Camel seats with black leather inserts and black piping. A stitched Lincoln logo is also placed on each headrest.

Three new exterior colors are available for 2008: White Suede Clearcoat Metallic, Vapor Silver Clearcoat Metallic and Stone Green Clearcoat Metallic.

Expressive Design Makes a Dramatic Statement
The 2008 Lincoln Navigator's distinctive design combines power and refinement to deliver Lincoln luxury.

The statement of power begins with the bold chrome grille. The horizontal and vertical lines are inspired by the Lincoln star, detailed with sharp, organized surfaces. The precision detailing of the grille extends into the high-intensity-discharge (HID) projector headlamps. The lower grille carries through the theme, housing the integrated fog lamps.

The upper grille is carried into the chiseled chamfers that define the prominent "powerdome" hood, reinforcing Lincoln Navigator's imposing presence.

The Lincoln Navigator profile is defined by clean, sheer, tapered surfaces. That design language is consistent throughout the vehicle, from the smooth quarter panels to the chiseled side mirror shells. A Lincoln-signature chrome strip highlights the beltline, while chrome body-side trim extends from the front wheel well to the back for a tailored appearance. A proud, stable stance on standard 18-inch machined aluminum wheels or available 20-inch chrome wheels plants the vehicle to the road.

Lincoln Navigator offers power-deployable running boards. With the doors closed, the running boards fold out of sight and are perfectly integrated into the lower body wrap. When one of the side doors is opened, the running boards fold out in presentation, offering a step bar for easy ingress and egress.

The taillamps give a nod to the Lincoln MKZ luxury mid-size sedan, with wing-shaped lamps that cut into the liftgate and wrap around the vehicle. A bold chrome outline and white inserts in the red optic areas complete the exterior.

Award-winning Interior Sets the Bar
The Navigator's interior has already received critical acclaim, winning the 2007 "Interior of the Year" award for premium-priced trucks as voted by the editorial staff of Ward's Auto World magazine. It features a flow-through center console that sweeps up into the rectangular "eyebrows" that frame the dash panel. The strong graphic presentation is echoed in the shape of the instrument bezels, a design inspired by popular rectangular fashion eyewear.

Lincoln Navigator offers the elegance of Dark Ebony or Anigre wood trim on the console and upper door panels. The wood trim is bookmatched so the grains are precisely aligned. For example, the coin-tray cover is laser cut from the center console wood trim for perfectly matched wood grain.

Details like satin-nickel accents on the center stack, binnacle inserts and door trim along with chrome accents on cupholder rings and door releases speak to Lincoln Navigator's fine craftsmanship. A touch of black on the center stack and instrument panel provides further emphasis of refinement. At night, the interior is bathed in Lincoln's signature cool-white lighting, creating a soothing atmosphere.

Lincoln Signature Seating
Premium leather contributes to the overall comfort, further improving Lincoln's signature seating.

The standard 10-way power driver and front passenger seats are designed to comfortably accommodate a diverse group of occupants, from 4-foot-10 to 6-foot-5, from 90 pounds to 300 pounds. Power-adjustable pedals and memory functions enable drivers to fine-tune their positions. The front seats also feature heating and cooling capability for the ultimate in comfort – another Lincoln hallmark.

Even Lincoln Navigator's seat frames are refined to improve comfort by eliminating the vibration from the floor.

This premium seating extends to the available 40/20/40-split second row seat and 60/40-split third row, which effortlessly tumble to create a flat load floor. With seating for up to eight, the Lincoln Navigator offers 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space, while Navigator L offers 42.7 cubic feet.

With both the second- and third-row seats folded, the Lincoln Navigator can accommodate 103.5 cubic feet, while Navigator L offers a cavernous 128.2 cubic feet.

The second-row seats feature mechanisms that enable one-hand fold-and-tumble operation to access the third row. For increased visibility, the second-row head restraints fold forward 90 degrees to improve driver rear view.

Lincoln Navigator's third-row seat folds flat into the floor for added cargo space. The standard PowerFold™ third row offers 54.5 cubic feet of cargo space at the touch of a button.

A standard power liftgate provides even more convenience, and uses side-mounted pistons for improved rear visibility.

State-of-the-Art Entertainment
Lincoln Navigator offers a host of features and options that provide a high level of convenience. The voice-activated DVD-based navigation system features a 6.5-inch touch screen designed for improved clarity and incorporates text-to-speech technology that reads and communicates directions and street names in three languages.

The Navigator is available with the industry's first THX II-Certified audio system designed by THX, a California company renowned for its movie theater systems.

Named the 'Best Audio (Stereo) System' by CNET.com in the 2006 Car Tech Awards and also by PC Magazine in their 2007 Digital Drive Awards, the THX II system uses the latest in patented THX technologies to bring the home theater surround sound experience to the open road. The system uses a 12-channel amplifier to deliver 600 watts of power to a total of 14 speakers, including two subwoofers, strategically placed in the cabin.

The system's processor takes into consideration bandwidth, peak audio levels and coverage uniformity to deliver a smooth spectral balance and wide dynamic range. Multi-channel equalization and digital signal processing match the speaker placement to the cabin acoustics to assure this level of performance.

With the push of a button, the system can be configured for three specific listening modes - Driver, Front Seats and All Seats - ensuring that all passengers are enjoying optimal sound.

The system also features a fast-loading six-disc changer that reads CDs in normal audio, MP3 compressed or text formats. The AM/FM tuner is compatible with the Radio Data Broadcasting System (RDBS) and displays participating radio station call letters, formats and song titles.

If rear passenger entertainment is in order, Lincoln Navigator has an available entertainment system with an 8-inch screen and two wireless headphones to keep the sound contained.

Whisper Quiet Refined Ride
Enjoying the Lincoln Navigator's entertainment offerings is even easier, as engineers "soundly" beat their initial targets for interior quietness. The result is a vehicle that will provide customers with a truly unexpected quality of quietness on the road.

Noise-dampening insulation is used in the headliner and dash to help decrease wind and powertrain noise. Noise-absorbing padding is also used in the carpeting to further reduce tire and road noise. Thicker side glass and cut-line seals are included for decreased wind noise.

Additionally, when engineers redesigned the 2007 model, they added structure to the roof to reduce body boom. A stiffer chassis and new body mounts were incorporated to further isolate road noise and vibration. Side mirrors were "tuned" to reduce wind noise in the cabin, and tire tread designs were optimized to minimize road noise.

Luxury Driving Experience
Lincoln Navigator offers a confident, refined driving experience commensurate with a luxury vehicle. The vehicle features a stiff frame for confident handling and decreased susceptibility to squeaks and rattles. The frame features a tube-through-tube design, creating one of the stiffest frames in the industry.

Navigator has an independent rear suspension (IRS) that features a five-link design, with the fifth link controlling fore/aft movements while the short and long arms control lateral forces. This allows for greater control of wheel movement, as well as enabling lighter suspension components for improved response.

Power is provided by Lincoln Navigator's 5.4-liter, 3-valve V-8 engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, that generates 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. A wide-ratio, 6-speed transmission has smaller steps between gears than a typical 4-speed automatic and offers improved shift quality and faster acceleration. With a wide 6.02:1 gear ratio and two overdrive gears (fifth and sixth), the Lincoln Navigator's 6-speed offers up to a 7 percent increase in fuel economy on the highway over a typical 4-speed automatic.

Standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control)
Lincoln Navigator's confident handling helps prevent accidents from occurring. Lincoln Navigator's safety system features a comprehensive package of features, including standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC®, which utilizes two gyroscopic roll rate sensors to enhance the vehicle's rollover resistance.

Additional standard safety features include:

Dual-stage second-generation driver and front-passenger air bags that tailor deployment based on crash severity, safety belt usage and occupant size.
Three-row Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bags designed to activate in rollovers and side impacts for enhanced head protection.
Seat-mounted side air bags for the first row and energy-absorbing knee bolsters and glove box for the front passenger.
Frame design meets the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers' vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crash compatibility voluntary agreement.
Key Features and Options:

Standard features include: 300 hp 5.4-liter V-8 engine with 6-speed automatic transmission; Genuine wood, leather, and satin nickel trim; 18-inch machined aluminum wheels; HID headlamps; Dual-zone electronic air temperature control; THX® II-Certified audio system with 14 speakers, six-disc player compatible with normal audio, MP3 compressed or text format CDs; MP3 audio input jack; SIRIUS® Satellite Radio; 10-way power adjustable driver/passenger seat with power lumbar and recline; Auxiliary climate control; Power adjustable pedals; Keyless entry keypad; Power liftgate; Power-Fold™ third-row fold-flat seat; Heated and cooled front seats; Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS); AdvanceTrac® with RSC®; Three-row Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bags; Front seat-mounted side air bags; Chrome exhaust tip; Dual power-folding mirrors with memory, integrated turn signal and puddle lamps; Reverse Sensing System; Driver memory seats and mirrors.

Navigator L unique standard features include: 25 cubic feet of additional cargo space, Cargo management system and power running boards.

Options include: Monochrome Limited Edition Package; Elite Package; Trailer Tow Package; 20-inch Chrome Aluminum Wheels; Chrome Hood Accent; Premium Leather Seats with Piping; Rear Seat DVD Entertainment System; Power deployable running boards and Power moonroof.

Milestones
1998 First-generation Navigator propels Lincoln to U.S. luxury brand sales leadership
2003 A complete redesign includes a fully independent suspension, bold exterior design and acclaimed interior reminiscent of the 1961 Lincoln Continental
2004 Navigator becomes available with RSC® (Roll Stability Control)
2005 Upgrades include exterior design refinements and the new three-valve 5.4-liter V-8 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission
2007 Navigator receives a significantly freshened exterior, chassis refinements and an all-new interior; Navigator L joins Navigator lineup
Navigator ranks second in the Large Premium MAV (Multi-Activity Vehicle) segment in J.D. Power and Associates' 2007 Initial Quality Study
Lincoln Navigator receives a Vehicle Satisfaction Award from AutoPacific, Inc., as the top performing vehicle among Luxury SUVs
The editorial staff of Ward's Auto World honor the 2007 Lincoln Navigator with the "Premium-Priced Truck Interior of the Year" award

Source: Ford

Lincoln MKR concept

In the late '90s, the designers at Cadillac defined a new look that they dubbed Art and Science, which has since spread to all of Cadillac's production models. Whether you like the look or not, at least when you see a modern Cadillac you know what it is. Lincoln is late to the party, but at least they are now going to try. The design team at Lincoln led by chief designer Gordon Platto and exterior designer Xitij Mistry took a look back at all the classic Lincolns and what made them special, and then created a modern look and style that still invokes hints of the brand's storied heritage.
The MKR has a number of features that will be showing up on upcoming production Lincolns, starting with the 2009 Lincoln MKS. The split "bow wave" grille of the MKR invokes the look of the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr and, combined with the narrow horizontal headlights, will become the face of Lincoln much like the vertically stacked lights and the trapezoidal grille have become the face of Cadillac. The biggest change to the production MKS from the 2006 concept will be this new face. Since the MKS project was started before the MKR, a lot of things were already finalized so the MKR elements stop at the face.
Another prominent feature of the MKR that will adorn future production models is the shoulder chamfer. The concept features a curving character line that stretches from the outer edges of the headlights back to the taillights. Rather than a single sharp edge the corner has been shaved off providing two parallel lines sandwiching an angled surface. The roof line will also be reflected on the street with it's thick, forward leaning cantilever C-Pillar.
On the inside the elevated floating console provides a good armrest location and a cockpit feel without the feeling of sitting in a bathtub. This is another feature that may turn up in future Lincolns. As a concept most of the interior including the instrument cluster was non-functional. Even the driver door latch wasn't working so the door could swing open at any moment which thanks to the low speeds was not really a problem.
The day Ford invited us out to the track to sample the concepts turned out to be exceptionally steamy with temperatures in the low 90s and humidity to match. Since concepts generally don't have their cooling airflow worked our or in many cases implemented at all, this meant that the cars typically had to sit for several minutes between short bursts of activity to allow them to cool. Although the Lincoln MKR was advertised as having a twin-turbo direct injection V6, it actually runs with a standard Mustang 4.0L V-6. The two highly visible turbos are strictly for show on this particular car. Because of the heat, Ford removed all the cladding that hides the engine on the show stand.
One of the prominent design features of the MKR is the full glass roof stretching from the firewall to the trunk lid with a Lincoln logo on the underside of the glass. While this looks fantastic on the show stand, on this hot day in a car with windows that don't retract and no air conditioning the short drives were definitely a blessing. The Lincoln MKR literally was a greenhouse and if anything like this roof is ever built it will need some kind of filtering to minimize the heating effect. You can't really evaluate anything about the way the car drives trolling around at 10-15 mph, but under the bright sunshine this machine sure is gorgeous. If Ford makes good on its promise to incorporate these design elements into future Lincolns, the brand might have a future after all.

Source: Ford

Lincoln Making Sirius Standard

PRESS RELEASE:
Lincoln to Offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio as Standard Equipment
- Starting with the 2008 model year, SIRIUS Radio to be standard Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Navigator L and Lincoln Mark LT. - A six-month pre-paid subscription to SIRIUS is included with each vehicle. - SIRIUS to be factory installed on 23 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle lines by 2008 model year.
NEW YORK, April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) today announced that Lincoln will provide its customers standard factory-installed satellite radio on the Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Navigator L and Lincoln Mark LT beginning with the 2008 model year.
Sirius Satellite Radio today is offered on 22 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Vehicles as a factory-installed option. It will be available on the 2008 Ford Focus later this year, bringing the total to 23. The Lincoln lineup will be the first to include the equipment as standard.
"Every day, SIRIUS Satellite Radio is becoming more popular with our Ford and Lincoln Mercury customers because it allows them to personalize their driving experience," said Cisco Codina, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "Its growing popularity is part of a broader trend in the auto industry with customers increasingly asking us to pioneer technologies that put them in control of their driving environment."
Nearly 600,000 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles have already been shipped with factory installed SIRIUS satellite radios. Those numbers are expected to more than double in 2007.
"We are excited about the growth and success of SIRIUS at Ford, and the positive response we've received from both dealers and customers," said Mel Karmazin, CEO, SIRIUS. "SIRIUS' programming continues to enhance the Ford driving experience and we are proud that the Lincoln brand regards us as an important addition to provide all their customers."
For 80 years, the Lincoln brand has been synonymous with luxury, comfort and design. Both news media and the industry at-large voted the 2007 Lincoln MKZ as "Best Premium-Priced Car Interior of the Year" at the 7th annual Automotive "Interior of the Year" awards conducted by Ward's AutoWorld magazine. Lincoln will continue to strengthen this position with SIRIUS as standard equipment.
Lincoln models with SIRIUS radios arrive at the dealership ready to operate with a six-month pre-paid subscription included. This allows the dealer to conduct an in-vehicle demonstration of the SIRIUS service so the customer can immediately begin enjoying their satellite radio service.

About SIRIUS
SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels. SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NASCAR, NBA and NHL, and broadcasts live play-by- play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL, as well as live NASCAR races. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95.
SIRIUS Internet Radio (SIR) is a CD-quality, Internet-only version of the SIRIUS radio service, without the use of a radio, for the monthly subscription fee of $12.95. SIR delivers more than 75 channels of talk, entertainment, sports, and 100% commercial free music. SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at shop.sirius.com. SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep(R), Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercury, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Scion, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country.
Click on www.sirius.com to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.
Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance with respect to SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and, accordingly, such statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on our operational results are: our dependence upon third parties, including manufacturers of SIRIUS radios, retailers, automakers and programming providers, our competitive position and any events which affect the useful life of our satellites.