Ford's new Lincoln MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

I was going to post a story about this since it's been seemingly reported in all different places lately, including the front page of Yahoo. I guess this is good free publicity and public awareness for Ford.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Didnt think I would ever say this about a US domestic auto maker, but that is a very good idea. I'm interested to see what people will come up (what excuses) with to not buy the hybrid.

My bet is the "battery will die at 80k miles and you will have to spend $6k to replace it" will be near the top of the list. Hopefully Ford dealerships will train their salespeople to kill these stupid rumours...

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Perspective:

The Lincoln MKZ hybrid costs the same as the Lincoln V6 non-hybrid.
The Toyota Camry 'XLE' hybrid costs less than the same Toyota Camry XLE V6 non-hybrid.

Slick marketing by Ford but, eh, so what. To me this is akin to

"Today Ford announced that the sun will rise....in the EAST!!!!! Omigosh look at that, it did!!"

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

+1 Phish, & it's been that way since the HyCam came out as an '07.
Ford doing a better job marketing than Toyota.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

To me I think this is the key phrase:

"Lincoln MKZ is an entry level luxury car that's nearly identical to the popular Ford Fusion".

Ford is probably tied to keeping pricing not so much in line with the Non-Hybrid Lincoln MKZ but in reasonable line with it's own Hybrid Fusion.

That's long been a strange aspect of Ford. I remember the 80's when Ford released imo, crappy versions of The Mustang with coresponding almost identical clones released as Mercury products...the major difference only being the Lincoln/Mercury badge "magically" added to the sticker price.

My guess is maybe Ford has learned, and if the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is nearly identical to the Ford Fusion Hybrid, it's that relationship that is keeping the price in check.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Additional perspective:

Toyota Camry XLE 3.5L V6 .. 20 City / 29 Hwy / 23 Comb
Toyota Avalon 3.5L V6 ....... 20 City / 29 Hwy / 23 Comb
Lincoln MKZ 3.5L V6............ 18 City / 27 Hwy / 21 Comb

Now in all fairness the more up-to-date Ford hybrid system linked to their new 2.5L I4 is at least as good if not better than the 5 y.o. Toyota system using the older 2.4L I4. But I'm confident that we'll see the new iteration of the midsized hybrid system come next spring when the Gen 7 Camry arrives ( hopefully ) linked with the newer more modern 2.5L ICE.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

You should probably include the Ford Fusion in there, since it's kind of a camry competitor (at least moreso than the Lincoln, which is meant to be an 'upscale' brand)

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Fusion makes the camry hybrid look old. I think we can all agree its good marketing to make the hybrid cost the same as the standard engine. I doubt it costs Ford much money, and higher volume for the hybrid probably drives costs down not up.

I think the MKZ is going to compete with the hs250, Camry hybrid, Fusion hybrid, and sonata hybrid. The rumor is a much better camry hybrid is coming out next year. The question is whether the MKZ is good enough to demand more money. I think this car shows that Lexus could make better choices for the hs250. If the hybrid camry doesn't improve this pricing, along with the sonata and fussion should just about kill it. So hopefully improvements all around and a growth in hybrid sales in 2011.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Yep, Ford would like to position Lincoln as the Lexus competitor but in fact it's between Toyota and Lexus. The Avalon is actually more the natural competitor to the MKZ. The Avalon being the 'bridge' between the Toyota Camry and the Lexus Camry.

Wellll...actually the MKZ is smaller than the Camry in passenger volume while the Avalon is larger than the Camry.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

They are going with a competitive pricing model. Ford saved $1-$2 billion doing an incremental redesign of the fussion/MKZ. The MKZ has a different more expensive interior and different sheet metal. This gets rid of some of the cheap looking plastic on the ford, adds beter leather, more sound deadening. Since the small changes are not very expensive on the platform, ford will make more money on every mkz sold instead of a fussion. They further raise the profit and bragging rights if they sell one instead of a lexus. Bill Ford is an honest green person, but this provides some of the other type of green too. For each hybrid they raise the cafe standards and can sell more high profit trucks or SUVs. So ford has some darker side of green motives.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Ford needs to stick the V6 from the Mustang into the Fusion/MKZ - the Mustang is rated 19/31/23 and makes over 300hp. That's 50 more hp than the V6 in the Fusion and 10% better fuel economy overall - w00t!

Even better than that would be to replace the V6 with their EcoBoost I4 - power will be similar to the current V6 but fuel economy should lead the pack.

Now if only they could EcoBoost the hybrid - 250hp and close to 40mpg in a mid-size sedan? Sold!

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

I test drove the hs250 before buying my prius. The hs250 didn't feel much of my old lexus either. If they have good enough milage it may get some es customers that want that too, but yes I think that Lincoln marketing is a stretch. Lexus does many things in a great way, but IMHO they made poor compromises on the hs. It didn't seem as quiet, luxurious, or fast as a lexus should.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

Its only a matter of time. A hybrid system, even an IMA makes a turbo feel more refined. With the horsepower of a modern DI I4 turbo, I can see many fewer six cylinder engines in the future, unless you want 300+ hp, then a hybrid turbo 6 instead of a 4.

 

Re: Ford's new Lincold MKZ HYBRID sedan will cost the SAME as the non-hybrid MKZ

An electric motor could hypothetically reduce the impact of mounting a larger turbo with increased spool time at the low end if you wanted to use a 4 cylinder. Just saying.

 

Is there a particular reason to sell a non-hybrid at all - if they are sold for the same price as a hybrid ?

 

I think its a great move by Ford.

 

Yes, choice. Some people like the option that guzzle more gas (to provide more power) and cost more to refuel. Others like the cleaner option that saves money on the fuel.