Lincoln- Yamaha

According to Automotive News, Ford’s latest round of cutting will scythe a planned V-8 for Lincoln’s pending MKS flagship.

The 4.4-liter eight, derived from the Yamaha unit employed in Volvo’s XC90 was expected to slot into Lincoln’s new MKS in 2008, but according to the publication’s sources, the larger powertrain option has been nixed. By way of compensation, the MKS’ 3.5-liter V-6 will reportedly be tuned for greater power, but that still means that the larger MKS will share the same basic engine architecture as the smaller, less expensive MKZ (it gets the engine in the fall, as do the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego twins).

Some critics believe that the MKS’ subsequent lower cylinder count may be perceived as a disadvantage by consumers, regardless of whether horsepower and torque figures from the V-6 are comparable to the competitors’ V-8 offerings. Acura’s slow-selling (yet entirely competent) range-topping RL has suffered a similar fate. Ironic, then, that some have said the Lincoln and Acura look quite similar.

+ Automotive News: Lincoln V-8 axed