Sat in the MKZ at the Boston Auto Show...

[LincolnFanFl]

BTW, I think the technology package is about $2500 to $3000 for things like parking assist, lane departure, and rain sensing wipers. That strikes me as a lot for those features while something that strikes me as really useful (inflating rear belts) was like $200. Does anyone know how much similar technology packages are on other models?

That price is actually not too high because it includes the Adaptive cruise - a feature that's always quite expensive.

[Sal Collaziano]

Competition is getting REALLY stiff with entry level vehicles - even the Toyota Avalon is impressive these days. But I think Lincoln has a very interesting car here in the MKZ. The design is very nice and I'm very confident that once this car hits the streets, people are going to be asking questions and popping into Lincoln dealerships. When's the last time Lincoln REALLY had a car this nice in this segment? The previous MKZ was very nice after the midcycle refresh but I don't think it was quite on par with other cars in it's class.

As mentioned, this isn't exactly the "new Lincoln" where we're going to see major differences between it's Ford counterparts - but even so, I think this entry level Lincoln is going to impress it's target market...

[2b2]

BTW, I think the technology package is about $2500 to $3000 for things like parking assist, lane departure, and rain sensing wipers. That strikes me as a lot for those features while something that strikes me as really useful (inflating rear belts) was like $200. Does anyone know how much similar technology packages are on other models?

I'd rather they roll the technology package into the top two trim levels, thus make it up by volume, and shave $1500 or so off the overall price.

I still haven't gotten the details of the Z's trim/features/options/packages into my head
but I've reconfigured them for my Mercury manifesto somewhat on the order of "rolling" stuff into just a couple 'tailored' choices...
...for 'regular' Lincolns I don't think that'd be a problem IF/When the Bespoke Program offers individual feature choices
&but
rather than shave the price (maybe since I'm not shopping ), thinking how with some improvements in details AND perception, the Z needs to $tart at $40k

[Iiari]

I still haven't gotten the details of the Z's trim/features/options/packages into my head
but I've reconfigured them for my Mercury manifesto somewhat on the order of "rolling" stuff into just a couple 'tailored' choices...
...for 'regular' Lincolns I don't think that'd be a problem IF/When the Bespoke Program offers individual feature choices
&but
rather than shave the price (maybe since I'm not shopping ), thinking how with some improvements in details AND perception, the Z needs to $tart at $40k

I'm not exactly sure what you're driving at, but I think for one vehicle line of one body style, there sure are a lot of mix and match options for the MKZ. Basically, I think everything below "Preferred" needs to be standard. I think if they're really serious about selling this as a "luxury car" and distancing it from the Fusion, then such things as HD radio, navigation, one panel moonroof, and rear parking sensors need to be standard equipment. I'd like to see them do that, make up the costs on economy of scale, and thus give the car a base price of about 38 or 39K. Add in $1000 of higher quality plastics and cabin detailing and that gets you to near 40K. Then, your only package options are Premiere +/- technology package and panoramic sunroof or not. This is probably how the car should be been launched in my opinion. Very few 36K base MKZ's will be actually sold with the current option mix and probably shouldn't exist.

[2b2]

I'm not exactly sure what you're driving at...

mainly just ranting about the current arrangement that I find confusing
&:

...Basically, I think everything below "Preferred" needs to be standard...

maybe like this?:
my theoretical preference is for a highly featured base trim with few options or 1 package
a middle trim with the most add-on choices
and a top trim with mostly everything included barring a couple not-to-everyone's-taste features (ex: panoroof?)
Imho a trim that's synonymous with "loaded" is an excellent short-term image builder ... until a real bespoke version offering individualization is available

This is probably how the car should be been launched in my opinion. Very few 36K base MKZ's will be actually sold with the current option mix and probably shouldn't exist.

Agree. Imho just part of the double-think of mainstream marketing
which (probably?) doesn't suit the Luxury market

[T'Cal]

I'm just not wowed by this vehicle like I am with the new Fusion.

[xgman]

I'm just not wowed by this vehicle like I am with the new Fusion.

so . . get the Fusion then.