Lincoln · 2005–present

Lincoln MKZ

The Lincoln MKZ is a mid-size, four-door, five-passenger, front- or all-wheel drive luxury sedan manufactured by Ford and marketed by its Lincoln brand across two generations in North America and China (2015–2020). Co-developed with the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the MKZ was available with either gasoline or gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains. The first generation was styled under Chief Designer Darrell Behmer and launched for the 2006 model year as the Zephyr, and from the 2007 model year onwards as the MKZ with a mid-cycle refresh for 2010. The MKZ Hybrid, Lincoln's first, was introduced for 2011. The second generation MKZ was marketed for 2013 to 2020 in gasoline and hybrid configurations, with a mid-cycle refresh for 2017. The MKZ was manufactured exclusively at Ford's Mexican Hermosillo Stamping & Assembly plant, with production commencing in August 2005 and ending in 2020. Ford had previously used the Zephyr nameplate (after Zephyrus, the Greek personification of the west wind) both in the late 1930s for a line of mid-size vehicles, as well as in the late 1970s and early 1980s for the Mercury Zephyr.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Lincoln LS

All Lincoln MKZ data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

First generation (2006)

Lincoln presented the 2006 Zephyr in concept form at the 2004 New York International Auto Show, featuring Lincoln's signature split-wing/waterfall grille and quad projector beam headlights. Chrome trim extended along the Zephyr's beltline while the car's rear fascia featured LED taillights and dual chrome exhaust tips. Lincoln introduced the production Zephyr in the fall of 2005 for the 2006 model year, sharing Ford's CD3 platform with rebadged Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Mazda 6. The Zephyr's powertrain was a 3.0 L DOHC Duratec V6 with an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission. Featuring an instrument panel unique to the Lincoln along with other details, the 2006 Zephyr started at a base MSRP of $28,995 USD, ranging up to $35,340 USD. Though slightly smaller and front-wheel drive, the Zephyr was marketed as a replacement for Lincoln's previous entry-level mid-size model, the rear-wheel drive Lincoln LS. To facilitate a smooth transition, the Zephyr and LS were sold parallel with each other during the 2006 model year, the first model year of the Zephyr and the last for the LS. For 2007, the model was renamed MKZ, and took over the LS' market with sales beginning in September 2006. Lincoln had previously used the Zephyr nameplate for a smaller car competing with the Packard One-Twenty, and the LaSalle, a smaller Cadillac. The Zephyr featured interior detailing and an instrument panel distinct from the Fusion and Milan, using genuine ebony or maple wood inserts along with chrome-bezeled gauges, circular, chrome-finished vents and a satin-nickel center stack with the radio and climate controls. The steering wheel was leather-wrapped with genuine wood grips and satin-nickel audio, climate, and cruise control buttons. White LED backlighting was used for the Zephyr's control

Second generation (2013)

Ford redesigned the Lincoln MKZ for the 2013 model year, presenting its concept model at the 2012 North American International Auto Show and presenting the production version at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The second generation followed the general concept idea released in the model displayed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, sharing the company's CD4 platform with Fusion and Mondeo. and offering three powertrain options: a 240-horsepower EcoBoost 2-liter four-cylinder (FWD or AWD); a 300-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 (FWD or AWD); and a hybrid system combining the 2-liter power plant with an electric motor. The MKZ was originally to be released in November 2012, but was subsequently delayed to January along with Fusion production. Release was again held to resolve quality issues, with early production models shipped from the Hermosillo facility to Ford's Flat Rock plant for inspection before shipment to dealerships, an unprecedented move for such an extensive product, insure a better market reception and long term profitability. Production reached dealerships in sufficient quantities by mid-March 2013. Subsequent changes for 2014 were primarily limited to color choices. For 2015, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors and rear view camera became standard. The Black Label trim package was introduced featuring premium interior trim materials including Alcantara on the headliner, visors, and upper trim, luxurious floormats, premium leather seating surfaces with embossed Lincoln logos on the headrests, and featured a leather-wrapped instrument panel. The leather wrapped IP required extensive testing and development to achieve a "discreet" airbag, one without a visible seam, a first for a Ford Motor Company product. Additionally in 2015, the Lincoln MKZ was exported to China to

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Lincoln MKZ

aka

Lincoln Zephyr (2006)

Manufacturer

Ford Motor Company

Production

August 2005 – July 2020

Model years

2006–2020

Designer

Darrell Behmer, Chief Designer (Fusion, Milan and MKZ)

Assembly

Mexico: Hermosillo, Sonora (Hermosillo Stamping & Assembly)

Class

Mid-size luxury car

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive

Body style

4-door sedan

Successor

Lincoln Z (China)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1753849CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_MKZCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1372158346 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_MKZ_II_facelift_001_China_2017-03-24.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Navigator84 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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