Live from Detroit!: Lincoln's crossover goes big

As a follow up to the Lincoln MKT concept seen here twelve months ago, the production version opened up day two of  this year’s Detroit show press days.

Using the same three-row crossover platform as the existing Ford Flex, the Lincoln version adds new styling inside and out and plenty of toys for tech geeks to play with.

A voice activated navigation system equipped with Sirius Travel Link, adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation, blind spot detection system, rear sonar, cross traffic detection and an automatic parallel parking system are just some of the gee-whiz features.

Today’s 267 hp 3.7-litre V6 is standard under the big crossover's hood. But the upgrade will be one of the first applications of Ford’s highly touted EcoBoost twin–turbo direct-injection engines. This one is a 3.5 unit with 350 hp and lb-ft of torque.

The Flex isn’t exactly flying out of Ford showrooms. And expect the Lincoln to carry a $5-7k pricing premium over the ford. Plus the Lincoln’s targeted rival, Mercedes’ R Class, has been a sales dud.

As impressive as the MKT may be, it may be a tough sell when it goes on sale this summer.