2012 Lincoln MKZ Trims and Specs

Need a midsize sedan that’s got all the bells and whistles plus that traditional luxury ride and premium cachet? Take a look at the 2012 Lincoln MKZ Base. With room for 5 and 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, this classy 4-door may be just the thing to liven up the neighborhood gossip mill, maybe give the kids some bragging rights at school.

Starting with 17-inch alloy wheels and heated power-adjustable mirrors on the outside, this classy conveyance again comes with premium leather upholstery, heated and cooled power-adjustable front seats, digital keypad power door locks, power windows, and leather, wood and alloy cabin accents on the inside. Telescoping tilt-wheel steering, SYNC AppLink Destination Download and Smartphone interface, a universal remote garage door opener and rear parking sensors remain standard equipment, as does an alloy and leather steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls.

Comfort-wise, look for dual-zone front climate control, front and rear floor mats and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, while Bluetooth hands-free calling complements a 360-watt audio system with an MP3-capable 6-CD changer, 9 speakers and satellite radio.

Selecting the available Rapid Spec 102A package gets a THX II audio system with 600 watts of power and 14 premium speakers, not to mention a power moonroof, upgraded wheels, rear-view camera, voice-activated hard-drive-based navigation with DVD-capable 8-inch touchscreen and 10GB of music storage.

The Sport Appearance Package with sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch polished alloy wheels is a nice option, too, as is the available Executive Package with unique upholstery and upgraded cabin accents and inserts. Genuine aluminum interior trim accents, meantime, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel each come with the optional Interior Aluminum Trim Package, while standalone options like remote engine start and premium floor mats also are available to throw some added pizzazz into this already well-wrought Base trim.

Powering this 2012 rendition of the MKZ Base sedan is the standard variable-valve-timed (VVT) 3.5-liter V6, with its 263-hp managed by a recently introduced 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission to the tune of 249 lb-ft of torque. Meantime, mileage in this midsize front-wheel-drive (FWD) 4-door is estimated at 18 mpg city/27 highway.

Finally, notable standard safety features include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and front and rear head airbags. Further standard safety features include front fog/driving lights, SYNC airbag deployment notification, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm. Additionally, Ford’s touted BLIS blind-spot warning system, adaptive high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights and rain-sensing wipers are optional with the 102A Rapid Spec Package.

Add weather-beating intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) to the feature-laden 2012 Lincoln MKZ Base trim to behold the MKZ AWD. This entry-level luxury sedan also seats 5, boasts a hefty 16.5 cubic feet of trunk room and carries the cachet of the Lincoln brand, not a small consideration when trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Heated power-adjustable mirrors and 17-inch alloy wheels grace the profile of this high-end AWD 4-door, while wood, leather and alloy trim accents adorn the steering wheel and cabin. Heated and cooled premium leather endowed power-adjustable front seats also come standard, as do such convenience goodies as cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, a universal remote garage door opener, rear parking sensors and full power accessories, including digital keypad entry. Dual-zone climate control keeps everyone cool, while further touches include standard front and rear floor mats and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Ford’s touted SYNC AppLink Destination Guidance and Download with Smartphone integration heads the list of standard techno-goodies, with Bluetooth hands-free calling piled alongside a 360-watt audio system boasting an MP3-compatible 6-CD changer, 9 speakers, satellite radio and a USB port.

Options, meanwhile, include the Rapid Spec 102A package that boasts 600-watt, 14-speaker THX II premium sound, a power moonroof, DVD display, 10GB of music storage, upgraded 17-inch wheels and hard-drive-based navigation with voice activation and an 8-inch touchscreen display. Also available to this handsome sedan are the Executive Package with upgraded leather upholstery and added cabin trim pieces, and the Interior Aluminum Package sporting polished aluminum cabin accents and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Finally, the available Sport Appearance with Sport-Tuned Suspension Package throws in 18-inch alloy wheels and some sportier suspension components for a little more kick to the commute.

Several of the above inclusions remain available as standalone options, while further singular extras include remote engine start and premium floor mats.

Standard power for the 2012 MKZ AWD is a reasonably peppy 3.5-liter variable-valve-timed (VVT) V6 engine that mates with a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. Mileage, meanwhile, is estimated at 17 mpg city/25 highway, while the intelligent AWD system allows normal cruising with front-wheel drive and the capability to automatically switch torque from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip when things get dicey.

Standard safety features of note in Lincoln’s midsize 4-door include traditional 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), as well as traction and stability control, while additional occupant protection equipment includes front side-mounted airbags, along with front and rear head airbags. Further standard safety features include front fog/driving lights, SYNC airbag deployment notification, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm, while optional safety items include the Rapid Spec 102A package’s adaptive high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, blind-spot alerts (BLIS) and rain-sensing wipers.