2013 Lincoln MKS

For many years now, Ford has been trying to transform its Lincoln brand into a credible contender in the luxury car market, though unlike its Cadillac foe, it just can't seem to get it right.

Set to make its world premiere later today at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show is the refreshed 2013 Lincoln MKS sedan. The first thing that you'll notice on the 2013MY is the reworked split front grille, though as Lincoln points out, every exterior surface from the A-pillar forward is new including the bumper, hood, headlamps and front fenders.

At the back, the 2013 MKS gets a new fascia, LED tail lamps, reshaped exhaust tips and a new decklid design that is said to improve access to the trunk, while the sedan also rolls on newly designed alloy wheels.

“The original MK vehicles were, in some ways, deliberately provocative,” said Max Wolff, Lincoln Design director. “The styling of the new MKS adds both refinement and elegance to the car while visually lowering and widening the front end. The continuous bright surround linking the grille and headlamps is particularly rich and adds something significant to what is already an expressive, balanced design.”

Inside, the cabin sports a new instrument panel and center console, higher quality materials and a revamped version of the MyLincoln Touch infotainment system.

Underneath the skin, the engine line-up stays the same, albeit with some power boosts: the 3.7-liter V6’s output has increased by 26HP to 300HP, while Lincoln claims that the front-wheel drive version returns 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg (+3mpg over this year's model) on the highway.

The 355HP 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 returns 18mpg city and 26mpg highway in the FWD model and 17mpg city and 25mpg highway in the AWD version.

On the hardware front, the revamped MKS gets an upgraded brake system with 13.86- (350 mm) front and 13.58-inch (340 mm) rear discs, as well as standard 19- or optional 20-inch alloys.

Perhaps the most important changes are the recalibrated steering and the addition of the Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) system, which can adjust the suspension’s settings 500 times a second to offer both comfort and sportier handling.

Apart from the CCD, the 2013 MKS also features a torque-vectoring differential as well as the Lincoln Drive Control. This system has two modes, Comfort and Sport, which change steering, throttle response, shifting speed and traction control settings depending on the driver’s preferences.