New face and tech for Lincoln MKC

DETROIT — It doesn't generate the profits of the Navigator or have the name recognition of the Continental, but the MKC may be Lincoln's most important vehicle.

Since its introduction in 2014, the compact crossover has played a key role in Lincoln's revival, kick-starting the brand's longest streak of annual sales increases in three decades. The MKC soon will get its first significant updates, including a host of new technology features and the brand's new mesh grille design.

Lincoln unveiled the new look last week, ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The freshened MKC will go on sale in the summer as a 2019 model.

Robert Parker, Lincoln's director of marketing, sales and service, said the MKC has attracted younger customers to a brand traditionally shopped by an older clientele. Roughly half of sales are to women, another demographic with which Lincoln has not done as well.

The MKC brings in more buyers from rival brands than any other Lincoln. Parker said half of sales are conquests from Cadillac, Lexus and other competitors.

"We recognize it takes a lot to attract a buyer from other luxury competitors, but the Lincoln MKC has that kind of appeal and we believe that the new MKC will capture even more luxury clients," Lincoln President Kumar Galhotra said in a statement.

Parker said the MKC is Lincoln's best-seller in China, a market it expects to eventually surpass the United States in overall volume for the brand. He said the brand tailors MKCs for China with larger rear seats.

Stateside, the crossover performs well in an important luxury segment that has grown 29 percent over the last decade.

Amid roughly flat overall U.S. luxury sales through October, Lincoln edged up 2.4 percent, and the MKC rose 8.7 percent to 22,507 vehicles.

Besides the change to the front end, the 2019 MKC receives a few other exterior tweaks, including new color options, wheel choices, LED lights and chrome accents on the back end.

Inside, the crossover will offer Ford Motor Co.'s Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will add driver-assist features that include pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and automatic braking. Active park assist, lane-keeping alert and Ford's blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert will be offered as options. Ford also will sell three new Black Label trims.

Engine choices are unchanged from the current model.

The MKC is included in Lincoln's pickup and delivery service, which is standard on all models. It can be accessed through the Lincoln Way app, which also allows customers to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicles.