Sharing its Mazda 6-based platform and some body panels with the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the Zephyr is Lincoln's latest comeback kid, aimed at younger buyers who crave the luxury and image of an upscale brand. A mid-size 4-door sedan, it offers a fully-independent suspension, 221 hp V-6, 6-speed automatic transmission and a host of standard luxury features. Front, side, and side-curtain airbags are included. Starts at $29,995; EPA mileage 20/28 mpg.
First Glance
I am, by nature, a romantic. And by profession an automobile journalist who, when not testing new cars, specialises in automotive history. When I learned that the Lincoln Zephyr was back I insisted on a test drive; colleague Colin Hefferon gracefully gave up his place so I could take possession.
Since few among the young buyers Lincoln is aiming at will have heard of the Zephyr, permit me to add a brief reminder of where the name originated. The 1930's were tough on luxury car makers but rather than go bankrupt some launched lower-price versions. Lincoln's choice was the Zephyr. Styling (directed by Edsel Ford) was so attractive that it almost outdid the senior car. And what inspired the name? Not the breeze in your hair! The Burlington Zephyr was an advanced streamlined train which, on rails, was the Concorde of its day. Heading to the west coast from Chicago, it was the only way to go.Naming a lower-priced Lincoln after a high-speed luxury conveyance was an inspired idea at the time. None of which will help the 2006 Zephyr if it doesn't deliver in modern-day terms but if history means anything, such lineage could inspire a new brand loyalty.
In the Driver's Seat
Today we look to interiors when making judgements. We're a technology-driven society and expect our cars to reflect this. So how do you make a luxury car interior refined, yet appealing to an I-Pod, video-game generation? Not easily, as Lincoln found out. The Zephyr's cockpit, with its quality leather and aluminum trim, is appropriately handsome and offers all the techno-gimmicks, yet for me it doesn't work.
The designers have created a slick-looking environment. But... drivers are confronted by 73 buttons and switches, plus myriad others for GPS, stereo, and less relevant information on the touch-screen display. Each one too small to be accessed without taking one's eyes off the road. Sorry, but I believe current traffic conditions are such that safety demands 100% attention.
My Zephyr came with an optional and very impressive THX audio system (although I could do without that oversize logo staring me in the face whenever I turned on the engine). The Zephyr's interior is exceptionally comfortable; back seat passengers get spacious leg and headroom. It's easy to find an ideal driving position thanks to the 10-way-adjustable heated front seats, which are also air-cooled when premium leather is ordered.
On the Road
With 221 hp from a 3-liter ohc V-6 you'd expect responsive acceleration and you won't be disappointed. However the power is reached at a relatively high 6250 rpm while maximum torque doesn't peak until 4800 rpm (in contrast to some competing engines where delivery is almost instantaneous).
Lincoln compensated with a 6-speed automatic to keep the rev range where it's needed most. An automatic so smooth you'd never guess it was a 6-speeder unless you read the owner's manual or hit the accelerator and observed the tachometer needle. Just don't expect to control the gears manually - not even simple down-shifts on a winding road. The Zephyr's shift quadrant offers the traditional PRNDL positions and if you go from Drive to Low, the transmission usually drops two gears rather than one. With no idea which gear you're in, it's better to leave it alone. Clearly this transmission prefers to think for itself.
Tuned more for ride than handling, the chassis doesn't encourage spirited driving, nor does the steering. It's surprisingly heavy at speed and has an odd quirk where, in the last few degrees of a turn, it suddenly tightens the radius. Thankfully ABS/EBD braking plus traction assist will help avoid unplanned dramas.
Journey's End
So does the 2006 Zephyr equal the standards of its ancestor? Buyers of the first Zephyr would have insisted on typical Lincoln luxury and refinement. The new Zephyr makes the grade. They would demand Lincoln's silent ride and powerful engines. Again the 2006 Zephyr would satisfy. Then they'd demand distinctive styling to distinguish them from the Fords and Mercurys of the time.
Whoops! The waterfall grille is a nod to tradition but that's not enough. While no one expects 1930's streamlining in our techno-age, here's where the analogy begins to fade. The 2006 Zephyr too-closely resembles the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, which can be optioned with similar features and be purchased for a lot less cash. Though the watch-size analog clock almost compensates.
The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr comes into its own on expressways where driver and four passengers can waft along in utter silence or amuse themselves with that staggering THX sound system. I suggest Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass (the greatest contemporary big jazz band ever): best-suited to the Zephyr's rythyms. Sadly, I'm not convinced this is enough to spur Lincoln's revival.
