Sunday, September 30, 2007

2008 Lincoln Mark LT Review

The 2008 Lincoln Mark LT pickup is available in two and four wheel drive with an MSRP range of $28,340 to $41,440. This four-door, luxury truck has room for five and relies on a 5.4-liter V8 (three valves per cylinder) producing 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. (An automatic transmission with four speeds and overdrive is standard.)

For the most part the 2008 is a carry over from the previous model year. New options include the capability for remote start and a rearview camera, a feature appearing on more and more vehicles as a matter of not just convenience but safety. On the LT the camera is mounted on the bezel of the tailgate handle with the display appearing the rearview mirror. (Sirius satellite radio, once an option, is now a standard feature on the Mark LT.)

The LT has an overall length of 223.8 inches and a height of 73.5 inches. Double wishbones are used for the front suspension with a coil-over-shock format. In the rear look for outboard shock absorbers and leaf springs. The Mark LT has a standard bed measuring 5.5 feet with an option for a long 6.5 foot bed. The 2WD model can tow 8,900 lbs., the 4WD 8,600.

Inside the LT's cabin, ebony wood is used as trim and an auto-dimming rearview mirror on the driver's side is a standard feature. DVD-based navigation is optional. Leather covers the seats, which are finished with pleats and include an insert with a quilted pattern. The instrument cluster is augmented with contrast stitching. (Available colors for the cabin include Pebble with Light Parchment, Black with Dove Gray, or Black with Ebony.)

In addition to its elegance and powerful performance, the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT features a full array of safety features included anti-lock all-disc brakes with electronic systems for brake-force distribution. In the front, dual airbags are deployed according to sensors that read crash severity and the presence or absence of a passenger. Although technically built on a Ford F-150 crew-cab body, don't expect an every day work pickup. The Mark LT more than lives up to its luxury designation.

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