LOSE ONT Friday, October 23, 1992 — The redesigned 1993 Lincoln Mark Vit! rear-wheel-drive luxury coupe combines a sleek exterior and futuristic interior with an all-new V8 powertrain and independent all-apring suspension with automatic levelling contro}. Lincoln lark Vitl Contemporary styling, sophisticated powertrain in sleek luxury coupe TEST DRIVE THE NEW Lincoln Mark VUi luxury coupe is a good example of how rapidly American luxury coupes are evolving. Prior to 1984, Lincoin coupes were soft-riding, overweight lux- ury cass that had little in common with better-handling European coupes and sedans. Responding to changing tastes and lifestyles, designers of the 1984 Lincoln Mark VII took a step forward by combining European-like ride, handling and performance with American lux- ury, style, and price. Lincoln Town Car owners would probably disagree, but it was the right move. Competitors Lexus and Cadillac now have their own European-style luxury coupes which are receiving favorable reviews. Not to be outdone, Lincoln recently introduced the all-new Mark VIII, a sleek new luxury coupe with a sophisticated power- train and suspension. The Mark VIII retains tradi- tional Mark styling features such as the distinctive spare tire hump on the rear deck and a vertical grille, but little else about this car is traditional. Its ‘seamless’ styling offers a modern, fluid shape that seems to have no corners. ' The front and rear body- colored bumpers merge gracefully with the body lines as do the in- tegrated headlamps and_ grille. Both the windscreen and = rear window have an extreancly canted slope and all the windows and pillars are flush with the smooth body surface. My only criticism of this design is that the front and rear overhangs scem quite long. In keeping with the trend to bigger luxury cars, the Mark VIII is ten centimeters fonger and nine centimeters wider than the Mark VII. The longer wheelbase has created a larger passenger cabin than before. Rear passengers in the Mark VII now have sufficient legroom and headroom, unlike most luxury coupes in this class. In addition, getting in and out of the back seat is easier because the front seat now moves forward automatically when the front seatback is folded forwards. Lincoln claims the Mark VIII is a five-seater, but the rear middle passenger must sit on a raised hump and = straddle a_ central divider — not a very dignified or comfortable position. The interior has a futuristic, spacecraft-type look. The dashboard is a wraparound design with round instruments and an LED monitor in the centre. dash area which displays 21. dif- ferent functions, such as instant fuel economy, distance travelled and outside temperature. It also warns the driver when certain functions fail. A high centre armrest divides the cabin in two, and console con- trols are angled towards the driver, A leather interior and Price as tested Base price Type two-deor, luxury coupe Layout longitudinal engine/rear-wheel-drive Engine 4.6-litre V8, (2) DOHC, 32 valves, sequential electronic five-passenger front driver and passenger airbags are standard. Unlike other luxury coupes, though, the Mark VIII is not available with interior woodgrain trim. . The heart of the new Mark VIII is a new all-aluminum 4.6-litre V8-engine with four overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. This engine is a lightweight ver- sion of the single overhead cam 4.6-litre engine introduced in the Lincoin Town Car in 1990. With 280 horsepower, the Mark VILE has 30% more horsepower than the Mark VII, yet achieves better fuel economy. This can be attributed to improved engine electronics and combustion effi- ciency, different gear ratios, and lighter weight. The performance of this new engine is world class. Though it is designed as a high-revving engine, engine response is available at both low fuel injection Horsepower 280 @ 5,500 rpm Torque 285 Ibs-ft @ 4,500 rpm Transmission electronically controlled 4-speed automatic Curb weight 1,702 kg/3,752 Ibs Wheelbase 2,870 mm/113.0 in. Length 5,255 mm/206.9 in. and high engine speeds. From a standing start, the Mark VIII will accelerate to. 100 km/h in just 7.7 seconds, a quick time for a big car like this. Passing acceleration is also very quick, The engine’s flexibility and ver- satility, not to mention its quietness, make the Mark VIH suited te both highway. touring and city dziving. . An_ all-new electronically con- trolled four-speed automatic transmission (no manual transmis- sion is available) provides gentle shifts but hesitates before shifting during highway passing manoeuvers. A firm fgot planted on the ac- celerator will bring the engine to life, however, Powerful four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-tock braking system are standard equipment. . See Lincoin page 30 Width 1,895 mm/74.6 in. Height 1,361 mm/53.6 in. Tires P225/60R-16 speed-rated radials Trunk capacity 408 L/14.4 cu.ft. Fuel economy n/a Warranty four-year/80,000 km + Roadside Assistance