Ford takes aim at Lexus with new Lincoln - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Ford is taking aim at Lexus with a new Lincoln luxury sedan that goes on sale this fall.

Ford says the Lincoln MKZ will start at $35,925. That's $175 less than the Lexus ES 350.

The MKZ is a critical product for Ford, which is trying to revamp the Lincoln brand after years of neglect. It's the first in a string of new Lincolns that Ford plans to roll out over the next three years.

Among the MKZ's features is an all-glass roof that opens automatically and slides over the back window, giving both front and rear passengers a convertible-like ride. It has Lincoln's split-wing grille, one of the brand's most recognizable features. But designers toned it down after complaints about the ungainly maw on the most recent Lincoln sedans.

Ford first revealed the new MKZ midsize car in January, but hadn't released the price.

Lexus was the third highest-selling luxury brand in the U.S. last year behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Lincoln was the top-selling brand in the U.S. in 1998, but it was eclipsed by Lexus for most of the next decade. Lincoln is now outsold by seven other luxury brands.

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