2010 Lincoln MKT, Kia Soul and BMW 5 Series GT Review
2010 Lincoln MKT Review :
The 2010 Lincoln MKT is a new kind of vehicle for Lincoln. It’s a tall wagon, a short SUV, a high-luxe crossover and it’s powered by the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6.
The new MKT presents us with a tremendous decision to make. We’re bound by the car-guy creed to hate all things “crossover” and love all things “awesome wagon,” so naturally the MKT, like the Ford Flex upon which it’s based, makes it difficult to draw a bead on where our preformed opinions should lie. We like the Flex, but the combination of too-small back seats and a relatively dear pricetag make it a tough proposition as a middle-class family standard. The MKT has its sights firmly set on a higher class of customer.
The MKT ups the fancy quotient in a number of ways, first and foremost is the inclusion of Ford’s much anticipated TwinForce EcoBoost twin-turbocharged direct-injection V6, the same high-end motor in the Lincoln MKS and the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and hopefully in everything else Ford makes pretty soon. It offers better fuel economy, a mesa-flat torque curve and a much higher hell-yeah quotient than the base model 3.7 Duratec which we found profoundly adequate and nothing more.
Kia Soul Review :
The 2010 Kia Soul brings a new attitude to the Korean automaker’s lineup. A far cry from the likes of the stuffy Amanti sedan, the Soul is a five-door urban wagon that neatly outsmarts the likes of the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube with a catchy style; a sharp, roomy, and well-fitted cabin; and a comprehensive list of safety and fun features.
The 2010 Soul wins on styling, hands-down. The reverse boomerang of the rear end reminds some of the In-N-Out burger logo; to others, it’s simply a crisp, rakish shape with a little bit of busy detailing up front. The front wears the new Kia corporate grille and friendly-feeling headlamps; the rear is less tidy, but the square, tall taillamps frame a light and lofty hatchback that’s nearly vertical—a nice punctuation to the Soul’s casual leaning stance. Inside, it’s a refined blend of round shapes and embossed plastics—and a variety of colors and textures if you like, from red plastic covering the dash to houndstooth-check material swathing the seats.
Two engines and two transmissions give Soulsters agreeable choices for city driving, if not much beyond that. The base Soul comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 122 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque. With the sole transmission, a five-speed manual, it’s rated at 26/31 mpg. TheCarConnection.com did not have the opportunity to drive this model; Kia estimates only 5 percent of shoppers will order it, anyway.
Most 2010 Soul wagons will sport a four-cylinder engine with 2.0 liters of displacement, 142 horsepower, and 137 pound-feet of torque. With either the light but long-throw manual shifter or the smooth-shifting four-speed automatic, this combination delivers 24/30 mpg. It’s the standard powertrain on the three top Soul models: the typographically challenging Soul+, Soul!, and Soul Sport. Kia doesn’t provide performance estimates, but at a few hundred pounds less than the similarly sized Scion xB, 0-60 mph times of less than 9 seconds seem possible. That moderate acceleration comes with an engine note that develops a bit of thrum at higher highway speeds.
The 2010 BMW 5-Series GT marks the newest addition to BMW’s lineup. While the addition of a premium sedan with hatchback capability and a larger engine may not prove to be the most profitable model in the company’s stable, at the very least, the 5-Series GT gives us a look at the technologies that BMW has in the pipeline for eventual integration into their other models. From a low-emission V8 to a new regenerative braking system, there is a lot to get excited about on the 5-Series GT.
First off, let’s start with the engine. The debut model will be the 550i, which will have a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine that pumps out 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are certainly more than adequate for a premium touring sedan, but what makes the power even more impressive is that the emissions put it in the U.S.’s Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle category. Yes, a V8-powered luxury tourer that has ultra-low emissions. Not bad at all.
Okay, so the engine is powerful and clean, but the true measure of a GT (which stands for Gran Turismo) is the comfort. The designation is all about luxury on long trips, and the 5-Series GT delivers that. The hatchback and higher roof allows the GT to have ample cargo space vertically instead of front to back. This means that the BMW designers could place the rear seats further back in the car, drastically increasing legroom over other cars in the same segment and size class. If you’re looking for a premium sedan that will be used on long trips with four adults in the car, there is absolutely no substitute for the 5-Series GT (unless, of course, you want to spend $140,000 on a BMW 7-Series). The rear seat can also be had in either a three-seater bench or a two-seater with comfortable chairs separated by a center console.
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