Pebble Beach, California – Lincoln has confirmed that it will produce the Lincoln MKT, a premium three-row luxury crossover based on the concept MKT it debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The company made the announcement at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance show.

“The Lincoln MKT reinforces our commitment to further expand North America’s fastest-growing luxury brand, providing an all-new vehicle to the showroom that’s been crafted and honed for a new kind of customer,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “The MKT will offer the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a crossover and the performance of a sports sedan, courtesy of its EcoBoost engine. At the same time, this perfect blend of performance and power is elegantly wrapped in the refined design cues that have become synonymous with modern Lincolns.”

The MKT will debut in 2009, alongside an upgraded MKZ midsize sedan and an additional version of the flagship MKS sedan, powered by an EcoBoost engine. The MKT will offer an EcoBoost 3.5-litre V6 engine that will deliver an estimated 340 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque, alongside a naturally-aspirated 3.7-litre V6 engine. EcoBoost engines feature turbocharged direct injection technology and deliver up to 20 per cent better fuel economy and 15 per cent improved emissions over larger-displacement engines. The company said that in the MKS and MKT, the EcoBoost engine delivers the fuel economy of a V6 engine with the performance feel of a V8.

The MKT, which will be built in Oakville, Ontario, will provide seating for up to seven passengers and include the latest version of SYNC, next-generation navigation system technology, and available new safety and security features, including Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross Traffic Alert System.