The styling and presence of the MKS are pure Lincoln: bold, sturdy, impressive. This luxury marque has been busily searching its past design DNA for usable yesteryear styling symbols that will play well in the present. According to company stylists, the aggressive boat prow-like MKS grille recalls the classic pre-war Lincoln Continental; yet in the same gesture, they say, this stands as a symbol of the new Lincoln's aggressive thrust forward into the 21st century.

While appearing rock steady in profile, the MKS has a dynamic stance that seems ready to pounce. And viewed from the rear on the interstate, this car has the imposing presence, in scaled-down form, of an ultra-luxury sedan.

The MKS makes generous use of chrome highlighting, supported by understated side sculpting in profile view. In addition to the usual variety of paint colors, the MKS is available in a new paint finish called Tuxedo Black Metallic. This black is similar to a metallic finish, except that in place of metallic flecks in the paint, it features brilliant, tiny flecks of glass. The result is a highly reflective finish that will wow some buyers. To others, Tuxedo Black will seem an extraordinarily coarse metallic more suited to bass boats.

The MKS, with an overall length of 204.1 inches and dignified height of 61.6 inches, is a fully found luxury sedan that will earn its place in the rivalries of valet parking. However, as with many luxury sedans that aspire to sleekness (Jaguar sedans come to mind) its handsomely rounded forms leave the impression that it is smaller than it really is.

On the plus side of this undersizing, the air passing over the MKS at 70 mph flows smoothly and silently, yielding both a peaceful commute and startlingly efficient EPA Highway mileage of 25 mpg in EcoBoost trim, impressive for this full-size entry. (The non-turbocharged 3.7-liter V6 yields 24 mpg on the highway. When it's time to refuel, the MKS features a refueling receptacle that eliminates the messiness of a gas cap.

Interior

Seated in the cockpit of the MKS, its wide expanse of dashboard receding toward the windshield creates a sensation of lavish roominess. Our test car had a gleaming swath of dark wood running from one end of the dash to the other, its finish so bright indeed that we weren't sure it was real wood. It was.

The instruments were laid out handsomely, with softly cushioned surfaces and hand-stitched leather seams everywhere on the dashboard, as befits a luxury car. The steering wheel was wrapped in leather, with wood highlights, and its girth and grip felt perfect.

Big buttons on the center stack made operating the HVAC (heating/air conditioning) and audio systems easy. What felt less perfect was the switchgear, which lacked the tactile elegance and sturdiness one might have hoped for in this car. The buttons and switches and A/C ducting adjusters felt generic, as if they might be found on any Ford. Otherwise, the appearance and materials in the cabin were swank.

The MKS benefits from the luxury of fine leather seating. The front seat cushion and particularly the backrest provide steadying lateral support. Both front seats have 12-way and lumbar adjustments. The twin front seats are both heated and cooled, and the rear seats are heated. Long-range driving comfort is good and the fit and quality of the leather is excellent throughout. Visibility is similarly excellent from the driving position. The forward-leaning proximity of the headrest to the back of the head was a minor annoyance, but it is placed there for improved safety and cannot be adjusted.

The stepped gearshift controlling the SelectShift six-speed automatic is simple and straightforward, and the paddle shifters, standard in the EcoBoost, are located on each side of the steering wheel, allowing full manual shifting. Fully automatic shifting is provided normally, but for curvier roads where engine braking will heighten control, the paddle shifts are invaluable.

The HVAC system provided generous torrents of cooling or warming air.

The navigation system features a bright, eight-inch screen. We found the navigation system a good companion to our test drive through tortuous, ever-changing two-lane backcountry blacktop. Industry-leading Lincoln connectivity allowed us to monitor the local weather in real time and stay in touch with the outside world. Returning to the traffic-challenged environment of urban Washington, D.C., we were easily able to sort out the traffic jams ahead and find the least annoying route to our destination. Touching the screen on a traffic jam revealed the cause. The navigation screen operated in both three-dimensional mode and map view. The three-dimensional view is fun for impressing friends (and prospective buyers), but not particularly useful and somewhat confusing.

The premium-quality THX II sound system and satellite-radio accessibility delivers superb concert surround-sound. And using Ford's voice-activated Sync system, we were able to order changes in programming without moving our hands from the wheel. While parked, we watched clips from Star Wars crisply displayed on the screen and the fly-bys of the small, fighter ships were incredible over the 5.1 surround sound with crisp base and crystal highs. Likewise, the acoustical guitar and percussion on a live recording of the Eagles playing Hotel California was amazingly crisp and clear. These are benefits of the high quality of the system and the well sound-deadened cabin.

Second-row riders will enjoy the MKS as much as those in the front row. The rear seats offer capacious ease of entry and segment-leading spaciousness. The rear-seat cushions, while soft and comfortable, are not terribly supportive, but the rear seatbacks more than make up for this lax support. The concave, radiused seatbacks are nicely sculpted, providing plenty of lateral support. We found them very comfortable for two adults. The center position is suitable only for a child.

Cargo space is generous. The actual volume is a respectable 18.7 cubic feet, but trunk access is via a tight entryway. When fully loaded with luggage, however, the Lincoln MKS should make an excellent grand-touring machine. A pass-through is provided for skis.