Lincoln has just launched a new website called 6versus8.com, aimed at promoting the new MKS sedan. The website profiles, in high production quality video, a shootout between the MKS and four of its European rivals. The challenge, says Lincoln, was to see if the Lincoln V6 could hold its own against the V8s from the U.K. (Jaguar XF), Germany (BMW 550i and Mercedes E550) and Italy (Maserati Quattroporte). The location was Loveland Pass in Colorado.
The wording and even the website name is more than just a little misleading, however, as the Lincoln V6 is no normal V6, featuring not only two turbochargers, but also sophisticated direct-injection technology. For a V6, the Lincoln has plenty of power with 355hp and 350 ft-lbs of torque. For the record, that’s 5 less horsepower and 10 fewer ft-lbs than in the 4.8-liter BMW.
Additionally, at the 12,000 foot altitude at which the test was performed, the turbocharged Lincoln is at a natural advantage. With lower oxygen levels in the air at 12,000 feet, the naturally aspirated V8s aren’t performing optimally, while the Lincoln’s two turbochargers can compensate for the high altitude by working harder to achieve the same output.
In order to be “non-biased” Lincoln worked with Motor Trend and Automobile magazines, which timed the runs and even provided the driver: Rod Millen.
Still, as we’ve already mentioned, this is hardly a fair fight.
Considering Ford (and not the cash strapped and recently out of bankruptcy protection magazines) most likely paid for the whole thing, we’re quite surprised that (SPOILER ALERT) Lincoln didn’t win. The MKS did, however, manage second place, with the BMW 550i taking first. Third place belongs to the Mercedes, fourth to the Jag and dead last to the QPorte.
Ford (Lincoln) will be the real marketing winner out of this, however, as the company is cleverly using techniques like this to break down the barriers that car buyers (domestic car buyers in particular) have against smaller displacement turbocharged or supercharged engines. Ford wants to make people re-think the phrase “There’s no replacement for displacement” before it goes dropping the EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine into vehicles (like the Mustang of F-150) targeted at more traditional buyers.
Even knowing the results, we suggest you watch the videos for their pure entertainment value.
See all the videos here:
www.6versus8.com
