MKZ

This Lincoln nameplate began life as the 2006 Zephyr and was renamed MKZ for the 2007 model year, when Lincoln shifted much of its lineup to alphanumeric badging. The first-generation car ran through 2012 and established the model as Lincoln’s entry-level midsize sedan, sharing its basic front-drive architecture with related Ford and Mercury sedans while offering a more upscale, quieter take on the same formula. A hybrid variant followed during that era and became one of the nameplate’s notable early milestones. For 2013, Lincoln launched an all-new second generation with a more dramatic design, a more premium cabin, and a broader technology focus, helping the car move further upmarket. That generation received a major midcycle update for 2017, adding a bolder front-end treatment and more advanced feature content, including Lincoln’s available twin-turbo V6 performance version. The sedan remained in production through the 2020 model year, after which Lincoln ended MKZ production as the brand continued shifting toward SUVs and away from its MK-era sedan naming strategy.