Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/292443
U gh, a Lincoln? I'm supposed to be test-driving a BMW, damn it. I had a handpicked list of soul-crushing ex-girlfriends whose apart- ments I intended to roll by—extra slow, top down, music up—in my f lashy new Beamer. "Look at me now!" I was going to yell out. But the BMW fell through and now I was stuck with 188 horses of lackluster. I mean, who was the last cool guy seen with a Lincoln? Daniel Day-Lewis? But I was wrong, dead wrong. After falling off the high-end radar for the better part of a decade, Lincoln has clawed its way back to the top. Exhibit A: the 2014 MK Z Hybrid. From the curb, the luxury sedan has all the sleek lines of an Audi A4 but with more attitude. Its chrome grill grins mischie- vously. Its sunroof stretches the full length of the cabin. The windows wink, as if asking: So what do you have in mind, big fella? I slip into the driver's seat like it's my grandfather's favorite recliner. This would be a good car for a stakeout; or better yet, for a long, sultry idle at any number of Lover's Lookouts. This hybrid gets 45 miles to the gallon—top of its class—so idle on. The dealer tells me the car is running, but even when hitting the gas, it remains as quiet as falling snow. The MK Z might just be the sailboat of cars: swift, smooth, and utterly silent. On the dash, the electronics would be the envy of any MIT engineer. There is no stick to shift, just buttons to press. Practically everything can be done through voice command. The MK Z and I chat about my favorite bands, who won the Sox game last night, if I should pack an umbrella for dinner. Not since Knight Rider has a car been so well spoken. The final stroke of seduction, however, comes from a button over the dash: automatic parallel parking. For all my city driving, I'm a pathetic sight when it comes to tucking into a spot on Commonwealth Avenue. I shudder to think of the gas I've burned doing laps in search of double-wide spots for my 10 -point maneuvers. Now with the push of a bottom, my park- ing anxiety is gone. The MK Z tells me to take my hands off the wheel as she deftly threads a parking spot with inches to spare. The future is here. So watch out, luxury car world—as we speak, f leets of Lincoln MK Zs are rolling off lots like ninjas in the night, stealing your parking spots, and reclaiming the brand's rightful place at the top. I, for one, never doubted it for a second. lincoln.com BC Road to Redemption LINCOLN'S 2014 MKZ HYBRID IS THE MOST SEDUCTIVE CAR THIS SIDE OF KNIGHT RIDER. BY R.S. COOK 120 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM CARNOISSEUR 120_BC_BOB_Car_LateSpring14.indd 120 4/4/14 10:02 AM