My FH5 Log: Junkyard Dogs

The Forza Horizon 5 American Automotive series update is littered with old-school American cars out from the junkyard and into the Horizon Mexico playground, a swarm of flies attracting a cesspool of vintage American cars.

As the American Automotive series update is wrapping up, let's check out the cesspool of old-school American cars that littered through the Horizon Mexico playpen.

The Wet Season playlist brought us the fifth-generation Plymouth Belvedere, the only model to come with the 426 Chrysler Hemi Engine and the one that scored Plymouth's podium sweep at the 1964 NASCAR race in Daytona, with one of them driven by the legendary Richard Petty.

The Storm Season playlist brought us the first-generation Pontiac Firebird, the first chapter of Pontiac's equivalent of the Chevrolet Camaro, as well as the second-generation Chevrolet Nova, in Super Sport trim with the Turbo-Fire 327 cu in V8 engine producing a power output of 350hp while mated exclusively with a 4-speed MT.

The Dry Season playlist brought us the Pontiac GTO "The Judge". Known for its funky logo and stripe decals, The Judge is powered by a 6.6L V8 Ram Air 3 engine that produces over 361HP of power output while mated to a Hurst shifter, heavy-duty suspension, wide tires, and a rear spoiler. It is the ultimate sports spec car made before the GTO was laid to rest.

Lastly, the Hot Season playlist brought us the fourth-generation Lincoln Continental luxury sedan, the first in the Continental lineage to feature suicide doors.

I've sent these junkyard dogs on a short trip through four new sprint races introduced in the American Automotive series update; the Línea Costera Sprint, the Aeródromo Sprint, the Marigold Sprint, and the Vista Del Mar Sprint. These four new sprint races will serve as the litmus test for these American vintage cars to flex their muscles as they scat through the competition in style. Want to see these dogs in action? Let's roll the tapes...

What do you think? Do these scavengers make you fall in love with old cars? I bet you are because your gut tells you to have fun with these junkyard dogs fresh from being junkyard scrap and into the Horizon Mexico sandbox but wait, there's more.

As it turns out, the vintage prize cars from the American Automotive update weren't the only stray dogs littering around the Mexican landscape. In fact, there's one junkyard dog to end them all...

What you're looking up here is the DeBerti Shop Rod, which is included in the game's American Automotive DLC Pack. Based on the 1961 Ford Econoline, it's been stripped off, lowered, made it right-hand-drive, and jammed with a Coyote engine paired to a Reid racing 4L80-E transmission with an ATD reverse manual valve body, producing 850hp of power output.

I got to sample it on an oval track to see if the Shop Rod from DeBerti is the hot rod in a van body. Let's roll the tape.

It's a hot rod, alright. A hot rod in a van's body.

This latest cesspool of old-school American cars proves that a game like Forza never stops jamming old cars to younger players who never heard of them. There are Gen Z players out there and showing them old cars is like slapping dog poo on their faces. In the end, this is how they roll.

When sleeping dogs lie, they'll come back to cause havoc another day and these junkyard dogs proved their point. We can expect more junkyard dogs littering around Horizon Mexico even before 2023 ends and 2024 begins and what a living nightmare our Gen Z players will experience.

The fun's just getting started...

Linclon Aviator (2nd Gen) and Corsair

The return of the Aviator and the arrival of the first-ever Corsair shows that Lincoln, Ford's luxury brand, might follow its parent's suit with an all-SUV lineup because with even the most luxurious SUVs, despite its high price tag, are pretty much about everywhere on the road today, the timely arrival of the two new Lincoln crossovers proved its all about the power grab from the competition dominated by luxury German imports.

2020 Lincoln Aviator

We begin with the all-new Lincoln Aviator, which starts at a rather expensive 51,100 US Dollars plus on road costs, and while this is essentially a Ford Explorer with a lot of bling bling on it, the all-new Aviator shows it's all about delivering the riding comfort of a luxury sedan in an SUV setting and this is what Lincoln's all about; being comfortable on the trip to Beverly Hills.

2020 Lincoln Aviator

Looking at the design, the new Aviator is no longer a mini-me Navigator like the old one had and judging from its unique styling that is very Lincoln indeed, rest assured that the new Aviator is one of the nicest-looking full-size crossovers emerged in the Land of Opportunity and that's just the start of the story.

2020 Lincoln Aviator interior

Inside, the new Aviator hosts a wide array of tech and comfort fit for up to seven people on board and unlike the more generic interior the latest Ford Explorer features, the new Aviator features a well-tailored interior that smells like it was tailored at a very fancy dress shop rather than the department store and judging by all the leather and wood plastered to this very functional interior, the new Aviator is surprisingly comfortable not just as a family car but also works for escorting VIPs to their very important schedules like galas, orchestras, concerts, or public hearings. Spacious at the back as well.

2020 Lincoln Aviator

Like the Ford Explorer, the new Aviator utilizes on a brand new rear-wheel drive architecture, which promises to be more sporty and athletic compared to the old Aviator of yesteryears and with the optional Intelligent 4WD, it handles almost everywhere. Because being a Lincoln, the Aviator's dynamics is focused on comfort in mind, meaning that it's capable of traveling through the I-5 in the real world, which most luxury car owners do, while leaving anyone in the back sleeping like a baby. It's quiet, refined, and nice to live with, although you won't break a sweat from driving one. As for safety, the new Aviator boasts a wide range of safety tech for when they're needed most.

The Aviator is powered by the similar 3.0L EcoBoost V6 petrol engine that you get from the new Ford Explorer while mated to a ten-speed automatic gearbox. It produces similar stats compared to the new Ford Explorer.

There's also the first ever Aviator Grand Touring which comes with the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 petrol engine bolted to a Plug-In Hybrid powertrain and a unique 10-speed AT built specifically for this variant.

2020 Lincoln Corsair

Next, let's move on to the first-ever Lincoln Corsair, which starts at 35,945 US Dollars plus OTR, and although more expensive than the MKC it relpaces, this poshed-up Ford Escape is the least expensive of the Lincoln SUV range of today, and there's something about this crossover that will leave them cross-armed in the middle of the Corsica sunrise.

2020 Lincoln Corsair

Silly name aside, the Corsair looks a bit like a smaller version of the new Aviator mentioned above, meaning that this luxury midsize crossover got succumbed to the Russian doll effect and when parked alongside its big brother, you really can't tell the difference between the Aviator and Corsair. Let the size decide which is which but it's a bit more complicated than that.

2020 Lincoln Corsair

Like the latest Ford Escape, the Corsair as room for five people, a sensible dashboard on the driver's side, ample boot space for when they need most, and the optional foot-activated liftgate, something that the Germans should take note before taking on this five-seater comfort cruiser which packs some luxury amenities as cutting-edge as a 4K smart TV on the living room. It is very accommodating in the beginning so high rollers can take advantage of its spacious interior in the beginning.

2020 Lincoln Corsair

The Corsair is front-wheel drive as standard, meaning it behaves like the MKZ saloon for all the right and wrong reasons, but when fitted with the Intelligent AWD and adaptive suspension, the Corsair is capable of going places no matter how dirty the road is or how rainy the weather is and because being a Lincoln, it's surprisingly comfortable as well. Safer too thanks to its wide range of safety features loaded on it.

There are two turbocharged engines offered on the Corsair such as the 2.0L and the more powerful 2.3L engine, all mated to an 8-speed AT.

So, there we are. The new Aviator and the Corsair are undeniable proof that Lincoln might go down in the same path as Ford by offering an all-SUV lineup because of the reality today's automotive world faces. Like or not, these new crossovers are here to stay when needed most and looks like customers are prepared to get their fat paychecks on one of them.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Infiniti QX50 (2nd Gen) vs. Acura RDX (3rd Gen) vs. Lincoln Nautilus

The crossover craze is an outbreak that can't be contained unlike SARS, Ebola, or MERS and the United States of America is the biggest to be hit by the pandemic where more and more people making the switch from conventional saloons to utility vehicles that are more than just vehicles, they're lifestyle checks. Specifically, people driving one would go out for garage sale hunting, trips to beauty spots, shopping, everything a crossover owner would do in their time. Infiniti brought us some of their examples in their time but one such crossover they have is a game-changer as they claimed.

2019 Infiniti QX50

2019 Infiniti QX50

This is the all-new Infiniti QX50. Priced at $36,550, it's one of the most reasonably priced luxury crossovers offered on American soil and Infiniti insists that this crossover is a game-changer because of what powers it. More than that later on but at the moment let's take a quick talk about the QX50. About over a decade ago, its predecessor called the EX was launched and it arrived on Japanese soil as the Nissan Skyline Crossover two years later. A normal one, because it runs on the same Skyline platform, is rear-wheel drive. Some say that this crossover is somewhat a spiritual successor to the Nissan Stagea but due to the policy shift Nissan faces, this new QX50 will not be a Skyline Crossover in the same way the new Q60 Coupe is not offered in Japan as the new Skyline Coupe. It's a shame really because judging by the looks of it...

2019 Infiniti QX50 interior

2019 Infiniti QX50 interior

The new QX50 is a concept turned reality and because it draws inspiration from the QX Inspiration Concept, that design is a warning shot for carmakers trying to tone down the concept car's design for production. That means you, Subaru, but although the design looks like it was derived from the Q50 and the Q60, it looks more like the Mazda CX-5 when you squint your eyes harder. On the inside, the dashboard really works like the Q50 and the Q60 as well because of the dual screens mounted on it; one for display and the other for control. While there's nothing so special about its handcrafted dashboard, the QX50 is surprisingly comfortable for a five-seater luxury crossover that works not just as a family car but for escorting VIPs as well. On the back, its 65.1 cubic feet of cargo space means that it has plenty of room for stuff listed from your to-do list such as trips to the laundry, to the birthday party, to the baptism, family vacation, so on, so forth, and because it comes with the motion-activated liftgate, opening the back door becomes more convenient for the Joneses.

Now, let's talk more about the engine it powers it and this is what it refers to as the world's first 268-hp 2.0-liter VC-Turbo Engine. This all-new Variable Compression Turbo engine is the first-ever publicly available variable compression ratio engine that is capable of delivering an optimal compression ratio from performance to efficiency, from 8:1 to 14:1 respectively.  It's like having two engines in one and that really is a game-changer that Infiniti has done for us so well done but not yet because while the first-ever VC-Turbo engine is worth its first impression, its dynamics are worth questionable. The old model has a standard rear-wheel drive with optional AWD. This new one, because of its new platform that runs with it, is now front-wheel drive, which is a bit of an upset for drivers everything that it's starting to behave like the Acura I'm showing later on, and adding AWD just won't burn your eyebrows either.

It's no fun crossover to drive but it's worth soothing your brows all the way home and to make the journey home more interesting, Infiniti gave the new QX50 with new driver assistance technologies such as Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Advanced Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, and Distance Control Assist. It all sounds good but unless the Jalopnik boys get a stab on it, it might be worth complaining.

It's fair to say that because the new QX50 is front-wheel drive at default, some are complaining that the days of being a Skyline Crossover of yesteryears are well and truly over, in fact, that is why this new QX50 is not available in Japan as of now. But there are more reasons to think of rather than why this luxury crossover is not offered in the Land of the Rising Sun and the dynamics it possess can be rather explained in this...

2019 Acura RDX

2019 Acura RDX

This is the all-new, third-generation Acura RDX. It starts at $37,300, it's slightly more expensive than the QX50, but this crossover has a lot of explanations to deal with apart from being a glorified Honda CR-V in 3-Series money.

Acuras of today are adopting to their Precision Crafted Performance mantra but it's the facelifted ones like the MDX, the TLX, and the RLX are getting those new faces and no matter where you're looking at, they look a bit more average because of their age. Since this RDX is all new, this is the first time an Acura underwent a full model change to don the Precision-inspired face and by the looks of it, this glorified Honda CR-V never looked so alive, although the rear view looks like it came from the Subaru Impreza, if you know what I mean.

2019 Acura RDX interior

2019 Acura RDX interior

Inside, the new RDX looks like it was copy-pasted from the Lexus NX because the dashboard looks pretty much like the NX as they said. Getting clueless about that NX-esque dashboard, the question of comfort is pretty much as decent as most crossovers. It's pretty nice to live with but because it has more boot space than the new QX50, you can hardly imagine where will you put it with that extra 11.8 cubic feet of space. Perhaps fill it with some jumbo-sized plushies you won at the country fair.

The new RDX is starting to drive like the very first one because the first generation had a 2.3L K23A1 Turbo I4 engine while the previous and rather disappointing second generation had a 3.5 L V6 engine. This one has a brand new 2.0L VTEC TURBO engine with 272HP of power while mated with a 10-speed automatic, which is four more than what the previous model had and before you can say "VTEC just kicked in, yo", please consider. While the new QX50 returns with 24/ 31 City/Highway MPG of fuel economy, the new RDX will return with 22/28 City/Highway MPG. That's about less than what it needs but there is more good news to the RDX because the old model featured a rather simple AWD powertrain which is somewhat average but for this one, they brought back the SH-AWD in the new model and with the SH-AWD armed, the new RDX is starting to feel like, well, you get the idea but it's starting to liven things up even in the rain. In the journey home, the AcuraWatch safety systems ranging from Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Road Departure Mitigation, as well as additional tech, are on standby and although puzzling for speedo boys, these techs will make the journey home more secure even when it's dark outside and it's raining hard.

So, while the QX50 is considered to be efficient thanks to its game-changing VC-Turbo engine, the new RDX's revival to form is starting to get the best out of the QX50. However, while some suggesting that they're not good-looking crossovers and others labeled it somewhat a minority, which is going to be troublesome, consider the alternative a wild card for the day.

2019 Lincoln Nautilus

2019 Lincoln Nautilus

This is the all-new Lincoln Nautilus and while the name sounds like a Pakistani beverage from the distant past, the Nautilus is a luxury crossover that has the ones I've mentioned above worth noticing because the starting price of $40,340 makes it the most expensive of the three. Sounds abysmal and then we go deeper into what is known to be a glorified Ford Edge with a Lincoln badge on it.

2019 Lincoln Nautilus interior

2019 Lincoln Nautilus interior

The old model, the MKX, is of course a glorified Ford Edge of some sorts but for the new Nautilus, Lincoln wants to elevate it to further heights and by observing the design, it's like the best of both worlds because as you can see, the exterior dons the Continental-style nose that served as the new face of the Lincoln Motor Company while the side view is reminiscent of today's Ford Edge and the rearview is a bit Porsche-ish. Overall, the Nautilus' design is pretty decent indeed. As for the interior, it's all the usual Lincoln interior that works pretty much like every new Lincoln I know and in the comfort zone, the Nautilus is surprisingly elegant to get yourselves cozy. Boot space, the Nautilus boasts 68.8 cubic feet so it may not be as spacious as the new RDX, it's got more room than the new QX50 and looks like the space issue is where the Nautilus sits at second place.

The standard 2.0L turbo engine with an 8-speed manual produces 245HP, which is the least powerful of the three and also the least fuel-efficient of the three with the EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 21 city/26 hwy/23 combined but what one thing the others don't have is that the Lincoln Nautilus can be fitted with a 2.7L V6 turbo engine producing 335HP of power and this is how the Nautilus will win a game of Top Trumps with that power output, although I'm not sure if the Nautilus is the clear winner per se but while the V6 turbo sounds irrelevant for some, the Nautilus finds itself struggling to keep up with its rivals in the dynamics department and while it is considered to be above average compared to them, there's a strong feeling that the Nautilus might be ignored by many just as many American carmakers getting slammed by Consumer Reports for being less reliable. Ouch.

So, there we are. To sum things up, the new QX50's VC-Turbo engine excels in being economical while the new RDX excels in the spacing issue and the new Nautilus, with its available V6 Turbo engine, is as American as it can get. Either way, these new crossovers are proof that the crossover outbreak is far from over. In fact, there are more on the way that will keep this pandemic spreading for many generations to come but in the meantime, feel free to enjoy what they offered just for you.

Photo: Infiniti, Acura, Ford Motor Company

4th Gen Ford Expedition vs. 4th Gen Lincoln Navigator

To the eyes of Americans, the Ford Expedition is part of everyday life much like every big SUVs in the neighborhood, especially if it feels at home in red states where everyone's free to wear their cowboy hats to express their Americanism. For third-world countries, especially the Philippines, an Expedition became a status symbol for the upperclassmen, especially if it was used to escort politicians from one government establishment after another. With this new version, the flagship SUV just got even more serious while reflecting the American values of today. So, what's it all about?

2018 Ford Expedition

After so many years, Ford's flagship full-size SUV, the Expedition, has been regenerated from the ground up and it's now an oversized Explorer made to cater to cowboys and billionaires alike, especially politicians like it always does in third-world countries. With prices start at $51,695. it's hard to face the fact that the all-new Expedition is about a grand more than its chief rival, the Chevrolet Suburban, but there's one thing the Expedition does that the Suburban does not; cleverness.

First and foremost, despite being a big SUV for the strongmen within them, the new Expedition is powered by the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 turbo engine, which is kinda small compared to the past Expeditions in history where V8s became mandatory but hey, tough times ahead. This turbocharged engine produces 375 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, that's more than what you get from the Suburban and as a result, a class-leading towing capacity of up to 9,300lbs. That is a good mark for Ford and to help those who want to get the most of their towing needs, it's been given the necessary tools such as the 10-speed automatic with Tow/Haul mode, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and integrated Trailer Brake Controller. With things like these, the new Expedition is for those who like to carry stuff with ease or go ballsy against the Suburban in the middle of a tug-of-war.

2018 Ford Expedition interior

2018 Ford Expedition interior

The interior is still typical Ford and it puts you into a reminder of the F-150 but because this is a big SUV for those who love to wear cowboys in weddings and carry rifles on a day-to-day basis, it's surprisingly comfortable for up to seven or eight passengers. Not only it work as a family car but also a limousine for the VIPs and in terms of boot space, it's big enough to fit most of the outdoorsy stuff and that's Ford standards to you. If you go to the long-wheelbase MAX variant, boot space is up to 121.5 cu. ft., which is annoyingly slightly shorter than the Suburban's, but unlike its rival, the new Expedition has an available Advanced Cargo Management System that will help owners stow their stuff securely in their place. Great for tailgating if you ask them and thanks to SYNC Connect, the Expedition becomes a wifi hotspot for your gadgets wherever you may go. There's even a wireless charging spot where you can charge your gadgets without sacrificing your cords to the chopper as well. With so many features, the Expedition works as either a family car or a VIP escort in so many ways and it's way beyond luxury in so many levels.

2018 Ford Expedition

I already mentioned the engine but what I didn't mention are the dynamics because it utilizes the same platform as the current F-150, handling is slightly improved compared to the old Expedition and because of its use of high-strength lightweight material construction with some aluminum involved in it, it's surprisingly lighter as well, although I'm a bit worried about the tug-of-war part against the Suburban.

To make sure it can handle like a proper SUV, it's been given an Independent Rear Suspension so it can handle road conditions in its own right and when given with the FX4 Off-road package, Continuously Controlled Damping,  and Terrain Management System, the new Expedition matches the same adaptability as the Land Cruiser or the Range Rover and coupled with a wide array of safety features, the Expedition is fit on almost any road conditions, be it rain or shine, come what may.

The new Expedition may have emerged from the red state with right-wing nutjobs who supported the fat man who controls our lives, but while it disappoints the Suburban in terms of pricing and spacing, it makes up with its towing capacity, creature comforts, and performance that sets the new standards to American full-size SUVs. I'm amazed that Ford finally made the Expedition even more luxurious than ever that will accommodate all kinds of people but if you are part of the billionaires' club and if you think the new Expedition is a bit too cheap for your exquisite tastes, perhaps consider this...

2018 Lincoln Navigator

This is the all-new Lincoln Navigator, the posher version of the Ford Expedition for those who think the new model is too Republican for its own right. Of course, it comes with the same choice of either short or long wheelbase, the same aluminum bodywork that lost almost 200lbs of weight, and the same EcoBoost V6 as the Expedition as well as its 10-speed gearbox, but unlike the Expedition, it can accommodate up to seven people, it's got more posh features than the Expedition, and more importantly, the V6 engine that powers it is more powerful than the Expedition, so powerful, its 450HP power output matches the same output as the old F-150 Raptor.

2018 Lincoln Navigator

As a result, the new Navigator will eat the Cadillac Escalade for breakfast, lunch, and tea, although not as powerful as the Range Rover and it has lesser towing capacity than the Expedition because of so many posh features that emphasize luxury over practicality. It may not be suitable for family trips because of its $72,055 price tag but it's a grand less than the Escalade rival it's targeting, so it's the perfect heavyweight SUV for barons, industrialists, moguls, even politicians.

It's great to say that with its lightweight aluminum body, adaptive suspension, and available four-wheel drive, the new Navigator no longer feels like the old one. In fact, it's slightly better than the old model in so many ways in terms of comfort, drivability, spacing, and convenience that makes it on par against the European opposition. Looks like the Q7, the GLS-Class, and the X5 would be shaking their underbodies right now every time they see this Navigator parking alongside them. Now that's America being, oops. Sorry. Shouldn't say that term because everybody's reading.

2018 Lincoln Navigator interior

2018 Lincoln Navigator interior

For the super wealthy with exquisite tastes, they can spec out their Navigator with the new Black Label experience featuring bespoke interior treatments as well as membership privileges such as trips to five-star restaurants, a stay at a posh hotel, or a trip to a country club. Now there's your "out on a limo" feeling that will make your inferior siblings mad over your newly found behavior after your recent stay with the billionaires' club, don't you think?

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. These new full-size SUVs may have emerged from a state famed for their fried chicken but the new Expedition and the new Navigator will showcase just how hospitable they really are for their occupants. The new Expedition is all about showing its cowboy charm to almost everyone while the Navigator has some Golden State charm to the big shots who want to stand out from the rest. You have to give them credit though that even if America is in a state of decay, they sure know how to make big SUVs like these. The more we know...

Photo: Ford Motor Company

All New Lincoln Continental

After almost a decade and a half of absence, the Lincoln Continental has been reborn as the flagship of the range and with the return of the Continental, looks like the luxury brand of Ford is heading towards its great revival as long as there's demand to it. The new car promises to be impossible to ignore thanks to its world class features and design but is it worth promising, I dare say?

2017 Lincoln Continental

In order for the new Continental to get ready to entice a new generation of luxury car buyers, it must first distinguish its rivals first and judging from its position, the new Continental's potential targets would possibly be an Audi A6, a Buick LaCrosse, or even the Cadillac XTS. Although looks sharp to look at, which reminds everyone of the concept car last year, the new Continental is basically a front-wheel drive as standard (with an optional all-wheel drive if you're living in the Pacific Northwest where rain is very likely or parts of the East Coast where it suffers from a polar vortex), meaning that it's going to behave like a commoners' car on the road. Design-wise, the new Continental influences it from the concept car, making it a clear example why carmakers should stick to the concept in terms of exterior design because that pleases them, not like Subaru when they make their production vehicles less in common with their concepts. With the design is so attention-grabbing, even Bentley's not happy with it because it resembles more like their Flying Spur saloon. One thing that bothers me the most is its rear view because it has some resemblance to the Hyundai Grandeur, see what I mean?

2017 Lincoln Continental interior

2017 Lincoln Continental interior

Of course, being the flagship in Lincoln's range, the new Continental features a well-tailored, well-mannered interior that you will spend hours and hours toying around the buttons while discovering how these features work. Starting with the SYNC 3, which was first applied on the recently facelifted Ford Escape crossover and Fusion saloon. Evolved from the least-loved version, the new SYNC 3 features voice activation system that responds to your voice. Of course, before anyone discovering that one on the new Continental, they're starting to think that SYNC 3 is starting to be more responsive compared to the previous SYNC, although there are some chinks to be worked out.

The seating is one of the key points of the new Continental and upfront, you are greeted with the Perfect Position seats which has 30 ways to adjust from top to bottom. On the rear view, where it has spacing big enough for the wealthy billionaire to be accommodated with, the available Rear Seat Package featuring power lumbar support, heating and cooling capabilities, and a reclining seat will be a sure fire thing to make sure the Continental stays classy, feels classy for the big bosses in the metro.

With an interior like this, the new Continental really makes us beg to accommodate with, no matter the odds.

2017 Lincoln Continental

Okay, what about driving? Despite being utilized on the Ford CD4 platform, the new Continental feels very unique in every single way and it tries to equate with the Europeans at ease. Up close and personal, it comes with an available Dynamic Torque Vectoring which transfers power to the rear wheel while driving through corners, making its handling worthy of being matched to the Europeans while catching up to the likes of its compatriots from America such as the Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac XTS. It's got Adaptive Steering which adjusts steering feel at different speeds, depending on where the driver is heading at, which is good by a long shot by the way.

Three V6 engines are offered on the new Continental such as a 2.7, a 3.7, and a more powerful 3.0L GTDi engine which produces over 400HP of power and an EPA-estimated fuel consumption of 19MPG combined, all mated to a 6-speed gearbox that can be operated by the buttons mounted on the front of a dashboard, a classic modern Lincoln trick that shoos away the most speedo boys in the night.

In tune with the times, the Lincoln Continental has loads of tech that will keep it advanced for tomorrow. From the 360-degree camera display on the monitor, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Active Braking, Active Noise Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lincoln Drive Control, and Auto Hold, these features made the Continental a one step ahead to the future in its class. You could really spend a lot of hours trying to get to know about these features unique to the Continental.

Should you buy it? The new Lincoln Continental starts at $44,560, which is a thousand less than the Cadillac XTS, making it a hard bargain for an executive premium saloon that has front wheel drive in the beginning and if you're a big spender, you can spec it out with options to bring out the best of your new Continental. Sounds costly but this is how a proper Lincoln should be. With this new car, you can expect a heated competition from this category, although the reborn model is a bit young at first but it will mature through the competition, you'll see.

Available colors: White Platinum, Ingot Silver, Midnight Sapphire Blue, Magnetic Gray, Diamond Black, Jade Green, Palladium White Gold, and Ruby Red.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Lincoln MKX - Second Generation

Some you might think that in the past, the Lincoln MKX is just a Ford Edge with some fancy bling-bling on its face, but not anymore it isn't because it's been regenerated to prove that this brand new MKX from Lincoln is a lot more different from its Ford Edge relative.

2016 Lincoln MKX

This new model looks pretty much the same as any other Lincolns in today's lineup and far from it, the new MKX looks faintly similar to its little brother, the MKC, which is Lincoln's own take to the Ford Escape crossover. So, what to expect on this new model, everyone presumes?

First, the design, and because the new MKX still comes with the signature Lincoln front like what you expect in most models, it looks kinda floppy for a luxury crossover. And when you come inside...

2016 Lincoln MKX interior

It's the same story because what you can expect is the usual Lincoln interior like you saw from most models. There's the buttons that take place of the gearbox, which is kinda weird for a car like this, the instrumental panel that looks futuristic but rather bland, and then, the useless SYNC sat-nav that most cars from the Ford Motor Company had as of now. Of course, getting in is easy but getting out is a hard thing to do because even with ample space, you still find yourself in the squeeze zone, where your legs are having a hard time finding a way out. Despite that, it's fairly comfortable and very quiet indeed, which is a proper necessity for a luxury crossover.

2016 Lincoln MKX

The most powerful in the lineup is the one with the 2.7 Ecoboost V6 engine, which generates 335hp of power and 515Nm of torque. Not only this engine's a very high-performance player in the playing field, it's surprisingly economical because it has a class-leading EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 26mpg (city 17mpg), although actual fuel mileages can vary. It terms of handling, there's so much to bother about the new MKX. You have this Lincoln Drive Control with Continuously Controlled Damping, electric power steering, active noise control, and an optional adaptive steering which features three driving modes. Yes, we want to make it more comfortable or more sporty but it feels so wrong no matter the settings because if you try to set it to Sport, it feels like it's been solidified rather than being sharp on the handling curves.

2016 Lincoln MKX

Like good luxury crossovers, the new MKX is tech-savvy with numerous technological features offered. It comes with Enhanced Active Park Assist where this crossover can park by itself when it sees an open parking space, lane keeping system, hands-free power liftgate that can be opened automatically when you lift your feet up, and 360-degree camera, and of course, an available MyLincoln Mobile with Embedded modem, Your smartphone can be your carkey, that's science get information to you.

The new MKX starts at 38,260 US Dollars and when compared to its European rivals, that pricing sounds very promising but not as promising as what it offers you in terms of style, the interior, and the dynamics but the tech and performance is surely not half bad for the new MKX. Even though this new model is a departure of being a Ford Edge-based vehicle, there are some few kinks to work out later on. Until then, this crossover has a hard act to follow.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Lincoln MKC

2015 Lincoln MKC

Continuing on refreshing the Lincoln brand thanks to the MKZ sedan, Ford's luxury brand began expanding their range starting with this; the brand new Lincoln MKC. Yes, Lincoln had crossovers in their lineup from their least-successful MKT to the soon-to-be-regenerated MKX crossover, which is going to be based on the upcoming Ford Edge. For this brand new model, the MKC sits below the MKX to be a compact crossover and competes with the likes of compact crossovers from Europe but is it any good?

Hold on, isn't just a Ford Escape underneath?

Indeed it is. The Lincoln MKC is mechanically similar to its twin, the Ford Escape, but unlike the Ford Escape, the Lincoln MKC is available with two EcoBoost engines; one is a 2.0L and the other one is a 2.3L. Both of these engines are mated with a 6-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox.

How are these engines differ?

The 2,0L model is all about efficiency while the 2.3L is all about performance, well as a theory. The smaller one produces 240HP of power and 270lb-ft of torque while, on the base FWD model, fuel economy is expected to be 23MPG, although actual mileages can vary. On the range-topping 2.3L model, with AWD standard, it produces 285HP of power output and 305lb-ft of torque. The 21 combined MPG mileage is usually plenty for this engine although, again, actual mileages can vary.

What's it like to be with the MKC?

2015 Lincoln MKC interior

2015 Lincoln MKC

Good question but to be honest, getting to know about the MKC isn't the easy part because by the time you first encounter one, its questionable design, both inside and out, really makes your head itching for questions. While everything Lincoln-y is plastered all over its skin, this much more of a Ford Escape with some fancy clothing straight out of Gatsby. If you're managed to drive one of those, people will think you're just a regular guy having some fancy living for whatever the reasons are. But what's fancy on the MKC is some loads of gadgets plastered through its pockets, well save it for the Sync because this is too time-consuming for me.

Since this is based on the Escape, does it have the...

Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate? Yes but that's an optional feature for the MKC. This nifty little gizmo lets the liftgate open automatically when you lift your foot under the rear bumper. This is a very amazing feature for those who have their hands full. Go ahead, try it for yourself.

Now onto the gizmo part...

The loads of gadgets I told above, the MKC comes with Enhanced THX II Certified Audio System, Active Noise Control, Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning, Lane-Keeping System, BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert, and the bizarrely impressive Active Park Assist with Park Out Assist.

What's it like to drive?

2015 Lincoln MKC

In terms of driving, the Lincoln MKC slightly feels like European crossovers, probably thanks to the use of independent MacPherson struts on the front and rear multi-link suspensions. Thanks to this suspension setup, the MKC not only feels civilized on the road but also well-behaved on the open roads like a well-trained dog. With the AWD system ready, the MKC feels like the boy scouts or the girl scouts, living up to their motto of "always ready". The base FWD model feels fine but that doesn't cut the mustard, if you know what I mean? 

How much?

The MKC starts at 33,100 US Dollars so its almost five grand cheaper than its big brother, the MKX, but more expensive than the Ford Escape. When compared to its rivals, it's 600 dollars more than the Audi Q3, 100 dollars less than the Mercedes GLA-Class, and 2,200 dollars more than the BMW X1. This could be very one-sided.

Colors: White Platinum, Ingot Silver, Karat Gold, Midnight Sapphire, Ruby Red, Silver Sand, Smoked Quartz, Tahitian Pearl, and Tuxedo Black.

Photo: Ford Motor Company