Lincoln Motor Company’s transformation takes a major step forward with the unveiling of the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility vehicle, and we had the opportunity to test drive this attractive vehicle. There is no doubt that when you first see the MKC, her appealing design really stands out.

The 2015 Lincoln MKC is striking from all angles and clearly has the right look to succeed in a very crowded market. The MKC presents a sleek, sculpted body that helps it stand out among peers. Its high beltline and low shoulders create a sturdy, athletic presence, while features such as soft exterior lighting, pedestal side-view mirrors and an available panoramic, all-glass Vista Roof give the vehicle a luxurious, sophisticated personality. Our ruby red metallic MKC looked sleek with 19-inch, five-spoke wheels. From its signature split-wing grille, to its uniquely crafted, hands-free wraparound liftgate, the Lincoln DNA is evident and showing great confidence in this new offering!

MKC will greet owners with exclusive Approach Detection, which senses when an owner is near and responds by illuminating “welcome mats” on the ground next to both front doors. Simultaneously, headlamps, taillamps and door handles glow with soft lighting tuned to complement the vehicle’s exterior color.

The unique design also carries through to the interior, where craftsmanship and high-tech combine to offer a warm, luxurious environment. An architecturally unique instrument panel showcases Lincoln’s signature push-button gear shifter, which provides an open, inviting interior space. Plush leathers with French stitching and available Bridge of Weir leather and real wood trim accentuate MKC’s elegance and grace. To be more consistent with the Lincoln driving experience, an all-new Lincoln steering wheel debuts on MKC and will be available on all future Lincoln vehicles. This highly tactile, leather-wrapped wheel provides better feeling and control and puts the brand’s new design DNA in the driver’s hands.

The enhanced THX II Certified Audio System, an industry-first featuring THX-distributed bass technology and 14 right-, center- and left-slot speaker assemblies, is available. The state-of-the-art audio system delivers a rich, immersive surround sound experience that reproduces music as it was mixed in the studio. SYNC with MyLincoln Touch enables drivers to personalize MKC by using voice-activated commands or simple touch controls on the class-exclusive 8-inch touch screen. Knobs and buttons on the center console provide additional and easy access to control the air conditioning and sound system.

The luxurious interior embraces driver and passengers alike, and its new and innovative technology personalizes the MKC ownership experience. Lincoln MKC follows the MKZ sedan to become the second all-new Lincoln in as many years as the brand continues its reinvention.

Equipped with the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, the MKC offers 275 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm. Class-exclusive Active Grille Shutters are designed to help improve MKC fuel efficiency at highway speeds. The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system also includes Continuously Controlled Damping. Drivers can use Lincoln Drive Control to select from Sport, Comfort and Normal drive modes to cater to their driving mood. CCD constantly monitors the road, and the suspension reacts on average within 20 milliseconds, providing a smooth ride with enhanced handling. There is serious power in the 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD and fuel efficiency is also strong, coming in at 18mpg in the city and 26mpg in highway driving.

The MKC offers advanced technology such as collision warning with brake support, a Lane-Keeping System and driver assist to help drivers avoid common accidents. The collision warning system is designed to alert the driver if it detects a potential front-end crash. The system issues an audible alert in the cabin, a visual alert on the windshield and automatic brake assist sensitivity. The MKC introduces available park-out assist technology, a class-exclusive feature that enhances the vehicle’s active park assist capabilities. Where active park assist helps guide drivers into tight parallel parking situations, park-out assist steers drivers out of tight parking spots. The vehicle’s Lane-Keeping System uses rearview mirror-mounted cameras to identify lane markers and help drivers avoid unintentionally straying from their lane. If the system detects a driver’s alertness level dropping below a given threshold, a warning is issued via a chime and a pop-up message appears on the left-hand cluster screen. The MKC also offers a standard Blind Spot Information System, which continuously monitors the vehicle’s blind spots with radar sensors, and class-exclusive cross-traffic alert, which detects traffic as the vehicle backs from a parking space.

The folks at Lincoln Motor Company are really pushing hard to get back in the luxury market conversation and the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC AWD is a great conversation topic… and one that Lincoln will want to talk about all day long! Very impressive driving dynamics and good looks that can compete with much more expensive rivals is what you have here, my friends. Speaking of price, our loaded MKC came in at a sticker price of $49,265, which should attract some new shoppers into Lincoln showrooms.