What Causes a 1998 Lincoln Mark Viii to Lower the Front of the Car When the Engine Is Off?
Cobra Before Cobra: The 1994-1998 Lincoln Marker VIII
When Ford introduced its modular engine family to the Mustang lineup in the mid-'90s, much ado was made about how the Cobra was gaining an exotic, all-aluminum 32-valve dual-overhead cam motor that was light-years ahead—at least technologically—of the pushrod V8s found under the hood of the cantankerous-town rival Chevrolet Camaro.
Less attention was paid to the fact that that very aforementioned engine had already been available in FoMoCo showrooms for several years. Nether the guise of the Lincoln bluecoat, the aluminum 4.6L engine—dubbed Intech before it transitioned to Cobra—was the only motor ever offered in the automaker's sleek Mark VIII full-size coupe.
That the Lincoln Mark Eight was "Cobra before Cobra" isn't the only matter that makes this largely forgotten machine unique. In fact, the last of the Marker series ii-doors proved to be the final flash of excitement produced past the one time-proud Lincoln nameplate for the next xx years.
New Decade, New Attitude
When the Lincoln Mark Eight appeared on the scene for the 1993 model year, information technology was sitting on an all-new platform that left the Flim-flam-trunk roots of the Marker VII far behind it. The new Mark was 4.1 inches longer than the vehicle it replaced and almost 4 inches wider. Its significantly expanded wheelbase offered a stability, grace and presence that the older coupe lacked. The platform itself had been based on the MN-12 chassis that underpinned the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. Notwithstanding, by the end of its development program, Lincoln deemed that the Mark VIII had strayed far plenty from its roots to gain its ain platform designation of FN-10.
All of that extra size somehow didn't translate into greater majority, as the Marker VIII plant itself weighing in at xxx lbs less than its predecessor. The decision to utilise an all-aluminum engine, plus composite materials in areas similar the car's long hood, helped make upwards for the actress mass imparted by avant-garde tech such every bit four-cycle independent suspension and an active air spring system.
The latter automatically lowered the Lincoln's ride tiptop past almost one full inch should it maintain speeds of 55 mph or greater for longer than 45 seconds. Ostensibly, this was to improve the Marking VIII'southward aerodynamics and overall fuel economy (and made for a particularly thrilling advertising campaign), merely it also proved to exist a boon to those few hot rodders who latched on to the car'due south performance potential and began modifying sensor signals to drop the coupe to the ground by manipulating air levels.
In terms of styling, the Mark VIII too broke new ground for the make. It preserved the "Continental Kit" spare tire hump on the trunk, simply only in vestigial course, where it performed spoiler duty and helped continue the rear of the car planted. The curved headlights, scalloped sides and commuter-focused cockpit were new for Lincoln, as was the wrap-around taillight setup (which eventually featured neon illumination), and helped to modernize its image in a rapidly evolving market.
From Italian republic, With Love
Back to that engine. Unlike other Ford 4.6L units, which were produced in either Michigan or Ontario, Canada, the Lincoln Mark VIII motor was cast by Teksid in Italy, all the way on the other side of the Atlantic. Teksid was owned by Fiat and had been producing engines since the late-'70s. Over the years, they had perfected the aluminum casting procedure—withal a nighttime art for many manufacturers of the time—and had a reputation for building extremely potent blocks.
How potent? Unlike the significantly weaker atomic number 26-block 4.6L, the half dozen-bolt chief Teksid units were said to exist capable of holding up to one,200hp. This has since made them prized past aftermarket tuners seeking drib-and-play engines that can take significant amounts of heave yet easily fit under the hood of high performance Ford products.
At the fourth dimension, the Lincoln Marking VIII wasn't making anything like 1,200hp, but information technology was definitely putting downward much more power than many of its contemporaries on the luxury coupe scene, and certainly shamed the same-era Mustang in terms of output. In stock form the Marking was expert for a hefty 280hp at five,500 rpm (with secondary intake runners fully open) and 285 lb-ft of torque at 4,500, sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed automated transmission. When the LSC model appeared in 1996, information technology added an actress 10hp to the mix, thanks to the advent of an improved dual frazzle system.
Despite a curb weight of roughly 3,700 lbs, it had enough power to button the Mark Eight past 60 mph in less than seven seconds—exceptional dispatch for an early-'90s luxury automobile. The summit speed was limited to a healthy 130 mph.
Almost Forgotten
Initially, the Lincoln Marker VIII was a success. Lincoln moved 32,400 cars in the first model twelvemonth, more than than double the Marking VII from the previous twelvemonth. Ii more years of solid results were followed by a steep reject in client interest equally a surge in sport-utility vehicles strangled the personal luxury coupe segment to death by the stop of the decade. Despite gaining numerous visual, feature and treatment upgrades in 1997, Lincoln canceled the Marking Eight the following year, and to appointment, they have all the same to build another ii-door model.
The Intech motor would detect its way into the Mustang Cobra in 1996, where it was rated at 305hp and 300 lb-ft. Lawsuits, however, challenged those figures as being inaccurate, and disappointed pony car owners eventually settled with Ford out of court (an improved motor would appear for the '99 model yr).
To this day, the Lincoln Mark VIII remains largely under the radar, a well-subconscious piece of '90s operation history with a pocket-size but loyal post-obit even so modifying, developing and supporting the platform. Seeing one on the road is a rare treat—and seeing one line beside you at the drag strip means you lot may exist almost to bear witness to the full power forced-induction promise that Teksid cast into those aluminum blocks then many years ago.
GM was calculation power to unexpected cars in the '90s, besides. In fact, they may accept created the biggest sleeper always: the Buick Roadmaster Estate.
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Source: https://www.drivingline.com/articles/cobra-before-cobra-the-1994-1998-lincoln-mark-viii/
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