Lincoln MKS aims high, comes close

Ford Motor Co.'s latest step in bringing back the Lincoln's reputation misses in some details. But, if size matters, it's a contender.

Check out the Lincoln MKS on AOL Autos

Fortunately for Ford Motor Co., he was about 100% off the mark. The car in question, fairly well-loaded, costs a little over $40,000.

That guess alone was evidence that Lincoln was back and aiming for the big time. In sparkling red, the big, flowing MKS sedan looked hot. In fact, it apparently looked even better than I thought it did. The car got regular ogles and thumbs up from observers on the road.

Good looks aren't enough, though. The Lincoln name - on a car, that is - has a long road back to respectability. Making luxury cars isn't as easy as making cars that look expensive. They have to feel expensive.

Just ask Cadillac, a brand that has only recently regained its stature as a maker of genuine luxury cars. Last year, the redesigned Cadillac CTS was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. And not without reason. It looks good, feels good and drives great. As a competitor to that car, the MKS is up for a tough fight.

Of course, the MKS is shooting for more than that. Ford hopes to draw buyers away from the likes of Toyota's Lexus. That won't be easy.