Spotted: a Lincoln MKX

Most will walk right past it, but here really is one of the rarest cars in the Netherlands. Due to dusk falling, the photos are of slightly poorer quality this time, but we wanted to capture the exotic anyway. Here we see a 2019 Lincoln MKX, which at the time was registered brand new on Dutch plates.

Under the hood is a 2.7-liter V6 with a hefty 256 kW (348 hp). This RDW-reported output is a fraction higher than what the V6 should deliver according to factory specifications: 250 kW (340 hp). Anyway, this Lincoln is a good way to move around reasonably anonymously in all luxury.

The Lincoln MKX

The first-generation Lincoln MKX entered the market in 2006 for the 2007 model year. The car is a more luxurious version of the Ford Edge. Where the Edge already stood out with its rather rounded silhouette for an SUV, the Lincoln version stood out additionally with its chrome grille and large taillight units that ran the entire width.

For model year 2016, it was time for the second generation Lincoln MKX. Again, the car was based on the Ford Edge, but now Lincoln’s designers were given much more freedom. Instead of just having its own front and rear end, the MKX now received an entirely separate body. Whereas with the Ford Edge you already have nothing to complain about in terms of equipment, the Lincoln constituted the superlative in this.

Standard with V6

As standard, the Lincoln MKX was already equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 rated at 226 kW (308 hp). If you still did not find that enough, a 2.7-liter V6 was also among the options, which despite the smaller engine size was more powerful: 250 kW (340 hp). Of course, you don’t have to shift gears yourself anyway; a six-speed automatic takes care of that.

Lincoln MKX becomes Nautilus

A facelift will follow for the 2019 model year, so the one we spotted is from just before that. With this facelift, the Lincoln MKX gets the new family face, and the type name also changes to Nautilus. Indeed, Lincoln has switched to a model lineup with “real” names instead of letter combinations. The most important change, however, is the engine range.

That now starts with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 183 kW (249 hp). Above it is still the 250 kW (340 hp) strong 2.7-liter V6. Regardless of engine choice, the six-speed automatic transmission was replaced by a more modern eight-speed automatic. Another facelift followed for the 2021 model year, with subtle changes for the exterior and, most importantly, a completely new interior with updated infotainment. In that form, the Lincoln Nautilus is still sold new.

The Lincoln MKX in the Netherlands

We said it: this Lincoln MKX is one of the rarest cars in the Netherlands. According to RDW Data, at the time of writing, only eleven are on Dutch registration plates, three of which are of the first generation and eight of this second. Remarkably, all copies of the second generation come from 2019. Incidentally, they were not all imported at the same time of year. Facelift model Lincoln Nautilus is also rare here, of course. Of these, three were registered in the Netherlands in 2021.