First Glance: Lincoln Joins the Crossover Party

Ford Motor took another step toward revitalizing its moribund Lincoln division in Manhattan on Wednesday when it unveiled a production version of a new small crossover utility, the MKC.

The MKC, which will be Lincoln’s first entry in the red-hot market for upscale compact crossovers, had been previewed in concept form at the Detroit auto show last January.

Although based on the architecture of the Ford Escape, the MKC is distinct from its sibling in look and feel, a testament to its designers’ bag of tailoring tricks.

The MKC’s face shares the winglike grille pattern of the MKZ midsize sedan, with narrow raptor-style high-intensity headlamps. Sculptured sides seem to add length. Another of Lincoln’s new graphic cues is the taillight design: a narrow, continuous strip across the back end.

Seeing the MKC makes the MKZ look better: Lincoln’s new design themes are now clearer. But some of the sculptural verve of the concept vehicle has been toned down, especially inside: The interior air vents no longer echo the wings of the grille.

Jim Farley, Ford Motor’s executive vice president for global marketing, sales and service, and for the Lincoln brand, said the MKC would start at $33,995, which he said was some $5,000 below German competitors. The crossover is to go on sale early next summer as a 2015 model.

In an interview, Moray Callum, chief of all American design for Ford brands — and who will soon become the design chief for the entire company — said Lincoln was establishing a clear identity. “We want a family look,” he said. “The vehicles should look related, but not identical. They should vary by type.”

Lincoln plans to introduce a new model in each of the next four years.

The MKC will offer two versions of the turbocharged direct-injection EcoBoost 4-cylinder engines. It will share its 240-horsepower 2-liter engine with the Escape. A new 2.3-liter 4 will put out 275 horsepower and 300 pound-feet — more than some rivals’ 6-cylinder engines, Mr. Farley said.

He said the MKC was aimed at younger customers and baby boomers who are downsizing from larger S.U.V.’s but want luxury features. “This segment has grown 200 percent since 2009,” he said. Rivals include the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK.

One option is another Lincoln brand theme, a huge panoramic moonroof.

A technology called Approach Detection is intended to make the car seem friendly: When the driver approaches with the keyfob, the car lights up head to tail, illuminates the door handles and deploys illuminated “welcome mats” — Lincoln’s star emblem — on the ground next to both front doors.

The vehicle also comes with a liftgate that can be activated by the motion of a foot, convenient for shoppers who return to their vehicles with hands full. A smartphone app can be used to control many functions, like programming the car to start at specified times.

Lincoln is also promising what might be called “road to autonomy” options like a smart cruise control and a lane-departure system. In addition to the self-parking feature already found on some Fords and Lincolns, the MKC will offer “park out assist”: The vehicle can maneuver itself, hands-free, out of a tight spot.