Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Production To Double

Unlike every other automaker out there, Lincoln doesn’t charge a premium for hybrid models. The 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid costs exactly the same price as the standard MKZ sedan, giving customers an option between fuel economy or performance at the same price point. But apparently Ford didn’t expect so many customers to opt for hybrids, and the Blue Oval is now planning to double production of the hybrid model.

 The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is rated at 45 mpg all around, while the gas-powered versions average between 21 and 26 mpg combined, with the 2.0 liter EcoBoost offering the best standard mileage of 33 mpg on the highway. Ford has sold 3,090 MKZ hybrids so far in 2013, which averages 500 cars a month. But sales have been steadily rising to over 700 cars per month, and this could signal a market shift in this particular segment.

It certainly helps that the MKZ costs as much with a gas engine as with the hybrid, and given the option a surprising number of affluent buyers are going green. With 50% better fuel economy than the most-efficient gas engine option, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid offers an eco-chic alternative to the 2.0 liter EcoBoost or powerful but thirsty 3.7 liter V6. Both the EcoBoost and hybrid MKZ models start at $35,925.

Because of rising sales, Ford will double production for the 2014 Lincoln MKZ to meet this increasing demand. The extra sales have helped Ford increase its overall hybrid market share to 16%, up from 12% last year. More than that though, it demonstrates that given the option between equally-priced hybrids or standard cars, Americans seem to be gravitating towards hybrids in greater numbers.

So how soon before Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sales make up over 50% of total MKZ sales?

Source: The Detroit News