Lincoln MKC – it’s an upmarket Ford Kuga: 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Ford has revealed the Lincoln MKC Concept at the Detroit Auto Show, a titivated upmarket offering based on the Ford Kuga.

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Ford may have the kudos of being the big American car maker that didn’t take Uncle Sam’s bailout money when the big economic crunch hit, but that doesn’t mean they’re in strong shape.

Despite strong sales on the other side of the Pond, Ford is struggling in Europe – just like every other mainstream car brand – and they’re probably ruing the day they decided to unravel their Premier Auto Group, selling off Aston Martin, Volvo and – their biggest mistake – Jaguar Land Rover.

Which means that if Ford want to get back in to the – potentially very profitable – realm of premium cars again they’re stuck with doing it with one of their ‘brands’. Which brings us to the Lincoln MKC.

The Lincoln MKC Concept, on the floor at the Detroit Auto Show this week, is a surprisingly convincing effort at taking one of Ford’s mainstream cars, in this case the new Ford Kuga / Ford Escape, and giving it a ‘luxury’ makeover complete with Lincoln branding.

The Lincoln MKC grows a bit from the Kuga, gets the new Lincoln split grill – a nod to Lincoln’s heritage – a big clamshell tailgate, a panoramic roof, luxury interior with lashings of leather and a design that looks original enough considering its origins.

But just think how much more saleable it would be if it was sporting a Range Rover badge.