First generation (1993–1996)

The Mark VIII was a larger car than its predecessor, the Mark VII, being about five inches longer at 207.3 inches and nearly four inches wider at 74.8 inches. The car also had a wheelbase of 113.0 inches, over four inches longer than the Mark VII's, which afforded greater interior space and ride quality. In spite of its larger overall size, the Mark VIII's base curb weight was slightly lighter than the Mark VII at a little over 3750 lbs.

The Mark VIII features a 140-mph speedometer, an electronic message center (giving time, compass heading, fuel efficiency, engine oil life, engine coolant temperature, and various other vehicle-related warnings and information), automatic climate control, cruise control, leather seating surfaces, six-way power driver and passenger seats with power lumbar supports, a three position memory for the power driver's seat, power door locks, heated power mirrors, power windows with a driver's side express-down feature, illuminated keyless entry with remote, automatic headlamps, an AM/FM stereo-cassette radio, and an automatic power antenna. Options included a power moonroof, electrochromic automatic dimming mirrors (which filtered out headlight glare from behind), an AM/FM stereo-CD player, a 10-disc CD changer, and a JBL speaker system.^[3]Like the Mark VII, the Mark VIII featured a unibody construction with a high-strength roof capable of withstanding 5000lbs of pressure,^[1] heavy-gauge steel door beams to protect against side impacts, front and rear crumple zones, dual front-side airbags and four wheel anti-lock disc brakes. Like the similar Thunderbird and Cougar, the Mark VIII featured a short-long arm (SLA) four-wheel independent suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars and a standard computer-controlled air suspension with sensors to automatically lower the ride height at high speed, enhancing the car's aerodynamic efficiency. Powering the Mark VIII was an all-new, all-aluminum 4.6 L DOHC 32-valve V8. The engine was the first of its kind in Ford's Modular engine family. The 4.6 L V8 produced 280 hp (210 kW) @ 5500 rpm and 285 lb·ft (386 N·m) of torque @ 4500 rpm and required premium grade 91-octane fuel for optimum performance. Handling the V8's power was the 4R70W 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The Mark VIII's rear axle ratio was 3.07:1. The Mark VIII also featured standard chrome dual exhaust tips and 16-inch cast aluminum wheels.^[2]

For 1995 the Mark VIII received a slightly updated instrument panel along with a new radio design. Arriving midyear was a new LSC (Luxury Sport Coupe) model a re-tuned version of the standard 4.6 L DOHC V8, now marketed under the name InTech regardless of model, with a true dual exhaust and produced 290 hp (220 kW) @ 5750 rpm and 295 lb·ft (400 N·m) of torque @ 4500 rpm. The Mark VIII LSC used the same 4R70W automatic transmission as the standard Mark VIII but featured a more aggressive rear axle ratio of 3.27:1. The brochure for the 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC claims a zero to 60 mph acceleration time of 7.5 seconds. The LSC's featured unique body colors, distinct rear decklid badging, perforated leather seat inserts, and floormats. The bright chrome inserts normally found in the body-side moulding and bumper on the Mark VIII were replaced with monochrome body color inserts on the LSC. The 1995 Mark VIII LSC also marked the first domestic use of HID headlights.^[4]

[edit]Second generation (1997–1998)

Toward the end of Mark VIII production, Lincoln offered two personalized "specialty" models: the Spring Feature and the Collector's Edition. Mark VIII production ended with the 1998 model year.In 1997, the Lincoln Mark VIII received a facelift featuring smoother, more rounded front and rear fascias and a larger grille made of aluminum. The car's hood was now aluminum (versus plastic before) and the trunk carried a more subtle version of the "spare tire hump" associated with earlier Mark Series cars. HID headlamps became standard and were placed in larger housings compared to earlier models. A neon brake light ran across the rear decklid. Side mirrors now came with puddle lamps which, upon unlocking the doors, illuminated the ground for the driver and passengers to see when entering the car. The side view mirror housings also incorporated flashing LED turn signal lamps to warn other drivers of an intended lane change or turn. The interior included theater lighting, which softly illuminated the driver's controls and handles. The 4.6 L InTech V8 carried on as before, but now came with a distributorless coil-on-plug ignition system, eliminating the use of high voltage spark plug wires. Some of the internal components of the 4R70W automatic transmission were reinforced for greater durability and reliability in late 1997 models and all 1998 models. LSC models had firmer shocks and larger stabilizer bars for even better handling and control. All-speed traction control was now standard, and could be deactivated via the onboard systems status computer when desired.^[5]

Lincoln Mark VIII - First Drive

New-Design Lighting, A Fresh Interior, And Major Engineering Refinements

From the December, 1996 issue of Motor Trend

/ By Jack Keebler

/ Photography by David Freers

Polish. That's all the Lincoln Mark VIII needed. And that's just what it got for 1997.

Among luxury coupes, the new-for-'93 Lincoln Mark traditionally has taken a second rung relative to the best from Asia and Europe. So for 1997, Ford engineering put both its powerful rear-drive coupe and the competition under the design and engineering equivalent of an electron microscope to find the differences and close the refinement gap. After time behind the wheel of the '97, it seems as if the fine focus has paid off in a big way.

The car's dramatic new exterior features all-new high-intensity-discharge headlamps, a bigger chrome grille (body-colored on the sporty LSC), a new resculptured aluminum hood (replacing the plastic one), neon taillamps, chrome ellipsoid exhaust tips, side-view mirrors with ground-illuminating puddle lamps and LED turn signals, and new fenders and resculptured rear quarter panels.

Also important, but less obvious, are an all-new interior, intake manifold tuning for improved engine sound quality, and steering-system and suspension refinements for crisper handling and a sweeter ride.

While flogging the new Lincoln across a tightly twisting road course at Ford's Dearborn, Michigan, proving grounds, it quickly became apparent that the coupe's redesigned steering is much more communicative. Gone are the overboosted numbness and dead on-center feel. The wheel response is now slicker and quicker, with gentle pulses that speak volumes to your finger tips when corner carving. Particularly at speed on slippery roads, we found these rim-to-hand whispers and the occasional wake-up call quite valuable.

It wasn't until we got the '97 Mark out on Detroit's rough concrete roadways that we discovered the big improvement in the car's ride smoothness and the new instrument panel's structural integrity. Yawning expansion joints that loudly would have challenged the previous Mark's body rigidity and had its steering column buzzing like a giant tuning fork were swallowed whole with just a trace of tire thump. Engineers say this transformation was achieved primarily through subtle changes to the shock bushings and the tops of the shock towers.

Overall, the Mark VIII has been improved dramatically. And with the styling and lighting changes, forget mistaking this Lincoln for any other coupe after dark. Between the awesome blue-white blast of the HID headlamps and the blazing red stripe of the neon taillamps at night, the Mark VIII will now stand out when the sun goes down.

Tech Data

General/Powertrain
Body style	2-door, 5-passenger
Vehicle configuration	Front engine, rear drive
Engine configuration	V-8, DOHC,
	4 valves/cylinder
Engine displacement, ci/cc	290/4601
Horsepower, hp @ rpm, SAE net	290 @ 5750
Torque, lb-ft @ rpm, SAE net	295 @ 4500
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Axle ratio	3.07:1

Dimensions
Wheelbase, in./mm	113.0/2869
Length, in./mm	207.3/5263
Base curb weight, lb	3778
Fuel capacity, gal	18.0
Fuel economy,
EPA city/hwy., mpg	18/26

Chassis
Suspension, f/r	Short and long arm, air springs/
	upper & lower control arms, air springs
Steering	Rack and pinion, power assist
Brakes, f/r	Vented discs/vented discs, ABS
Wheels	16 x 7.0, cast aluminum
Tires	Michelin MXV4, 225/60VR16

Price
Base price	$39,950
Price as tested	$43,000 (est.)

The Lincoln Mark VIII's 4.6-liter/290-horsepower DOHC V-8 gets a new manifold to tweak the intake tract's sound quality.

Designers added California burled walnut, a new console, and a power tilt/telescoping steering column.

The new Mark is fitted with a new high-profile aluminum hood, a body-color grille on the LSC, powerful high-intensity-discharge headlamps, and wraparound neon taillamps.

Lincoln Mark VIII

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wiki

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Gen 1- Gen 2

First generation (1993–1996)

[edit]Second generation (1997–1998)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

1996 Motor Trend Article

Lincoln Mark VIII - First Drive