Here’s An Idea: What If Lincoln Brought Back The Mark LT Luxury Pickup?

Pickups trucks have shed their workman image and now luxury variants are a huge hit with buyers.

The change has been pretty dramatic as last year consumers spent an average of more than $44,000 on a full-size pickup. That’s up 61 percent from a decade earlier.

Automakers have also seen a huge increase in demand for luxury pickups as Ford’s Doug Scott told CNBC in 2018, “every time we add a new premium edition, buyers tell us they want more.”

Also Read: Americans Are Paying Luxury Car Prices For Pickup Trucks

Companies have been happy to oblige as they’ve come up with models such as the Ford F-150 Limited and Ram 1500 Limited. There’s also the GMC Sierra Denali which was launched in 2002 and help to define the segment.

Despite the appetite for luxury pickups, Cadillac and Lincoln have abandoned the market. That begs the question, is it time for the Lincoln Mark LT to return?

A quick history lesson

Launched 15 years ago, as a 2006 model, the Mark LT was a luxury pickup based on the Ford F-150. Unfortunately, at the time, Lincoln wasn’t above some rather shameless badge engineering. As a result, changes were minimal despite Lincoln’s claim that “the exterior design sets the truck apart from other pickups by offering … refined luxury design cues.”

Chief among the changes was a waterfall grille, additional chrome trim and unique 18-inch aluminum wheels. The truck was also equipped with different taillights, but the model was clearly an F-150 in a tuxedo.

The half-hearted effort continued in the cabin as designers installed a slightly more luxurious steering wheel and premium leather seats with accent piping. The model also had silver air vents and genuine ebony wood trim which replaced the fake stuff used in the F-150. Of course, the truck also came nicely equipped as it had heated front seats and an Audiophile stereo system with a subwoofer and a six-disc CD changer.

The LT’s engine was borrowed from the F-150 as the model had a 5.4-liter V8 developing 300 hp (224 kW / 304 PS) and 365 lb-ft (494 Nm) of torque. It was connected to a four-speed automatic transmission which could send power to an optional four-wheel drive system.

Thankfully, Lincoln didn’t repeat the errors of the Blackwood as the LT was far more practical. Besides offering four-wheel drive, the truck could be equipped with either a 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed. The model also had a payload capacity of 1,680 lbs (762 kg) and a towing capacity of 8,900 lbs (4,037 kg). The company said the latter allowed the truck to “tow anything from a horse trailer to a small yacht.”

Despite having a few things going for it, the Lincoln Mark LT wasn’t very successful. U.S. sales peaked at 12,753 units in 2006 and fell approximately 4,000 units annually afterwards. The model was eventually phased out in 2008, but the truck proved popular enough in Mexico that a second-generation was approved and continued to be available, south of the border, until 2014.

So, what do you think; should Lincoln revive it?

That brings us back to our original question, should the LT make a return? Automakers have been dubious about the prospects of luxury-branded trucks as they’ve been there before and have no problem selling high-end versions of their mainstream models.

However, it’s not hard to imagine what a modern Mark LT would look like as it could adopt the bold styling of the Navigator. This would eliminate some of the issues with the earlier truck as it would be far more luxurious and have distinctive styling inside and out.