Quick Facts: MKS is flagship Lincoln sedan. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) works like regular cruise control, but automatically slows the car when approaching another vehicle. Prices start under $38,000. Turbo V-6 engine in 2009 delivers power of V-8 and efficiency of V-6.

There's a new big sedan at the top of the Lincoln roster for 2009.

Out is the aging Town Car, and in is the new MKS, which introduces a new design philosophy for Lincoln.

The new design starts at the front with the double-wing grille and wrap-around headlamps. The high beltline through the cabin gets a bit of a bump over the rear wheels, something Lincoln says harkens back to its car designs of years ago.

Inside, the MKS is all about comfort. Lincoln says the leather used in the seats is the softest ever used in one of its cars. Accents of reclaimed rare woods, aluminum and chrome finish the look of the cabin.

The driver is treated to a symmetrical instrument panel, and a center stack that strives to be clean and uncluttered.

Luxury is not lost for the rear seat passengers. They get heated seats and an overhead skylight. Lincoln says the rear cabin of the MKS is larger in every important dimension than any other luxury sedan in its class.

Starting the car is as simple as pushing a button, if the driver has the car's special fob nearby. Up front, the headlights automatically pivot slightly based on the speed and direction of the MKS.

Naturally, there is no shortage of technology in the MKS, including Adaptive Cruse Control, which allows the driver to set the speed, but then slows if the car senses that it's getting too close to slower traffic.

And when it comes time to fill up the tank, there's no gas cap to lose. The MKS includes Ford's "EasyFuel" capless fuel-filler system which automatically seals the fuel pipe.

The MKS will initially be offered with a V-6 engine starting in the summer of 2008. Lincoln plans to introduce Ford's new gasoline turbo direct injection V-6 in the MKS in 2009. That engine promises to deliver the power of a V-8 with the efficiency of a V-6.