We'll forgive you for experiencing deja vu when reading about the SecuriCode keyless entry system on Lincoln's MKS. After all, Ford introduced the exact same system 28 years ago on the 1980 Thunderbird. Sure, the new keypad looks cool -- but so would vacuum-actuated headlamp covers, and we don't envision those ever coming back.
While the MKS is the first Lincoln to feature hands-free access, the keypad keeps it rooted firmly in the era of the Sony Walkman and Members Only jackets. Ford's press release speaks of a male Lincoln driver who's locked his Intelligent Access key fob in the car: "As he approaches the vehicle and presses his finger to the glossy black B-pillar, a series of five glowing, red numbers appear. He enters a five-digit code, unlocks the doors and is on his way. Sounds like a feature on a concept car, doesn't it?"
In fairness to Ford, we're pretty sure the '91 Maxima was a concept car at some point.
The SecuriCode system joins the Intelligent Access "smart key" as part of Lincoln's keyless entry package. Drivers who keep the key fob in their pocket can unlock and start their MKS without touching the keypad. Those who opt to leave the key fob in its glovebox docking station might as well have traveled back in time to the Reagan administration because they've gotta rely on the five door-mounted buttons to take a ride in a true baby blue Continental.
The technology behind the keypad on an MKS is from Quantum Research, the same folks who brought us the cool touch-screens on Apple iPods and iPhones. The keypad has been engineered to withstand vibration, thermal and mechanical shock, salt spray, dust and 3.5 liters of water immersion. The buttons can endure 50,000 presses apiece. Plus, they're just visible enough to be useful. "Making it totally invisible was impossible," said project engineer Dalminder "Sonny"
Minhas. "Besides, the customer needs to be able to find it to use it."
Still, we can't overlook the fact the keypad got dropped from the '98 Town Car. It caused riots in Boca, so Ford brought it back in '99. If Grandpa forgot the combination (It's 1-2-3-4. It's always 1-2-3-4.) he could try 3,129 potential combinations until the car beeped to life.
Like column-mounted shifters, bench seats and Landau roofs, some technologies are meant for the Town Car. Even in its backlit futuristic glory, a keypad on the MKS looks more dated than an episode of Hart to Hart and does nothing to help Lincoln shed its image as the brand for those who find those newfangled Buicks just too modern.
Photo by Ford Motor Co.
