2006 Lincoln Zephyr Chassis
The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr is designed to deliver comfort with an additional level of responsiveness. It starts with a well-designed chassis tuned for ride comfort.
A team of engineers who specialize in dealing with noise, vibration and harshness went well beyond adding sound-deadening material. For example, the front side windows of the Lincoln Zephyr use 4.8-millimeter thick glass to reduce wind noise.
In order to meet their goal of a quiet, refined driving environment, they relied upon some powerful tools. Every phase of the design process was tested utilizing a computerized "virtual build." This assured proper fit and tight tolerances, which in turn enabled class-leading torsional rigidity.
The Lincoln Zephyr is based on the new CD3 chassis architecture, which incorporates best practices from throughout Ford Motor Company. Because of this attention to detail, the new Lincoln Zephyr has a high torsional rigidity - a measure of vehicle stiffness. A stiff structure allows the suspension to be designed to absorb more of the harshness of daily driving before it can reach the passenger compartment.
Getting the Brakes: Reduced noise, increased performance
Key attributes of performance, from braking to wind noise to NVH, were measured against an engineering "health chart" to track actual performance versus standards established for each category.
Brake performance was an example of one area that received such scrutiny. Short stopping distances are as important as brakes that feel controllable. Overly aggressive brakes feel "grabby" and do not inspire confidence.
Engineers specified brake rotors with increased thickness and diameters, 299 x 25 millimeters in front and 279 x 10 millimeters in the rear. To help ensure that initial brake-pedal travel was short and demonstrated firm pedal response, the calipers were built to extremely high tolerances to deliver confident stopping performance.
The Lincoln Zephyr also comes standard with anti-lock braking (ABS) and a traction assist system that works by reducing engine torque as necessary when it senses impending wheel slip. Traction control can be turned off manually if desired.
As a result of this commitment to braking quality, Lincoln Zephyr passes internal tests designed to replicate the grueling ten-stop brake-fade testing developed by the German car buff magazine Auto Motor und Sport.
Nice Treads: Chassis-tuned tires
The standard 17-inch tires with a wide P225/50 profile were specifically engineered for Lincoln Zephyr to deliver good ride quality, responsive handling and reduced cabin noise. They were selected with two main characteristics in mind: the degree of sidewall flex and belt construction.
The tires complement the car's suspension tuning for a luxurious ride, while the tread pattern provides good wet-weather grip and quiet operation on dry roads. In fact, the tires alone resulted in a reduction in cabin noise compared with other tread patterns that were tested.
Smooth Steering: Reassuring feel, precise execution
As with the tires, the power rack-and-pinion steering has been uniquely tuned to complement the chassis.
"We wanted to retain easy parking efforts, despite the wide tires, so there's more assist at low speeds," says Kerry Baldori, Lincoln Zephyr vehicle engineering manager. "At the same time, the steering system provides reassuring feedback with linear torque buildup at higher speeds. This produces the kind of steering feel you would expect in a European sport luxury car."
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