If you’ve been wondering how the Lincoln MKT would look as a limousine, the wait was over for thousands of attendees who watched the nation’s largest coachbuilder debut the sleek black beauty at The 2011 Limo Digest Show in Atlantic City, N.J., this past November. Krystal says that the response was overwhelmingly positive all three days it was displayed on the Show floor, even for the most ambivalent operators. One thing is for sure: This is not a Town Car.

“No one likes change,” says Robb Bennett, VP of Krystal. “But side by side with the ‘old hat’ Lincoln Town Car, this car looks amazing. It has better head room, equivalent leg room, and looks sporty. It’s all brand new, so everything about it is special. I think it looks great as a limousine.” The stretch featured at the Show, a 120", had the works and also marked the debut of the new Smart Touch system from MTG, a touch-screen control panel for both passengers and chauffeurs. The MKT also has better gas mileage and a larger cargo space for luggage than the beloved industry staple.

Krystal’s feedback has been so good for the MKT that the coachbuilder already has over 40 orders—and the vehicle isn’t even available from Lincoln until April. For now, Krystal has 4- and 5-door versions in the works and will be available in a 120" stretch, although a shorter stretch, sedan, or executive sedan version has also been discussed. Bennett says pre-ordered MKTs will likely ship in early May.

The MKT held its own on a Show floor filled with numerous vehicle options, including sedans from five different OEMs, mini- and limobuses, motorcoaches, and one of the industry’s hottest vehicles, the Sprinter. Krystal also has some Sprinters in the works that will be available soon.

For more information, visit www.krystal.cc. LD1/12