'97 MARK VIII'S LUXURY, ENGINEERING IN SYNC.

Byline: Jim Mateja Chicago Tribune

Ford may have saved the best for last.

The 1997 Mark VIII luxury coupe has been dolled up.

It rides and handles like folks dreamed it would when it bowed in the 1993 model year, but which it never seemed to achieve because of a focus on the bells and whistles common in luxury coupes, not the smooth ride, crisp handling and performance characteristics of the sport coupe.

We've not been much of a fan of the Mark VIII (or the luxury coupe, for that matter) for a few years. The Mark has always added more gadgetry each time it added an I or V, but each addition seemed to rob the vehicle of room and comfort while requiring even more space on the sticker.

The Mark VIII, sad to say, was long on shortcomings.

For 1997, that's not the case. Consider that:

The seat bottom is longer and provides more comfort and support.

Suspension and engine have been tinkered with - the suspension to eliminate the traditional swoopy sway each time you changed lanes, the engine to reduce the amount of clatter coming back into the cabin from under the hood.

With larger front stabilizer bars, a higher performance axle ratio and true dual exhausts with separate pipes and catalysts for improved engine breathing, you feel more immediate response to pedal input.

Sheet metal was tweaked slightly to allow for wider and larger high intensity headlamps for a wider, clearer field of vision at night. You'll notice the lamps also provide a blue glow that takes some getting used to. On the LSC version, the grille also stands more upright and is color-coded with the body.

The tail lamps run the width of the deck lid and incorporate a neon gas that allows the lamps to shine 0.2 seconds quicker than with traditional lamps. That doesn't sound like a major feat until you realize that 0.2 seconds means the motorist on your tail is served enough warning so he or she can stop one full car length quicker after you apply your binders.

Both sideview mirrors incorporate red LED lights that blink in tandem with the turn signals so motorists following are given added warning that you are changing lanes or turning.

When you press the key fob to open the door, ``puddle'' lights under the mirrors flash on so you don't step into a puddle or onto broken glass when entering the car at night.

The ignition lock and key have been moved off the steering column and onto the instrument panel to the right of the wheel, ending the days when long-distance motoring meant listening to keys rattling against the steering column or when exiting the car meant catching those keys on pant leg or nylon.

We tested the base and LSC version and found the '97 smoother, quieter, more comfortable, yet more responsive than ever. It has taken a giant leap ahead of Cadillac's Eldorado in ride and handling.

And perhaps the best part is that the base price for 1997 - $37,950 for the base model, $39,550 for LSC - is a $1,470 to $1,970 reduction depending on the equipment package from the 1996 LSC and a $2,370 cut from the '96 Mark VIII.

Probably the only Mark VIII drawback is that it has just two doors at a time when consumers are opting for four-door sedans.

TEST DRIVE 1997 Lincoln Mark Photo VIII LSC

Wheelbase: 113 inches

Length: 207.3 inches

Engine: 4.6 liter, 290 hp, 32-valve V-8

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

EPA mileage: 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway.

Base price: $39,550 LSC; $37,950 for base model. Freight included on both.

Price as tested: Add $1,515 for power moonroof, $290 for heated seats, $790 for voice-activated cellular phone, $670 for trunk-mounted compact disc player.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: The 1997 Mark VIII offers a smoother ride and m ore responsive handling.

Box: TEST DRIVE (See text)