I don't know if it was luck or if automakers are getting better at security, but this Detroit Auto Show was shockingly leak-free. We got some great surprises like the and the that we didn't see until they debuted at the show. I was kind of hoping Lincoln would do the same.

Wouldn't it have been awesome if Lincoln had dropped a big surprise on the show by unveiling a new, luxury rear- or all-wheel drive sedan with V8 power and stunning looks? That's what I really wanted to see.

Instead, we got the . It's fine, I guess.

Lincoln has been going through what has been called a "brand renaissance" since sometime around…

It's not the most exciting thing on four wheels, but when you're a luxury brand you have to have a big crossover and this is definitely one of those. It's handsome in a bland, inoffensive way, though not really memorable at all.

And it's got some decent specs. There's a 2.7-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost (I'm getting tired of writing that) V6 with 330 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. It's also got optional all-wheel drive, a 360 degree camera system so you have no real excuse for parking badly, and the first-ever Harman Revel audio system in a car.

One thing I don't like is that touch panel on the dash that replaces a gear shifter with a row of buttons. It's awkward to use on the , where it was the subject of a recall because people .

Pricing hasn't been announced yet. Why would you buy this over a German competitor, or even a Cadillac? I'm not so sure. In a crowded field, it fails to really stand out.