American luxury automobile manufacturer Lincoln is showcasing its all-new sedan, MKZ, in this year’s Dubai International Motor Show.

Like many of the automakers this year, Lincoln is targeting a younger crowd with the MKZ, which it describes as ‘as an entry-level model for those who want to experience owning and driving a Lincoln’, said Hussein Murad, Sales and Marketing director of Ford Middle East.

In 2008 the company is providing customers with more exiting options to choose from that include the MKX crossover, the Navigator L extended wheelbase full-size SUV, as well as the all-new MKZ, which join the classic Town Car full-size sedan and the full-size SUV Navigator.

The MKZ is a five-passenger luxury sports sedan which boasts a new exterior design and is powered by a Duratec 35 V-6 engine paired with a premium 6-speed transmission.

‘With five product offerings, the Lincoln line up is richer than ever, and promises to further expand with additional products such as the all-new Lincoln MKS full-size sedan which we will offer in the course of 2008,’ Murad said.

The Middle East has become a hotspot for travel and to accommodate its rapid growth airport projects worth a total of $17bn are now underway.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a ‘looming infrastructure crisis’ is possible if countries in the region fail to prepare for the increased demand, with major potential impact on the environment caused by inefficient use of airspace and flight delays.

IATA reports that global airline traffic is expected to grow to 75 billion passengers by 2011, while the Middle East has the strongest international passenger demand with an annual average growth rate of 6.8 per cent.

Total Middle East international passenger numbers are forecast to be 105 million in 2011, an increase of 30 million over 2006 levels. The total global fleet of aircraft is expected to double by 2026, growing from 18,200 to more than 36,400.

Currently there are 59 active airport projects in GCC countries worth a combined total of well over $17bn. The largest of these projects is the Dubai World Central, which will be the world’s largest hub, big enough to handle 120 million passengers, and Qatar’s New Doha International Airport with a capacity of 50 million passengers and 320,000 planes.