The new year brings a touch of the familiar for Lincoln-Mercury.

It's the return of a familiar, much-loved nameplate: Mercury Sable.

Mercury has reintroduced the brand and given it to a complete redo of the former Mercury Montego. While the Sable does resemble the old model, don't make the mistake of thinking it is the same car.

The Sable is much more sophisticated looking with a low-key, elegant appearance that ought to sell well. It's really amazing what can be done with a few exterior changes.

For instance, Sable features a clean design that focuses on Mercury's signature satin aluminum waterfall grille, flanked by beautiful new jeweled projector beam headlamps that sweep up over the front fenders. Additional visual highlights at the front of the vehicle include new chrome surrounds for the fog lamps and bright, satin aluminum caps on the side mirrors.

Around the back, look for a striking new LED taillamp design, that follows the current trend toward the use of white lenses with a red underlay for taillamps.

Sable's version features predominantly white lens with red accent stripes. The new rear fascia has a cutout for the chrome tips on the dual-exhaust system, a visual cue that suggests more power under the hood. A chrome strip on the bottom edge of the decklid provides a finishing touch.

By the way, the hint of more power that I just referred to is more than a hint. The new Sable features a much stronger 260-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. That should take care of complaints that the old Montego was too slow and plodding on the road quite nicely. Fuel economy is rated at 17 city/24 highway.

Inside, you'll see the same kind of urbane, low-key interior elements that made the Mercury Milan such a hit on the market. You'll see some unusual trim options and two-tone seating surfaces with contrast stitching, for instance. Ford says that a core attribute of Mercury design is a modern, airy interior, complementing the clean exterior. With Sable, this design direction comes to life in two-tone interior trim with unique accents. Customers who prefer a more technical appearance, for example, can opt for Cyber Carbon, a deep, high-gloss accent that resembles carbon fiber. Alternatively, two modern wood grain accents -- Guitar Maple or San Macassar -- are available.

You'll also have options such as DVD voice-activated navigation, Sirius satellite radio and Mercury Sync, a cool, high-tech, voice-activated hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system that fully integrates mobile phones and media players into the car via Bluetooth technology and a USB connection.

Standard features include four-wheel anti-lock-brakes; 3.5-liter V-6 engine; fog lamps; keyless entry keypad; folding exterior power side mirrors; power windows, locks and mirrors; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; audio input jack; AM/FM stereo/CD; one-touch driver window; power steering and a leather-wrapped shift knob.

The Sable, which has base prices ranging from $23,540 to $28,795, is available in base and Premier trim levels, and is built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant.

In other news, Milan ($18,825 to $25,380) gets new exterior colors, reverse parking sensors, a navigation system with new voice activation and ambient lighting.

At Lincoln, everyone's awaiting a new luxury sedan that should come out in a few months.

In the meantime, its entire lineup gets new colors and options, such as the Sync system for the MKZ (around $32,000 to start), and four new exterior colors.

A clear hit for Lincoln, however, is the MKX, one of the most beautiful crossovers to grace the road. It's graceful, elegant, sophisticated, and clearly a Lincoln because it carries out the brand's understated, low-key contemporary design theme.

Among its features are an unusual panoramic two-paneled vista roof and a 3.5-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has plenty of safety features, including a full complement of air bags with the all-important side curtain head air bags and a roll stability control system.

Inside, you'll find a modern iteration of the signature two-cove Lincoln instrument panel, with three aluminum-trimmed, squared-off gauges. Satin nickel accents are featured elsewhere in the interior.

The MKX, which carries five passengers, is equipped with heated and cooled front sets, heated rear seats, a navigation system and a host of other goodies to keep passengers well cared-for.

It also comes with all-wheel drive, independent suspension, anti-lock brakes and other items that will make it fully competitive with other crossovers in the market.

The MKX has a base price of $35,140 to $37,170 and comes in front-wheel and four-wheel drive versions. Power comes from a 3.5-liter, 265-horsepower V-6 that is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.