Just yesterday, Lincoln released a configurator and estimated pricing for the 2013 MKZ, so we expected a bit more of a wait before final pricing figures were made public, but Lincoln decided today is the day: the 2013 MKZ starts from $35,925, plus $875 in destination fees.

That puts the new MKZ just a tick lower--$175, to be exact--than the Lexus ES 350, which Lincoln sees as the MKZ's primary competition.

That $35,925 base price just gets you in the door, but it's a well-equipped entry point: the base MKZ includes push-button shift, LED headlights, a 10.1-inch LCD instrument panel, an 8-inch touch screen display, remot start, and Active Noise Control. A choice of 2.0-liter EcoBoost or 3.7-liter V-6 engines are available.

The MKZ Hybrid is also available, and, in Lincoln's new tradition, it's priced the same as the non-hybrid model. The MKZ Hybrid replaces the standard 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and a 70-kilowatt electric motor, for a projected total system power of 188 hp. The MKZ hybrid can drive under pure electric power at speeds up to 62 mph, and achieves estimated gas mileage of 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

Four core trim lines are offered on the 2013 MKZ: Premiere, Select, Reserve, and Preferred. Premiere constitutes the starting point, with the Select package adding a rear-view camera, wood steering wheel, rear parking sensors, HD Radio, and more. The Reserve package builds on the Select with voice-recognition navigation, blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alert, a power decklid, cooled seats, and a power tilt/telescopting steering wheel. The Preferred package adds to the Reserve's specifications with 19-inch polished/painted wheels, premium floor mats, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a 110-volt powerpoint (included on MKZ Hybrid), and a THX II certified audio system.

Read our preview for the full details on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ and 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.