Lincoln Continental Concept

[12,000 RPM]

Better?

Much, thanks!

[SVT32V]

For me I don't really see that as an issue. Practically any FWD platform can be fitted with AWD anyway and raw performance isn't going to be good no matter what (because of how big it is). The key will be making sure if drives well and has a ton of accoutrement (in addition to really good looks) while beating the competition in price.

It wouldn't matter to me if Ford made it rear biased awd but so far they have not been. Some people like fwd, I prefer not to feel torque steer.

[2o6]

Meh, I don't think any of the clientele will give a damn. But if it's going to be FWD, I think a really radical design that works with the advantages of FWD would be awesome.

[SVT32V]

Meh, I don't think any of the clientele will give a damn. But if it's going to be FWD, I think a really radical design that works with the advantages of FWD would be awesome.

Most won't care, acura has sold a ton of pimped fwd accords and toyota gussied up camrys/avalons.

[MX793]

Does this mean Lincoln is going back to the Norelco electric razor grille that preceded the current split waterfall grille motif, or is this just an old concept they had laying around in the back of the studio that pre-dated the current design theme?

[r0tor]

My guess is its FWD and they will never be able to pull off the small front overhang - like countless Subaru concepts

[pendyman]

I love the wheel to body ratio. It would be nice if they can keep that. There's lots that I really like about the design. The front, however, is weak. I hate a bunch of teeny headlight elements. It distracts your attention from the overall design. And that grille looks like it's sucking a lemon or something.

[2o6]

2o6,

Check this out. Better?


WIMMER PHOTOSHOP







ORIGINAL

I'd give it more wheelbase and rear length, but yes!

[r0tor]

So apparently the designer of the Bentley continental went on some twitter rampage over this being a cheap Chinese style knockoff of their car... Meh

[FoMoJo]

So apparently the designer of the Bentley continental went on some twitter rampage over this being a cheap Chinese style knockoff of their car... Meh

Seems they view China as their main market.  Anyways, it can be said the influence for the grille and the hip were taken from the mid-fifties Continental. 

[FoMoJo]

For some reason, the look is starting to grow on me.  Seems that every site i go to, there's a picture of it.

[Galaxy]

So apparently the designer of the Bentley continental went on some twitter rampage over this being a cheap Chinese style knockoff of their car... Meh

Apparently he went on the twitter account of the Lincoln designer and asked if he should send over the tooling. 

[SVT666]

The shape of the grille looks a little too "Kia" for me.

[FoMoJo]

True, they didn't get that quite right...and that elongated tab at the bottom has no place there.  I do, however, quite like the hip treatment; from certain angles.  Slight reptilian stance without looking awkward.

[hotrodalex]

It's too bulbous. Needs to be a bit sharper. And the headlights seem too feminine.

Changing those two things might make it go from "meh" to "wow" IMO

[FoMoJo]

I suspect that this...



...was an influence in the design.  It works perfectly for that car.  The new Continental really needs to work some vertical lines into their grille.

[cawimmer430]

I'd give it more wheelbase and rear length, but yes!

Use that car design program that you have and make your vision reality. 

[Morris Minor]

Maybe the grille needs a little refining work - but overall I like it. This is an American market car, like a big Cadillac: spacious, quiet & comfortable for long distance wafting purposes - not competing directly with the Germans but not horrible either.

[pendyman]

They had it on Kelly Ripa show yesterday. Looked pretty nice. Looking forward to seeing it, and the new Caddy, at the auto show. I'll probably go next week, since opening day could be a zoo.

[Atomic]

The Large Lincoln in concept form (anyway) is overly styled while the new Cadillacs CT6 looks rather plain from pictures. The Lincoln will likely keep the Continental moniker after research in China (no joke) per Automotive News favors it will replace the aged Ford Taurus / SHO based Lincoln MKS for MY16 or '17. Bentley thinks FMC stole its signature look and face to face, side by side and back to back, Bentley Motor Cars in the UK makes some strong claims.

I credit Cadillac and Lincoln for producing large cars but styling is something not to be overlooked, GM and Ford.

[thewizard16]

The Lincoln Continental and the CT6 were both very popular at NYIAS, and both automakers put a lot of work into their display on each... You can tell they have a lot riding on/invested in these models. The Continental was actually very interesting looking and seemed very popular. I think it could pull it off if they don't water it down too much before making it to market. The CT6 is a nice car I'm sure, but definitely not as interesting.

[SVT666]

Lincoln could be returning to full names for its range of models, potentially dropping the MK-based scheme.

The company recently signaled such a shift when it introduced the Continental concept in New York, reviving a nameplate that had been formally retired more than a decade ago.

"Without divulging the future, we're very excited about the Continental name and the attention it's gotten," Ford's president of the Americas, Joe Hinrichs, told Automotive News.

Hinrichs acknowledges the potential confusion in the current arrangement, which includes the MKC, MKS, MKT, MKX and MKZ. The MK term dates back to the Lincoln Mark series and some of the third letters hint at the bodystyle -- the MKS sedan, MKC crossover and MKX crossover -- however other names, such as the MKZ and MKT, do not follow the same pattern.

"It's, frankly, where the auto industry -- the premium industry -- has gone, if you look at all the nameplates," Hinrichs added. "But another way Lincoln could distinguish itself is to leverage its heritage. So I'll leave it at that."

The Continental concept will likely be the first model to shift back to a classic name, replacing the MKS when a production model arrives on the market.

[SJ_GTI]

Smart move IMHO.

[12,000 RPM]

Shrewd move Lincoln. I blame Acura for sending the industry down this shit road. American luxury companies need to play the game the American way.

[Madman]

In addition to Continental, there are some other great names in Lincoln's past.  Cosmopolitan, Premiere, Versailles and Custom are all historic Lincoln names.  And I've always thought the Aviator name was a good companion to the larger Navigator.

Zephyr and Capri are also old Lincoln names which, by the way, have also been used by Mercury and Ford of Europe.  And since the Mercury portion of Lincoln-Mercury no longer exists, those names are up for grabs, too.  Marquis and Grand Marquis have too much of a recent association with Mercury to be resurrected but Monarch and Mariner would work well for Lincoln.  I'm pretty sure nobody remembers the Mercury Mariner, right?  They could even use Bobcat for a Lincoln sports model.

Packard had some great names, too.  Clipper, Constellation, Patrician, Caribbean, Mayfair, Executive, Panama and Pacific would all work for Lincoln.  Hey, it not like Packard is still around to complain about another company stealing their names!  Oh, there was also a Packard Cavalier, too.  But I'm sure nobody will ever want to resurrect that name.  Thanks, Chevy!  Packard's one-time partner, Studebaker, is another source for some great names.  President, Champion, Cruiser, Starlight, Conestoga, Lark and Hawk all have a nice ring to them.  A couple of other Studebaker names have already been cribbed by others.  Commander by Jeep and Daytona by Dodge are the two that come immediately to mind.  Lincoln may as well grab the rest while they can.

But, at the end of the day, all the greatest-sounding names in the world won't be enough if the cars those names are attached to aren't good enough to tempt buyers away from the established leaders in this segment.  A glorified Taurus will NEVER cut it.  Ford either needs to get serious about making Lincoln a world-class maker of premium cars or get out of the premium game entirely.  Half measures will never work.