Lincoln Continental Production Version

[SVT666]

It was based on the LS, and it really wasn't that bad. It was an entry-lux convertible cruiser... not a sports car.

People assumed it was going to be a sports car, and when it wasn't, they shit all over it.

[Soup DeVille]

It was based on the LS, and it really wasn't that bad. It was an entry-lux convertible cruiser... not a sports car.

It was the size of and handled more like the Town Car.

[shp4man]

I've driven them quite a bit, as the 3.9 V8 ones tend to eat ignition coils. They were really just toys for rich old guys. Most of the ones I work on are low mileage garage queens.

[93JC]

A retro-styled Continental would have met the same fate.

[Payman]

A retro-styled Continental would have met the same fate.

As cool as it looked, I agree.

[93JC]

You know, the more I look at it the more I like the look of this car. It reminds me a lot of the '61 Continental which—let's be frank—is pretty much the only one anyone remembers fondly.

The '61 Continental was a pretty big departure from the styling norms of the day, particularly Cadillacs. The 1959 and 1960 Cadillacs were comical looking, festooned with huge tailfins and a gaudy grille. We look back on them now and appreciate that they were a product of their time, but times were changing in the '60s. The Continental went from looking like a Mercury with the front end of a '61 Chrysler to something entirely different. It was shorter than its predecessor but it was low. It looked longer. It looked a hell of a lot sleeker. It looked quite unlike anything that had come before, and other manufacturers quickly began aping the look of the Continental (take a look at a '64 Imperial or '65 Cadillac...).

What I see in the new one is the same sort of approach to its design. Some will decry it for being "boring", but the way I see it it's clean. It's got a couple subtle little lines down the doors but otherwise it's smooth, not unlike the '61.

Since we've already started the comparison to a Hyundai Azera, let's explore it further:





The Hyundai is very much a product of its time. The way the beltline sweeps up from front to back: everybody does this. Hyundai does this on every car they make, which makes the Azera look like an overgrown Elantra. Don't get me wrong, a perfectly good car, but the Lincoln does not share any of its proportions with the Azera. Other than the superficially similar lights and tailpipes they have nothing in common. The differences in proportions are more pronounced from a side view:




I love the look of the Lincoln for what it does here. None of that 2010s beltline. By comparison it looks much longer and sleeker than the Hyundai.

[Cookie Monster]

I agree with 93JC. When I first saw the car I thought it was pretty boring and generic, but the more I stare at it the more I think it's just a very cleanly styled sedan with good proportions (other than maybe having a slightly longer hood, I think it's great, especially the greenhouse). I'm especially thankful they didn't stick their favorite Lincoln grille on there and left the front end clean and understated:





phew

[FoMoJo]

I going to take a careful look at it at the local auto show.  My wife thinks we should get something a bit more upscale than the Escape.

[CALL_911]

What platform is this thing on? I'm a fan

[93JC]

I'm especially thankful they didn't stick their favorite Lincoln grille on there and left the front end clean and understated

And the Hyundai Azera front end , so we can safely put any comparisons between the two to bed:

[Cookie Monster]

What platform is this thing on? I'm a fan

Ford Fusion I think.

[93JC]

I keep staring at this picture and one thing that I neglected to mention that really jumps out at me now: the vertical separation between the rear wheel well and the greenhouse. Or rather, the comparative lack thereof.

Compare it to a Lexus ES:



Look at how much sheet metal there is there compared to the Lincoln. All it does is serve to accentuate the fat, ugly, bland ass of the Lexus.

[280Z Turbo]

It was based on the LS, and it really wasn't that bad. It was an entry-lux convertible cruiser... not a sports car.

It didn't do anything well. There is no reward for what you gave up in practicality.

[Payman]

It didn't do anything well. There is no reward for what you gave up in practicality.

It rode well, it had adequate power, and to many, it looked good. The low sloping rear fenders were especially nice, in an age of fat-arsed cars. I'd happily own one for weekend cruising.

[MX793]

People assumed it was going to be a sports car, and when it wasn't, they shit all over it.

T-bird has never really been a sports car.  Even the 2-seater first generation was more cruiser than racer.  More a lower cost personal luxury car.  A poor man's Lincoln Mk_ or Caddy Eldorado.

[MX793]

It didn't do anything well. There is no reward for what you gave up in practicality.

It looked good, or at least distinctive, and it was a convertible.  That's about it.  Very similar to the Chevy SSR.

[93JC]

Is there any reward for what you give up in practicality for a convertible, other than whatever pleasure you derive from driving around without a roof? Convertibles are heavier, noisier, more expensive, don't handle as well because they have a flimsier chassis... The only thing a convertible can do better than its hardtop counterpart is not have a roof.

To say the Thunderbird "didn't do anything well" and "there is no reward for what you gave up in practicality" is nothing more than an admission that you just don't like convertibles and don't get the fascination with them that some people have. But, letting go of that hang-up and looking at it more objectively, I don't know how you can say "it didn't do anything well". It was a comfortable car that rode well, had more-than-adequate power and looked cool. That's all it was meant to ever do. That's pretty much all any convertible can aspire to do.

[Soup DeVille]

Doesn't Sean Own a two seat convertible?

[Madman]

This car seems to be missing something.  Now what can it be?

Oh, I know what it needs!...........





Now they just need to add some padded vinyl, starting at the top B-pillar and ending at the base of the C-pillar, terminating with a chrome strip.  This way, you still have the look of a vinyl roof but retain the panoramic sunroof.  Needs opera lamps, whitewalls, wire wheel hubcaps and rear wheel spats, too.



On a serious note, what is up with that tooth-gap in the bottom of the grille?

[12,000 RPM]

I don't think going full on retro was necessary. I have been thinking about it and I can summarize my gripe with the design as follows:

Too much Flying Spur.

Flying Spur looks a bit downmarket and old, largely because of how rounded off and bulbous it is. I see a LOT of that in this design. Going full on retro obviously would have been retarded but the old Continental still resonates with young folks today. Here is a screenshot from a music video that came out this year (pardon the awful rims)



This dude could have used any car for his video and he used an old Continental. It's a classic, timeless design and a huge part of it is that strong straight shoulder line. The new Continental's shoulder line looks like Bashar Assad's chin by comparison. Missed opportunity

[Payman]

To me this new Lincoln reminds me of when the Five Hundred came out. Innoffensive, interesting, but unremarkable.

[SVT666]

The Five Hundred was NOT interesting. That was the most generic boring sedan ever made.

[Payman]

The Five Hundred was NOT interesting. That was the most generic boring sedan ever made.

Its Volvo bones made it interesting.

[12,000 RPM]

To me this new Lincoln reminds me of when the Five Hundred came out. Innoffensive, interesting, but unremarkable.

I think it's a bit better than that but I largely agree. It's high quality with some cool details, but overall the exterior is pretty boring. Most interesting thing about the interior is the seats which is also not a good thing.

[Rich]

IMO Lincoln, Cadillac, and Infiniti are all going about it wrong.

To make me go wow, that's a sweet luxury car, the brand has got to go for the really high end for their quintessential model. Like what Lexus did with the LS or Tesla did with the model S.  Really like any brand should.

Make a statement of what you're about.

What's the statement of this car?  "Well, it rides as good as the luxury (not sport) versions of the Germans. It has an interior that's not as nice. It has sweet door handles"

I don't think that's a good statement to make


Like sporty goes on about Cadillac for.... Make a statement. Electrify it. Or Make the interior wayyyy better than the Germans. Or give it a bigass engine.

[12,000 RPM]

This will sound crazy but w/e, its me. Engines don't matter anymore. BMW is selling 80K 528i's. Statements have to be made through design and tech. Bolder interior/exterior, PHEV tech. Electrification is the new "big engine" in the luxury realm.

I've spoken about Cadillac ad nauseum but I think Infiniti and Lincoln are playing it smart. Nobody is going to buy a 100K Lincoln/Cadillac/Infiniti so looking to build statement cars, which would cost that much, doesn't make sense. Where those brands can eat is in that 40-50K range, where Germans generally suck at in value, particularly with midsizers. Germans cannot make something as big or loaded as a TLX for the same money. What will take these second tier brands over the top is style. Again the Chrysler 300 is STILL a warmed over 1998 E320, but it still makes a statement on the street, like Ving Rhames in a Stacy Adams ad (you guys wont get why that is hilarious). Thing is, style is essentially free.... look at Mazda or Kia. So these companies need to turn up the style and design a good bit to survive. Nobody will cared that the 04-07 TL/TSX were super Accords because they looked damn good in and out. Same story with these and this in particular.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

To me this new Lincoln reminds me of when the Five Hundred came out. Innoffensive, interesting, but unremarkable.

What's the statement of this car?  "Well, it rides as good as the luxury (not sport) versions of the Germans. It has an interior that's not as nice. It has sweet door handles"

I don't think that's a good statement to make

Again 

like Ving Rhames in a Stacy Adams ad (you guys wont get why that is hilarious).

You want some breakfast youngsta......... 

[SVT666]

Again the Chrysler 300 is STILL a warmed over 1998 E320,

No it isn't.  Why do people keep saying that?

Shared components include the rear suspension design, front seat frames, wiring harnesses, steering column, the 5-speed automatic transmission's design, and a derivative of the 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

[2o6]

The rear suspension design is sort of E class, but really it's a warmed over LH car. The LX cars are getting up there in years, but they work alright so no one really cares

[12,000 RPM]

You want some breakfast youngsta......... 

You got to learn the difference between GUNZ N BUTTA