QOTD: Will a Lincoln Car Ride Again?
Nearly two years ago we asked whether the resurgent Lincoln brand should just give up on passenger cars in favor of an all-SUV lineup. Back then, things were heading in the wrong direction for the two remaining Lincoln cars, the Fusion-based MKZ and the equally Fusion-reliant Continental. Fast-forward a couple of calendars and the situation has almost reached its inevitable conclusion.
The MKZ will bow out before the end of the year, and 2021 spells the end for the Continental’s brief return to the full-size luxury car segment. In this regard Lincoln is acting like Buick, though GM’s semi-premium marque stands to reach car-free status first. Can you envision a time when Lincoln finds it worthwhile to introduce a new passenger car?
It seems the brand’s dealers want to see some sort of sedan continue into the future, though the present direction of Ford seems to imply these wishes are as fruitless as the science club nerd’s longing for the head cheerleader.
Surely we’re not in for a completely carless future. Maybe at some brands, sure, but even Volkswagen has a plan afoot to spawn a large MEB-platform car alongside its EV crossovers and microbuses. High-end European automakers seem okay with the idea of EVs with trunks.
And yet the Lincoln lineup of the early 2020s is now pretty clear: Plug-in variants of the new Corsair and recent Aviator. The continued existence of the stable-selling Nautilus and huge Navigator. And, in one to three years’ time, a midsize EV utility vehicle, a compact model derived from the Mustang Mach-E, and a jointly developed SUV created with the help of Rivian (and its cost-saving skateboard platform).
Adam is still mad that Ford’s CD6 platform has only found use in two vehicles, believing it could have underpinned a large RWD Lincoln sedan or personal luxury coupe. In a receptive market, anyway.
If electric is the way of the future (and there’s problems with this assumption, at least as it pertains to Lincoln in 2020), that Rivian platform would set up shop beneath a huge Lincoln car. Think of a return of the 1970s-era landau-barges, only with zero tailpipe emissions. What a trip that would be.
After looking around the landscape, knowing what’s in Lincoln’s product pipeline, and seeing Ford’s descent into eco mobility, can you see another passenger car emerging from the Lincoln brand? What will it look like, when will it show up, and what’s underneath the hood?
[Image: Murilee Martin/TTAC, Lincoln]
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I used to own a 61 Lincoln Continental that was really built like a tank and a wonderful car to drive, but honestly it was a bit too cramped inside and kinda smallish for an American luxury car in the 60’s. Granted they increased in size in 64, but they were still smaller than a comparable Cadillac and Imperial. I also owned a 93 Town Car that I liked a lot as that car felt like it floated on clouds, I didn’t care for cheap interior materials however. Still a very smooth car. Onto my current Lincoln’s, a 78 Continental and a 79 Mark V Cartier edition. The 78 hands down is literally the smoothest, most comfortable car I have ever driven. This goes for my Classic Cadillacs too, even when compared to modern new cars, nothing comes close to isolation and comfort like the 78 Conti. Although these cars shared a lot of parts with other Fords, for 77-79 these Lincoln’s had in your face styling with that RR grill that truly made them unique and like nothing else. The immense length and width of these Lincoln’s command respect and authority on the road. The quality was pretty good for being a late 70’s land barge, but nothing like the Lincoln’s in the 60’s which were very high quality. Sadly these overbuilt Sherman size tank like Lincoln’s will never replicated again. No matter how many SUV’s the brand has in its lineup, there’s nothing cooler to look at than long, low slung Lincoln or Cadillac from the 50’s-70’s. They were simply bad ass cars that not only looked the part, but drove smooth as hot butter. Long live old school Lincoln’s!!!
I purchased a 1998 Mark VIII LSC at a Copart auction in Virginia two years ago for $350. A tree branch had fallen onto the right rear C-pillar and had shattered the moonroof glass. My brother drove it cross country in September 2018, after which I parked it for awhile as I had other vehicles to restore. I had the bodywork done two months ago and bought another complete moon roof setup from a local LKQ yard for $37! Only 66,464 miles today and it still drives like a dream! And it gets 22 MPG.