2017 Lincoln Continental Caught in the Wild TFLCar
The Continental spotted by an alert TFL reader, Duke, is powered by a new, 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Another TFL reader sent us a second set of photos of Lincoln’s new flagship sedan.
The all-new Lincoln Continental is targeted to go on sale Fall 2016 with prices likely starting around $50,000
Nice colors on the Lincolns. I'm liking the MKZ very much. I don't know how I feel about the Continental, I am feeling underwhelmed, disappointed, hungry? I dunno...
Nice shade of plaid BTW
I just love this view! Not sure why some say it looks cheap, there's some really attractive detailing in that rear end! Also like seeing the Lincoln name shown large and proud across the back like that!
I really wish they'd been able to keep that upper trunk area where it merges with the roofline narrower like on the concept, it really emphasised the rear haunches where they're subdued on the production Continental. I completely understand why they didn't though.
...I'm starting to believe that there might be two blues available on the BL because this looks so much darker than that:
IMG] [/IMG
I know the light is different - but such a huuuge difference?!
BTW, talking about optional torque vectoring. My guess is that the 'option' is AWD or - in fact - the 3.0TT itself.
"A Heads Up Display (HUD) offering has been considered, but is still TBD and unknown, which is why you see photos or vehicles with and without the display option.
A HUD is not expected to be available when the Continental launches this fall."
So while we might not getting it (right away), they are at least playing with the idea...
You all realise that even if it's the most comfortable luxurious ride in any American designed and built car, that the motoring press will deride it for being based on a Ford; or front wheel drive. Or even four wheel drive... Not as engaging they'll say... And they'll compare the entry level again against a top spec car of a competitor. And if they compare the top spec they'll use a sport model from the competition.. The American motoring press will rip into the car's fit and finish, as they always do. Anyone care to take a bet? My hope is for an unbiased review, and judge it on its own merit. I can see Lincoln taking another step in the right direction. Go Lincoln!
Oh yea I can see that now. I am sure they will talk about how it's based on the Fusion or Chinese Taurus while the Cadillac is state of the art chassis even though buyers don't care.
Any journalist that prioritizes track prowess in a vehicle like Continental, is missing the PRIMARY point of an ultra quiet and smooth luxury sedan. Of course it will have adequate capability on any road, and probably in the very top percentile relative to anything in it's price/power range. But engineering is all about balancing of requirements, and if you bias that balance toward cutting a quicker apex, then you surely are paying for it somewhere else.
Sales are rarely commensurate with review wins anyway.
I agree wings. The press do make unfair comparison though. With that said, I'm also not interested in seeing any comparison with the base Contiental, as I feel whatever vehicle it's compared to will be victorious in a landslide, even though I'm confident in the Conti interior, I just think in base form it sacrifices too much from any kind of performance standpoint
Everyone decries the lack of a Lincstang with this generation Mustang. I believe that is short sighted.
A) The Lincoln brand is not ready to support that.
B) The platform, as it exists today, is not ready to support a Lincoln product.
There is a level of NVH that needs to happen with a luxury product, no matter how well it performs. The current Mustang platform does not live up to those requirements. When they are serious about a Lincoln variant, they will make sure that this is baked in.
This is no different than Lincoln producing a $300K Bentley competitor right now. While I am sure that Lincoln / Ford could do it, the brand is in no way ready for it, and all the wishful thinking in the world will not change that fact.
This is no different than Lincoln producing a $300K Bentley competitor right now. While I am sure that Lincoln / Ford could do it, the brand is in no way ready for it, and all the wishful thinking in the world will not change that fact.
While I'm not too keen on sucking off the Germans like some other folks on the internet, I have to disagree with you here, @wingsnut. The 7 Series is the perfect example of a quiet and sexy lux boat that actually handles great. Also the CT6 has been met with very positive reviews regarding chassis. There actually is a really solid middle ground that doesn't involve much compromise at all in the realm of lux vs performance. Plenty have plenty of both. The 7 series weighs 4,225 lb. The renown Nissan GTR weighs ~3,900 pounds. Put a kid in the back seat and a buddy in the front seat of a GTR and it won't handle much worse than a GTR with just you in it, regardless of the extra 300 pounds. +4,200 pounds can be made to handle on rails with the proper setup. Physics don't really get in the way of that too much.
Sure its no F40, but it still handles good enough that most people would comfortably consider its handing "great."
Thanks for the input gj, but I feel I need to reiterate that it still comes down to relativity. You just compared a mega-hp AWD performance coupe, straddled with 2 occupants as coming close to a 7 series with a wimpy (relative) V6 engine and NO occupants. When you do that same math with a more powerful 750i V8 and AWD, it weighs 4800lbs, minus any occupants. And it still will in no way even come close to the handling performance (certainly not acceleration either) of the Nissan. So again, relativity. Yeah, a $100K 7 series has impressive engineering, luxury and even decent handling. But yet again, there are compromises relative to physics and engineering priority (mass, wheelbase, shifting, steering, ride, center gravity, etc.)
And back to my primary point, that a focused engineering effort on smooth and quiet luxury is somewhat divergent from a similar focus on handling prowess. And although the Conti's main goal is quiet luxury, it still will have the specs (at least on paper and relatively) of putting down impressive performance numbers with +400hp, new variable dampening/controlled suspension and a performance AWD system. So relativity comes back into play, that even though it will be more than capable for the average luxury sedan buyer, it's main objective is elsewhere. And that is what I can't wait to experience.
All valid points for and against, I believe, but I see Lincoln move more in the Rolls Royce direction. Luxury barges good drive for its weight and size that surrounds you in luxury... Just look at the design direction.. Even with 800HP you not going to mistake the new Lincolns for speed demons. Those designs look like it's meant to strut...
If you made a Focus RS as RWD/AWD, it would perform no better than its current FWD/AWD configuration.
Why then do some expect that a FWD/AWD Conti can’t perform?
Remember, these modern AWD systems are fully configurable for bias front to rear, and in microseconds. And the Conti will benefit from the same AWD system as the RS.
If you made a Focus RS as RWD/AWD, it would perform no better than its current FWD/AWD configuration. Why then do some expect that a FWD/AWD Conti can’t perform?
Remember, these modern AWD systems are fully configurable for bias front to rear, and in microseconds. And the Conti will benefit from the same AWD system as the RS.
Balance and weight. FWD platforms are inherently nose heavy especially in large sedan form.
And I've stated many times, the Continental will perform well above the expectations of it's owners. It'll be a car that's fun to drive, just not one that'll keep up with better balanced cars on a track. My point all along is that's fine, none of these cars will be driven on a track anyways.
When I previously noted about the Continentals fwd platform, I wasn't doing so in a negative fashion, BUT let's also be realaist. No fwd platform, whether it has performance awd or not, IS NOT going to handle better than a properly balanced platform that began life as RWD. Blamce, weight distribution etc are all limitations of ALL FWD cars, the physics of it cannot be overcome.
BUT I digress, I'm not bringing to light anything negative about the Continental or its platform, I was merely noting that it doesn't have to handle as good as sedan that cost much more than it, but it can offer straight line performance that leaves the others in the dust. Bentley has shown that it's extremely large and heavy luxo barges will still smoke 0-60 and 1/4 miles, and yes of course Lincoln isn't a "in your face" brand but customers have shown that enormous power is something that they like.
Tune that 3.0 to about 450hp/450tg and you have just that. Plus tuning it to a higher level would be more in line with top level status among the Lincoln sedan i.e. more than the MKZ
Bottom line, to limit the MKZ in favor of the Continental will result in zero additional Continental sales but could result in fewer MKZ sales. Handicapping the MKZ doesn't help the Continental, it helps the MKZ's competition from other brands.
Where do you get this "handicapping" from, if you read what I said you'd see that I DIDN'T say scale back the MKZs output, I said raise the Contiental as it makes sense on several fronts.
1. The Contiental has much more weight than the mKZ.
2. (The most important factor) The Contiental sits on the top of the Lincoln hierarchy ladder, and as such it's power should be the most ( i.e. what MB/AUdi does with E63 S63 C63, the S63 S4 S6 S8) the sedans get higher output based on their status in the lineup.
3. The Continentals competition offers engines with outputs with 440+HP
Where do you get this "handicapping" from, if you read what I said you'd see that I DIDN'T say scale back the MKZs output, I said raise the Contiental as it makes sense on several fronts.
1. The Contiental has much more weight than the mKZ.
2. (The most important factor) The Contiental sits on the top of the Lincoln hierarchy ladder, and as such it's power should be the most ( i.e. what MB/AUdi does with E63 S63 C63, the S63 S4 S6 S8) the sedans get higher output based on their status in the lineup.
3. The Continentals competition offers engines with outputs with 440+HP
If the engine can make more power and you keep it from the MKZ you're handicapping it.
1. This is no excuse for shorting the MKZ. The MKZ is the more sporting of the two and will be the car in which the 3.0T can make the biggest impact on drivers and shine the brightest.
2. This is the least important factor to me, by a large margin. All of those cars you quote are performance oriented, the Continental is not.
3. The Continental isn't going to be chasing the large performance sedans, at least not with this generation. It'll be big, luxurious, and plenty fast, but it's not going to come close to the power you get in those other top end large luxury sedans.
The thing Lincoln needs the most is for cars that impress, buyers, reviewers, everybody. One way to do that is putting the big engine in the smaller car where it's going to really impress. If that engine maxes out at 400HP put in the MKZ, if it maxes out at 450HP, put it in the MKZ. If the engine can put out more and you hold back so the Continental can have some silly spec sheet win then you're handicapping the MKZ from being all it could be.
There is way more than enough differences between the MKZ and Continental, and the Continental has plenty to justify it's price in relation to the MKZ, there is no need to detune the MKZ so the Continental can have more power that it's owners are unlikely to use. Lincoln is in no position right now to be worrying about hierarchy, it just needs cars that people see as winners.
Bottom line, the 440HP version if it existed would make the MKZ a better car which is better for Lincoln while at the same time it being in the MKZ would not make the Continental any less of a car than it would be if they detune it for the MKZ.
I feel like I lose much needed IQ points when I debate the track virtues of a large luxury sedan, FWD or otherwise.
Nobody, literally, will ever take, let alone race a AWD CT6 or a Continental on a track and reap any benefits of the slightest of advantages that a 4400lb cruiser gets with a 10% shift in weight bias – except maybe journalists. That is of course what it comes down to. And I don’t believe perception will be suffering one bit, once reviews start pouring in for Conti. In fact, I am confident that not only will reviewers sing it’s praises, but I think it will win comparo’s. There is far too much goodness on the spec sheet to be ignored, once you look past a few little things that add up to near zilch in the real world.
We don't want you risking any of your remaining IQ points so I'll just point out that I've not argued in favor of track focused large luxury sedans, only pointing out that natural balance is better than trying to compensate for a lack thereof.
...well I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Continental is released with the 3.0 producing more hp/tq than the MKZ. When they made the decision to stop using ecoboost branding all over their luxury vehicles it gave me hope and confidence that they are forreal about stressing minute things.
And the Germans offer different tunes to the same engine because the hierarchy patterns NOT because the are simply performance oriented, they do it because it makes sense within a lineup
The Continental can offer 440 hp/tq while still allowing the MKZ 400hp. It's like the case of the 3.5 in the Navi/Expy, the Navi has the higher output and as such it should because it's basically Lincoln's flagship, same applies to the Contiental, and as I stated before, I think Lincoln will raise the Contiental power levels, right wingss?????
SP1966, I may be more of an old-school Gen-X'er, in terms of what characteristics I remember fondly from my youth, that really set Lincoln Continentals apart from other automobiles. I applaud the Lincoln Motor Company's attempt to recapture some similar (2016 and beyond appropriate) symbols from the Lincoln-Continentals back in the day, that really set them apart from other cars. Here are some specifications that I dug up concerning the new 1969 Lincoln Continental my dad bought when I was a toddler:
1969 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
body type 4/5 seater sedan/saloon
number of doors 4
dimensions & weights
mm inches
wheelbase 3226 127inches
length 5715 225 inches
width 2019 79.5inches
height 1416 55.7inches
kerb weight 2227 kg 4910 lb
engine type naturally aspirated petrol
engine manufacturer Ford
engine code
cylinders V 8 in 90° vee
capacity 7.5 litre
7536 cc
(459.875 cu in)
bore × stroke 110.74 × 97.8 mm
overhead valve (OHV)
2 valves per cylinder
16 valves in total
maximum power output
(gross) 370 PS (365 bhp) (272 kW)
at 4600 rpm
maximum torque
(gross) 678 Nm (500 ft·lb) (69.1 kgm)
at 2800 rpm
Curiously, the current European flagship automobile models, i.e., Mercedes' Maybach, Bentley's Mulsanne and Rolls-Royce's Phantom, have interior and exterior dimensions that are not so far different from the Lincoln Continentals and the Cadillacs from the 1960's and 1970's. I personally do not object to Lincoln bringing back a four-door Lincoln Continental Convertible (preferably with coach (suicide-doors) :angel). I'm not disturbed by Lincoln's flagship car, being the biggest and having the largest, most powerful engine. I'm pleased that Lincoln is proactively reclaiming it's position as one of North America and the worlds premier automotive brands.
Meh, if the Continental handles and is powerful as the base 7, XJ, A8 with similar features and a competitive price, I think Lincoln is on target. I feel most modern automobiles are much better performers than people realize regarding handling especially in emergency situations. It is not usually put to the test.
Meh, if the Continental handles and is powerful as the base 7, XJ, A8 with similar features and a competitive price, I think Lincoln is on target. I feel most modern automobiles are much better performers than people realize regarding handling especially in emergency situations. It is not usually put to the test.
I know the Continental is not RWD. But given the improvements in balance over the years, do you think an AWD or FWD Continental would hug a cloverleaf like my old Lincoln LS did ("the LS smile" they called it, because it made you smile as you accelerated through the turn and it hugged the road)? I know the LS had the battery and some other stuff in the trunk well, I believe, to help make that balanced weight distribution. I'm not looking for the Continental to perform on a track, just curious how y'all think it will drive (besides being nice and smooth like a limo)?
I know the Continental is not RWD. But given the improvements in balance over the years, do you think an AWD or FWD Continental would hug a cloverleaf like my old Lincoln LS did ("the LS smile" they called it, because it made you smile as you accelerated through the turn and it hugged the road)? I know the LS had the battery and some other stuff in the trunk well, I believe, to help make that balanced weight distribution. I'm not looking for the Continental to perform on a track, just curious how y'all think it will drive (besides being nice and smooth like a limo)?
I'm confident it'll be fun in those situations but it's unlikely to feel like your old LS did, it just doesn't have the balance that the LS did. My guess is the old LS smile will be big enough that you won't really miss the old girl.
"Lincoln prices Continental from $45,485
The 2017 Lincoln Continental will have a starting price of $45,485 including shipping, several thousand more than the MKS it replaces but still less than most similar-sized luxury sedans."
I bet with this news hitting the mass media, many luxury sedan customers are pausing a few months on their import purchases. Waiting for the reviews and to actually see and drive the New 2017 Continental. Especially the E-Class and 5-Series.
Looks stunning, and with the 3.0 and advanced awd being standard I'm sure it will impress
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