Lincoln gets global management team led by Farley

[Andrew L]

seems certain that the (nextgen Taurus's) CD4+3 platform WILL be lower and at least as wide (& guessing) lighter yet with better interior packaging for more roominess...
...just doesn't sound like a quick fix (Taurus = Q3 2015)
ALTHO...
I've seen some posts suggesting that the Aviator could intro much earlier than the Explorer's Q4 2015 move to CD4+3
so
maybe it's possible that Lincoln's getting the new platform before Ford???

just no idea WHERE they'd be built, esp as a Lincoln-first/only low-volume production
edit - actually^ I've speculated that some "musical factory" changes might include the Fusion&friends' CD4 ending up in Chicago and Lincoln's part of CD4+3 getting FlatRock.
But not sure that makes sense.

Could it be possible that its reversed and Chicago could be the Lincoln plant?

[2b2]

omg, Andrew, imho ANYthing is possible & of course I have no real info to go on
((edit - and a large reason I'm thinking Lincoln alongside the Mustang has to do with my CD4+r.w.d. theory))

thinking ALL CD3/D3-4/CD4/CD4+3 plants are(have BEEN) up for 'review'
including the Euro plants (Genk>>Valencia)

starting to think, *IF* I'm right, this could be the biggest Physical reorganization Ford's ever had (edit2 - since WWII)

[MKII]

So sick and tired of the same drivel from the media everytime Lincoln is written about.
Can you imagine if everytime these poor bored souls wrote the same crap when writing articles
on Audi, Lexus, Acura etc etc etc.

For me I stay away from reading any new news on Lincoln because it is "old" news.

Feel bad for Ford and what they need to overcome just to get the consumer to give a hoot about Lincoln, never mind
fighting off the endless drivel from the media.

Good luck to Lincoln, but if the spokes people for Lincoln keep countering the constant media comparison to the Ford twin with Lincoln uses bigger brakes and more features,blah,blah stuff then Lincoln needs new spokes people.

I keep saying it, features do not make a luxury or premium vehicle anymore. Lincoln must find something within the brand that makes
it something more then just extra features.

Oh and get rid of Wolff, he is the wrong guy for the job.

[Iiari]

So sick and tired of the same drivel from the media everytime Lincoln is written about.
Can you imagine if everytime these poor bored souls wrote the same crap when writing articles
on Audi, Lexus, Acura etc etc etc.

I keep saying it, features do not make a luxury or premium vehicle anymore. Lincoln must find something within the brand that makes
it something more then just extra features.

Oh and get rid of Wolff, he is the wrong guy for the job.

I don't feel bad for Ford at all. They've richly earned the terrible position they are in with Lincoln and have earned all the bad PR they get. Their squandering of Lincoln's potential (rejuvenating it only, oh, a decade after Caddy decided to do the same) is of historic levels.

And there's no doubt that platform sharing makes like Acura/Honda get the same media attention that Lincoln/Ford so. You couldn't read an ILX review without reading "Civic" in it and likely any ES review mentions "Camry." That said, these makes have generally made excellent product. If your product is relevant to the market and excellent, the media will definitely give you more of pass.

Americans like underdogs. There was no brand more irrelevant to the under 70 set than Cadillac at the turn of the century, and now I see 30-ish year old car guys on hot summer nights on our local strip showing off their CTS coupes and V wagons. It can be done. The question is will Lincoln give us great product?

Oh, and what's wrong with Wolff? We haven't seen a single Lincoln design of his yet.

[Logans Run]

You have to remember that Ford was seriously considering shuttering Lincoln not very long ago.

For too many years before that, Lincoln was considered the low man on the totem pole in the PAG arrangement.

As of right now, Lincoln is attempting to shore up their premium image. After that happens, they will then determine if they can elevate it to a full luxury nameplate, or keep it where it is...only with more models.

[TurboS40]

Lincoln needs to have in production not just show at the auto shows a vehicle that means business. It shows the world Lincoln is back from the dead and isn't going to take anything from anyone anymore. Period. That's the only way Lincoln will get noticed and gain any respect.

The new Z is fine and a great start but more should follow. Hopefully there is more than we know about with the current plan.

[2b2]

I don't feel bad for Ford at all. They've richly earned the terrible position they are in with Lincoln and have earned all the bad PR they get. Their squandering of Lincoln's potential (rejuvenating it only, oh, a decade after Caddy decided to do the same) is of historic levels.

And there's no doubt that platform sharing makes like Acura/Honda get the same media attention that Lincoln/Ford so. You couldn't read an ILX review without reading "Civic" in it and likely any ES review mentions "Camry." That said, these makes have generally made excellent product. If your product is relevant to the market and excellent, the media will definitely give you more of pass.

Americans like underdogs. There was no brand more irrelevant to the under 70 set than Cadillac at the turn of the century, and now I see 30-ish year old car guys on hot summer nights on our local strip showing off their CTS coupes and V wagons. It can be done. The question is will Lincoln give us great product?...

QFT
Quoted For Truth

...For me I stay away from reading any new news on Lincoln because it is "old" news...
...Lincoln needs new spokes people...

Lincoln needs new vehicleS < plural

...Oh and get rid of Wolff, he is the wrong guy for the job.

Oh, and what's wrong with Wolff? We haven't seen a single Lincoln design of his yet.

here,
tho it's just a 'feeling'...
(the kind that drives posters at BON ...NUTS!)
...I've been wondering about MxW too
ALTHO
it's the Approvers I mistrust much much More

Just having trouble believing a top-talented designer would be OK with not having ANY of his work be put into production for soooooooooooo long

[nruggiero]

Just having trouble believing a top-talented designer would be OK with not having ANY of his work be put into production for soooooooooooo long

I can tell by the look on his face doesn't like being at Lincoln. Unfortunately, he can't leave because he signed a contract.

[Iiari]

While we wait for some actual driving reviews of the MKZ, here is a new article from the Detroit News with more of the same background we've already read elsewhere (all probably from that webcast). There are more Farley quotes, but nothing really new: Link here

[TurboS40]

I prefer Gerry McGovern's designs. Continental Concept, Mk9 Concept and I think Navicross was his but not sure. Those designs make a statement. The designs show authority and presence. Best of all the designs said Lincoln and not "Customized Ford". The whole look is aggressive but elegant and tasteful without screaming "ME-TOO". I think he's designing Land Rover's and look at how well the current designs are.

The problem I would see with Max Wolff is that he reports to J Mays right? Mays is into bland boring roundy shapes and VW/Audi copies. Remember the 500? I'm sure there's more. The only exception would be the Mustang which has a strong cult following and wouldn't put up with all that bland-ness.

Who designed the LS? That design was a good design direction change which could have lead to a larger Continental, MK9 and who knows what else. We all know PAG got all the attention at the expense of Lincoln and Mercury. The sad part is Mercury didn't recover.