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Blinded By The Light.
Nice one!!!


I was thinking instead, The Fonz edition.

I recall he liked chrome.
^
For sure. Haha.


I am excited about the diverse interior design themes coming for new Conti.
I am soooo excited.
PLEASE tell me that we'll see blue and red!
^
I have no idea. Have not seen interior, other than camo'd units that I peeked into. Can't see much there.
The only part I found questionable were his comments regarding RWD which strike me as bluster designed to distract from the fact that it simply isn't an option right now so we'll pretend it doesn't matter. I think we're all confident RWD is in the near future for Lincoln, so clearly he realizes its importance but didn't want to acknowledge that current shortcoming.

One other thing he said regarding RWD that I found interesting was his suggesting the reason they would consider it would be if a design required RWD proportions. So Lincoln would consider RWD just to get the proportions right strikes me as odd.

All in all an enjoyable, if not particularly informative conversation.

Same here with the RWD aspect. I drive two RWD and one FWD cars on a regular basis, and it's my 3-Series that I want to drive the most. Being 'pulled' along via FWD is no comparison with the rush of power being 'pushed' along by RWD. You can 'feel' where the power is coming from whether it's FWD or RWD. Now if the New Continental has the new AWD that can send most all power to the rear wheels on hard acceleration, then that will work. Lincoln is getting the age group down based on new models coming out, but to get below 40, Lincoln will need a RWD coupe, convertible and sedan, and bring Sport to the Lincoln brand. Even with the launch of the New Continental, Lincoln will still be your 50+ parents car brand.
I'm too lazy to watch. Did he say anything new, exciting, or vaguely suggestive?
It was very interesting, worth the 26:48 minutes it'll take you.

^
Nope, pretty much everything we have already known or speculated on.
So in retrospect, after thinking about the interview a bit more, we got Zero out of it....lol
True, but just reading a story or information it is so one-dimensional, when you hear it directly from one of the main guys in charge; you just a much better understanding of the words; what the thought process and reasoning is, what is important what is not, what is concerning and what is not.

It also helps you understand if the guy is just delivering a message, or if he really knows, understands and believes said words.
^ :thumb:**

Same here with the RWD aspect. I drive two RWD and one FWD cars on a regular basis, and it's my 3-Series that I want to drive the most. Being 'pulled' along via FWD is no comparison with the rush of power being 'pushed' along by RWD. You can 'feel' where the power is coming from whether it's FWD or RWD...
I've had both Rwd and Fwd tho never more than one at a time
...
...can see how that'd
- make the difference stand out more
- maybe keep one from getting used to either


...Now if the New Continental has the new AWD that can send most all power to the rear wheels on hard acceleration, then that will work. Lincoln is getting the age group down based on new models coming out, but to get below 40, Lincoln will need a RWD coupe, convertible and sedan, and bring Sport to the Lincoln brand. Even with the launch of the New Continental, Lincoln will still be your 50+ parents car brand.
[ V-Awd rant ]
I still expect the Conti to switch to cD6 [ V-Awd rant ] Dunno o'course which wheels will drive it [ V-Awd rant ]...

getting BELOW 40 for an AVG I don't think is even desirable
(somewhere we have a chart of the avg for all Lux brands)
((Mr.G *did* say the new X will reach down into the mid-40's))

for a coupe [ V-Awd rant ] and ALL other Lincolns, Lux vehicles in general [ V-Awd rant ] imho AWD is MUCH More important
[ V-Awd rant ]
[ V-Awd rant ]
[ V-Awd rant ]
more re: video**
I enjoyed his description of the 3 key perspectives/pillars esp. how 'Brand' has (largely) to do with Communicating and
Experience has to address every point of contact, in every sense, from materials to 'interactions'.
Also his "sharing a fueltank" for commonality that No One cares about &
SHOULD NOT be Unique
:thumb:
+ a lot of the questions were poorly phrased/un-thought-out since
instead of his "if there's a business case..." or
even "a decision much closer to launching...";
he might have said "it doesn't make sense to commit or talk about _ _ _ , it's too early"
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What is it that our customers need and then coming back to design.

But going in our assumption is not to have RWD for the sake of RWD.
I got a different view to the interview than most here, the focus is on the broader Luxury market and buyer,
not just on the sports buyer who want performance and edgy design, Lincoln is about elegant design and
the whole product and customer experience together.

Don't hold your breath for any RWD cars...
C'mon Ford, just switch Aviator for MKT already.....

A mini expansion at CAP to make it all Explorer, Aviator PIU and PI
Move the Taurus over to CD4 with Continental and call it done deal.
I didn't really take the question as baiting. The question was really quite negative in regards to Cadillac, they acknowledged the fact that they're building the best cars in their history and yet the sales do not reflect that investment.
Up 9.1% so far this year, not sure what everyone expected, doubling their sales in 1 year?!
C'mon Ford, just switch Aviator for MKT already.....

A mini expansion at CAP to make it all Explorer, Aviator PIU and PI
Move the Taurus over to CD4 with Continental and call it done deal.
I have to agree.

He mentioned 'market equity' in the brand.
I doubt that applies to MKT.
Kumar did not mention MKT in their 'strong SUV' lineup.

The thing that struck me about the interview is that the journalists were savvy enough to ask all the questions I think we all wanted asked. There is a great deal of awareness that I didn't expect since I get the impression that Lincoln has largely been forgotten. It might be a Detroit thing but I'm glad to see it.

The interview reaffirmed what we know about Lincoln and their strategy but also gave us a language and ethos we were lacking before. The big revelation to me was Kumar's analysis of the ad campaign which has been successful in key areas (brand recognition and retention, positive impressions and viral inter-demographic spread). We also found out that Lincoln's average customer age is down to 58 from 67 and the average industry is at 55. So Lincoln has made progress in ways we don't hear about.

He was even asked about the change in design leadership. All good stuff.

As far as Caddy goes, I'm sure Kumar has a more sophisticated perspective on what Caddy is doing and where it's going but he isn't going to be put in a position to defend or defame Caddy. Again, professionalism reigns supreme (no holy water needed!)
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C'mon Ford, just switch Aviator for MKT already.....

A mini expansion at CAP to make it all Explorer, Aviator PIU and PI
Move the Taurus over to CD4 with Continental and call it done deal.
:thumb:!
a nother rant of mine that's getting old , ...& nother Link & 'nother:

- no factory changes needed (afaik)
- stay in Oakville
- once the MKS(face) is no longer on sale...
- take the front end** of the new MKX (or its Next Face ^ 'X19')
- roll it across to the Flex assembly area
- & STICK IT ON
same width from what I google
- the rest is mostly skins out&in


edit
...Don't hold your breath for any RWD cars...
I'm holding mine anyway ... :merlogo:
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4
a nother rant of mine that's getting old , ...& nother Link & 'nother:

- no factory changes needed (afaik)
- stay in Oakville
- once the MKS(face) is no longer on sale...
- take the front end** of the new MKX (or its Next Face ^ 'X19')
- roll it across to the Flex assembly area
- & STICK IT ON
same width from what I google
- the rest is mostly skins out&in


edit
I'm holding mine anyway ... :merlogo:
2b2 can you try this chop with the new headlights?? With those MKT headlights I still see the current model haha
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2b2 can you try this chop with the new headlights?? With those MKT headlights I still see the current model haha
...by your command :XylonSmilie:
tho very quickly done

and cuz I'm not crazy about the ContiConc HLs

Attachments

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think THIS is sorta necessary to post
Buick = $780 million
Lincoln = $893 million
Cadillac (minus ATS&CTS) = $1.753 billion
which looks^ like Lincoln is closer to Buick but
using volume (2014) then
avg. per 'capita'
Buick ........ $03,406 * 228,963
Lincoln ..... $09,452 * 094,474
Cadillac ... $10,266 * 170,750
shows less than one thou$and (6%) more in revenue (relative)
between a Lincoln & a CADILLAC
between a Lincoln & a ^ who ^
we've all heard has spent multiple(s) of $10Billions
+
Lincoln is UP +9.1% 2015ytd, +15.6% all2014
while
Cadillac is only +1.7% 2015ytd, & DOWN -6.5% all2014

edit - meant to include some of Paul's back-story figurin' from GMI
( these are base-price to base-price )
MKZ costs 59% more than the Fusion ($13,080)
MKT costs 48% more than the Flex ($14,110)
MKS costs 44% more than the Taurus ($11,795)
MKC costs 44% more than the Escape ($10,160)
Navi costs 36% more than the Exp ($16,485)
MKX costs 36% more than the Edge ($10,000)
before
Lincoln_times +15%____*+10%
2014 = 94.5k
2015 = 108.6k____104k
2016 = 125k______114.3k
2017 = 143.7k____126.7k
2018 = 165.3k____138.4k
2019____________152.2k​
so barring cataclysm(/new president)
looks like the U.S HALF of Lincoln's 300k Global Sales will happen by 2020...
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...by your command :XylonSmilie:
tho very quickly done

and cuz I'm not crazy about the ContiConc HLs

Appreciate the chops 2b2 but I really think
Lincoln could get more "sex appeal" from a squarer body like Flex but with that new grille.
That kinda remindes me of Gen 1 Navigator and my Flex based MKT would be NAV's "mini me"..
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^ how about these first 2 links from above, Jpd?
I've done lots of rants and quite a few quickiechops - with puter deaths, hard to keep track or re-find them all
...by your command :XylonSmilie:
tho very quickly done

and cuz I'm not crazy about the ContiConc HLs

I'd venture that the grille would be somewhat larger on the CUVs (Not Lexus/Audi huge, but modestly larger)
...by your command :XylonSmilie:
tho very quickly done

and cuz I'm not crazy about the ContiConc HLs

thanks!!!
It looks better IMHO, the new headlights are nice!
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MKT was the elephant in the room that no one at Autoline wanted to discuss...off limits?

I think it's a very touchy subject at Ford, they know Retail don't like it and neither does fleet.
Even sticking the continental grille onto the front of it would be something...

As seen in the above chops, getting the headlamps right is key to making the marriage work..
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