[brucelinc]

Maybe they will add a vinyl top, whitewall tires and an 8 track player.

 

[Assimilator]

If this actually happens, it seems to me that it would be the greatest waste of time, money, and engineering that they could possibly do. I hope the Continental nameplate continues on a CD6 sedan and/or coupe but lengthening the current model and adding suicide doors does nothing to address the current car's shortcomings or move Lincoln's image in the right direction, imho.

I would still be shocked if this product actually happens, it sounds like something GM would have done in the 80's or 90's when they were more interested in stunts than substance.

I just hope the new Aviator and Corsair give Lincoln the opportunity to start talking bout what's next. Right now the silence is deafening.

 

[AllenLincoln93]

I kinda agree that altering the current model would barely make a blip or make much of a difference for Lincoln. I know the Continental isn't an easy sell right now, but it truly deserves to be put on the new RWD platform the Aviator is getting. It would be a shame to discontinue it JUST as Lincoln FINALLY returns back to RWD! Put the Continental on the new RWD platform from the Aviator, have it be longer than the current version, offer the new plug in hybrid powertrain & interior from the Aviator, get the styling to look more like the Concept on the exterior plus suicide doors, and let it finally become a proper flagship that it deserves to be.

 

[falcon lover]

I kinda agree that altering the current model would barely make a blip or make much of a difference for Lincoln. I know the Continental isn't an easy sell right now, but it truly deserves to be put on the new RWD platform the Aviator is getting. It would be a shame to discontinue it JUST as Lincoln FINALLY returns back to RWD! Put the Continental on the new RWD platform from the Aviator, have it be longer than the current version, offer the new plug in hybrid powertrain & interior from the Aviator, get the styling to look more like the Concept on the exterior plus suicide doors, and let it finally become a proper flagship that it deserves to be.

I think the problem with the current Continental is not the product, is the market. The market for this kind of vehicle is very small today. No matter how good your product is, it will not sell in big numbers.

What Lincoln can do? Take the next RWD Aviator and make some variations of it. The first, a coupe version. After that, a low ride lower version more in line with a big crossover than with a SUV. And, finally, a tall sedan like the Mercedes-Maybach 3 box luxury SUV concept.

All this until to ride and be seeing in a luxury sedan will have being cool, again.

 

[brucelinc]

I agree that the market is soft for this type of car but I think part of the blame for the Conti's poor sales is the car itself. It just doesn't stand out in any meaningful or positive way. In addition to the styling being bland, it should have gotten the 8 speed automatic as soon as possible and they needed to refine the ride and sound insulation a bit more. Just being pretty good isn't good enough. Of course, Lincoln's image as an old man's car and the perception that is just a gussied up Ford are also negatives.

Further, maybe it is just me, but I find those Mathew McConaughey ads even more boring than the car, itself. IMHO, Lincoln marketing has to be among the very worst in the industry.

The Cadillac XTS continues to sell in far greater numbers than the Continental even in a soft market.

 

[Assimilator]

The Continental just arrived WAY too late and under developed, so much of this car made no sense to me when it came out. It was on an old platform running on outdated drivetrain tech at a time when Ford was getting ready to launch new platforms and drivetrains (transmissions specifically). And knowing the long lifespan of Ford and Lincoln products, this investment seemed like the wrong 8-year bet. Furthermore, it arrived at a time when it was clear that the sedan was obviously shrinking...which might explain why they seem to invest so little into the technology underpinning the vehicle. It's amazing what they achieved with a Ford platform but it's still very old school Lincoln, heavy on the luxury tangibles and light on the substance and technology. We are still trying to escape that superficial Lincoln and it's starting to get there but usually we only forget about it for a couple years and then we're back to realizing that not much has really changed at all. Lincoln's success still depends entirely on the quality of Ford's technology....And Lincoln just needs MUCH better designers and I hope they are scrambling on that.

 

[Andrew L]

I'm not in favor of them dropping the Contnental name or the sedan. What I think they should do as I have stated before is treat this as a true flagship like MB, BMW, and Audi and start to offer electrified powertrains that's how they are going to keep theirs. I dont think Volvo is going to give up on their S90.

 

[brucelinc]

While it may be on a modified Ford platform, they did do an impressive job with it. In terms of ride, refinement, sound and solidity, the Conti is vastly superior to a Fusion or MKZ. However, those are not the models we should be comparing it with.

 

[glyphics]

Lincoln has the opportunity to work with a clean sheet if Ford management would only allow it.

The Aviator platform should be the basis for a tall sedan, a big, imposing flagship of superior design. The Mustang platform (I'm presuming now that it is a scaled version of Aviator), should yield a 4-door luxury/sport sedan of impeccable taste and performance. These are high margin vehicles and their development should be ground-up Lincoln since Ford has abandoned these segments. Benchmark Rolls, Bentley and Maybach, slow down the assembly line and produce the finest sedans that fit the price range. Offer them loaded. Don't nickel & dime with option packages; offer options only for paint, interior materials and trim. OK, ok, two engine options as long as one is a V8. PHEV, standard, BEV in the future when the tech matures.

And make them beautiful.

At least GM has fronted some out-there Cadillac concepts that we can see, showing that there is a pulse in their design rooms. We don't know what stylistic ideas Lincoln designers are frothing over or if they're even allowed to dream. Ford management doesn't even have to foot the expense of building concepts. A few authorized rendering portfolios might give Lincoln fans some hope. Right now, nothing.

 

[LincolnFanFl]

To be honest, I don't get all the commotion about a suicide doors.

I never had them on a vehicle, never missed them and probably never want them.

This is something that won't determine the success of a vehicle.

 

[zipzoomflyfast]

To be honest, I don't get all the commotion about a suicide doors.

I never had them on a vehicle, never missed them and probably never want them.

This is something that won't determine the success of a vehicle.

It won't determine the success of a vehicle, but, it will get headlines and press - that is more of the goal.

 

[Bellanca4.2]

I really doubt a limited run of these cars would have more of an impact, than, say what the Navigator has.

 

[spudz64]

It won't determine the success of a vehicle, but, it will get headlines and press - that is more of the goal.[/QUOTE

Exactly, to remind folks of the Lincoln Continental heritage and legacy.

 

[Andrew L]

I still think electrifying the powertrain would help a ton with Conti sales specially in China where the latest tech would really push the Conti some more. Still seeing these numbers is troubling.

 

[brucelinc]

It won't determine the success of a vehicle, but, it will get headlines and press - that is more of the goal.[/QUOTE

Exactly, to remind folks of the Lincoln Continental heritage and legacy.

What is the point of reminding folks of how great Lincolns USED to be if they have no plans to continue the product?

 

[LincolnFanFl]

It won't determine the success of a vehicle, but, it will get headlines and press - that is more of the goal.

If it doesn't sell, it's just money down the drain.

If you want to make headlines, roll out the 'plug-in hybrid for every vehicle'-plan ASAP. This feature is what's going to set the Aviator apart from the competition.

 

[LincolnFanFl]

I still think electrifying the powertrain would help a ton with Conti sales specially in China where the latest tech would really push the Conti some more.

Bingo!:grin2:

 

[rmc523]

I think they are going to use it as a "halo" car. Something to grab headlines and be "cool" again. I think it might be a good strategy.

I think it's a mistake to throw suicide doors on the current model to try to generate interest.

The only appropriate way to do that is on a next-gen RWD model that can go head to head with the best out there, and include suicide doors (on all models, not one off versions). Doing that on the current one looks like putting band-aids on it.

Lincoln has the opportunity to work with a clean sheet if Ford management would only allow it.

The Aviator platform should be the basis for a tall sedan, a big, imposing flagship of superior design. The Mustang platform (I'm presuming now that it is a scaled version of Aviator), should yield a 4-door luxury/sport sedan of impeccable taste and performance. These are high margin vehicles and their development should be ground-up Lincoln since Ford has abandoned these segments. Benchmark Rolls, Bentley and Maybach, slow down the assembly line and produce the finest sedans that fit the price range. Offer them loaded. Don't nickel & dime with option packages; offer options only for paint, interior materials and trim. OK, ok, two engine options as long as one is a V8. PHEV, standard, BEV in the future when the tech matures.

And make them beautiful.

At least GM has fronted some out-there Cadillac concepts that we can see, showing that there is a pulse in their design rooms. We don't know what stylistic ideas Lincoln designers are frothing over or if they're even allowed to dream. Ford management doesn't even have to foot the expense of building concepts. A few authorized rendering portfolios might give Lincoln fans some hope. Right now, nothing.

I don't think Lincolns should come loaded, but there shouldn't be the completely stripped models we see.

---

As for concepts - what good does it do to produce drool-worthy concepts, and then produce none of them?

 

[Assimilator]

The Continental may just be a botched Lincoln investment and the new management may not be happy with its performance or returns and want it off the books pronto. But time will tell, the car is due for a refresh if it is sticking around and is overdue for some power plants upgrades. But at this point I'm inclined to believe Lincoln is not considering a sedan replacement for the Continental name and they may have pulled the maintenance funding just as they've done with the defunct MKZ.

 

[glyphics]

I think it's a mistake to throw suicide doors on the current model to try to generate interest.

The only appropriate way to do that is on a next-gen RWD model that can go head to head with the best out there, and include suicide doors (on all models, not one off versions). Doing that on the current one looks like putting band-aids on it.

Agree. Let's hope that there is a next-gen RWD model.

I don't think Lincolns should come loaded, but there shouldn't be the completely stripped models we see.

So many option packages are confusing, especially if you want a particular feature but have to buy other features that you could care less about. Loaded cars would simplify the assembly line and spread costs throughout the range.
---

As for concepts - what good does it do to produce drool-worthy concepts, and then produce none of them?

So why do BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Aston-Martin, Bentley, Jaguar ( ... naming them all would take too long) do it? Oh yes, these are the brands that have eaten away at Ford/Lincoln's market share over the decades (Remember when just about all we had to chose from was Ford, GM & Chrysler; the Big Three?).