Lincoln Town Car.

The illustration above shows what a new Lincoln Town Car could look like. If Lincoln was still interested in producing large luxury sedans instead of only SUVs…

For decades, the Town Car was everywhere. And the Navigator, with only 17,500 sold last year, has never really replaced it.

The name was first used in 1959 and 1960 as a luxury trim for the Lincoln Continental. And then used again as an option package a few years later. But the one we all know started life in 1981. It was an option on the 1980 Continental and became its own model in 1981. It was quite popular with sales going up to over 201,000 units in 1988 alone!

A second generation was produced from 1990 to 1997. A third generation came out in late 1997, produced until 2011.

The photos above show the first-year designs of each generation. The top one was the most popular and was featured in so many 1980s films and TV series. It was a much smaller and more angular car than the 1970’s huge Lincoln Continental.

The second one was definitely a more modern take on a similar design.

The third and last generation was a complete departure, at least visually, with a much curvier design. Until 2003 when the Town Car received an all-new front and rear end design. Something that looked much more conventional than the almost weird oval grille of the 1988 model.

Of course, Lincoln doesn’t really have a large car platform they could use for a new Town Car. With Ford canceling (for now) their large 3-row EV SUV, a large electric platform would probably have to wait a few years.

Meanwhile, Cadillac is pushing its EV transition with the new Ultium platform. And even working on 2 all-new sedans based on that platform. Lincoln seems so far behind that it’s almost sad. An all-SUV lineup in the US with a very timid approach to any form of electrification. While everyone else is pushing ahead.

Even Toyota will have 2 new 3-row EVs next year.