Lincoln Continental Coupe.
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As far as we know, there isn’t much of a future for Lincoln. Sure, their current models are usually getting pretty good reviews. All SUVs of different sizes. The whole brand ended up selling around 112,000 of them last year in the US. Not bad, but not that much more than Mercury in its last year with 93,000.
The redesigned Nautilus is currently their best seller. However, it is now imported from China. That means it will either be discontinued in the US or be burdened with enormous tariffs pretty soon.
Why not take a look at something more refreshing: what a next-generation Lincoln 2-door Continental Coupe, could look like?
The first of the “Mark” series was the 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II, priced at the equivalent of $112,000 today. After 1957, other models used the name Continental Mark III in 1958, Mark IV in 1959, and Mark V in 1960. These were much cheaper than the Mark II and unlike the original, not handmade. They have all mostly been forgotten since. Especially when Ford decided to relaunch the Mark Coupe series in 1969 with the Mark III.
A new Lincoln Mark IV came out in 1972, a redesigned Mark V in 1977, and a smaller one called Mark VI in 1980. One that tried very hard to look like the previous huge generation in a smaller size.
A Lincoln Coupe revolution came in 1984 with the Lincoln Mark VII. A truly modern design by Jeff Teague. The Mark VII was a stand-out and became very popular. It also received many great reviews.
It was followed by an even more modern design for the Mark VIII in 1993. It was discontinued in 1998, and there has been no Lincoln coupe produced since. Which is a shame. However, numbers speak loudly, and while Lincoln sold over 30,000 units in 1993, less than half that found homes in 1998. By that time, the SUV craze was already in full bloom and the showbox shape had become more popular.
Of course, a new luxury coupe could still use the current Mustang Platform for a larger 2 door car. However, Ford has been hard at work developing a new low-cost EV platform that can be used for up to 8 all-new models. If Lincoln can stay alive until then, that platform could give hope for some new models.
Vince – Like you, I really miss big American luxury coupes. But there is almost no chance that we will be seeing them come back. Most Americans have no interest in buying one.
Lincoln could really use a powerful EREV coupe as the next Multimatic special, to go along with an EREV Navigatior. Aviator is best with a voltec type hybrid, also for cop Explorers. Plain hybrid for Nautilus and Corsair (more masculine design off the Bronco Sport). They have to win on designs. The only BEV Lincoln should get is a Model 3 fighter, and it should get called Mercury because it’s sub-Lincoln.
Where do you get off claiming there isn’t much of a future for Lincoln? Actually, there isn’t much of a future for anybody, what with the Chinese destroying everything in their path. I owned a MarkVII and hated its jelly bean styling, much preferring the 1969 Mark III I once owned.
Have had 2 MKZ hybrid/ love love them/ heard talk of new Continental hybrid mite come out/ I am in for that / thx Lincoln