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Lincoln Continental Coupe.

Lincoln’s parent company, Ford, just announced work on the new low-cost EV platform a few days ago. However, all they’ve been talking about is a new $30,000 pickup truck. While mentioning the possibility of many other new models based on that same platform. And how about a new Lincoln car?

They did show a few low-rez silhouette illustrations of these other possible vehicles, and all of them seemed to be SUVs or trucks. I truly think there is a market for something else out there. And a market for a new Lincoln car or two.

The whole brand ended up selling around 112,000 SUVs last year in the US. Not bad, but when you think of it, not that much more than Mercury in its last year with 93,000.

The redesigned Lincoln 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. Ford also announced that the Escape and its Lincoln cousin, the Corsair, will be phased out next year since that factory will be making the new EV pickup. That means Lincoln might soon lose their 2 best-selling models.

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 the new low-cost EV platform, and it seems most new Ford products after next year will use that new platform.

Conversation 21 comments

  1. Vince, I think you have a winner with this design. Expand upon this, because that rendering is pretty darn sweet. The 60s era Continentals deserve to be brought back with a modern twist. We need some suicide doors to really bring back the vibe.

  2. Exactly what a new Lincoln should look like although, I’d like to see it with a more formal roofline and suicide doors for the complete package ! Really nice design unfortunately, the brass at Ford are too short-sighted or, just plain stupid to do something this smart ! They’ll just keep cranking out hugely inferior, problematic and shitty suv’s !!

  3. Please hire on with Ford/Lincoln. Remind them what classic Americana automobilia looks like. Maybe they’ll realize that NOT EVERYONE wants to drive a Silly Ugly Vehicle (SUV). Your rendering of the Continental is inspiring to say the least. Thanks!

  4. I would love to purchase a Lincoln sedan with the suicide doors at a reasonable price in a beautiful sky blue exterior with peanut butter interior. I hope one day they make one so I can buy it and I am a senior citizen, but I do like to ride in style.

  5. An American Sedan with a traditional powered engine and classic style would reinvent the Lincoln brand! Your picture is the right place to start! Put me on the order now list!

  6. My MKZ is getting long in the tooth – and I’d LOVE to have a new car. Coupe or sedan. With style!

  7. I like it and I’d buy one. I’ve always love the classic 1956 two door Mark! This could have a similar allure. Let’s see it happen!

  8. Wow is a word that comes to mind. My eyes welled up looking at that beautiful classic made for the future. Ford, make yourself a lot of money and make hundreds of thousands Americans happy. Build it and we will buy. But we are all to familiar with what might as well be so many companies logo, “It just makes to much sense”.

  9. Another gorgeous tease that will never see production. When Lincoln is gone people will say, “If they they had only built ……

  10. Your senior citizens are the ones who can afford a new Continental at almost any price. We’d like to have a quiet, comfortable ride over the roughest of streets. I live in a City with both rough cobblestone streets and modern streets filed with potholes and bumps.

    Surely there is a car out there that could meet both of those goals, and preferably an American made one. Lincoln has more experience than any other American manufacturer with what people really want in a luxury car – great ride, quiet interior, no complicated computers, great headlights, double pane electric windows for quietness, easy to use navigation systems, simple to operate A/C and defrost systems, great maintenance warranty, and easy access to the vehicle from the curb or street.

    If Lincoln can make a car that will meet these simple needs, tens of thousands of us will gladly buy it.

  11. Why not ask the people what we would like to have? My dream car has always been a Lincoln with suicide doors. I was blessed years ago and achieved a 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan equipped with suicide doors. Maybe reintroduce this like Chrysler did with the 300, the Challenger and Charger? Some old school with the new school. Perfect timing with the perfect named car. The Cosmopolitan was post-war, a reintroduced Cosmopolitan can be post-covid

  12. So tired of what look like generic toys with the Lincoln name on them. There are still many of us that remember and continue to want cars. My first new car was a 1978 Continental with the Town Car option. I still have it to this day. My preference is if it is a 4 door it is to be a Continental. If it debuts as a 2 door the Continental Mark series should be continued, making the next iteration in the series the Mark IX. Come on Lincoln, you can do this!

  13. Re-introduce the MKZ. I have one and really love it. I had a Continental, Mark VIII before this. The MKZ is smaller, but still has a lot of class. I looked at a 2018 MKZ, but it was not as roomy as the one I had (2009). I have been looking for a nice upgrade for about three years, but haven’t found the one I want.

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