Lincoln Continental Coupe?
Ford just announced a brand-new low-cost EV platform a few weeks ago. However, all they’ve been talking about so far is a new $30,000 pickup truck. And a compact SUV to follow. While mentioning the possibility of many other new models based on that same platform. And how about a new Lincoln car? Yes, a car. Not an SUV.
They did show a few 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.
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, it seems most new Ford products after next year will use that new platform.
Reviving the legendary “Continental” name for a new Lincoln would be great news to many. However, not that many would actually buy one…