Maybe a New Continental Is Exactly What Lincoln Needs

Unfortunately, Lincoln no longer offers a proper 4-door luxury sedan in North America. Of course, in the past, there have been a few rumors about a new luxury sedan from Lincoln, potentially using Ford’s new Universal EV Platform. Something that could easily become a new Continental.

With huge SUVs everywhere, it seems wealthy buyers still want a big vehicle to show off. Lincoln has the Navigator, of course, but it still looks like a shoe box. What the brand really need is a brand-new Lincoln Continental. Something larger and more impressive than the last efforts from 2017. A car that was never as popular as Lincoln expected. With sales falling all the way down to just 1,460 units, it clearly wasn’t fooling enough buyers either.

A true Continental should be a big car. Just like the new Dodge Charger, maybe even bigger than a Mercedes S-Class. But it should cost considerably less. personally think it should have some retro flair as well. With lots og chrome and wood inside as well. However, not the same as the super plasticky and cheesy chrome Lincoln had in the last Continental.

CEO Jim Farley has already talked about the possibility of using the new “low-cost” platform the company is working on for a new Lincoln model. “I don’t think we want to make an affordable hybrid as a Lincoln, but an affordable EV Lincoln, with over-the-top color choice and over-the-top interior customization would make sense.”

“Affordable” and “over-the-top customization” don’t necessarily sound like two things that go together, but what do I know… At least it seems Mr. Farley is actually thinking about Lincoln and what the brand could become. Maybe Ford is waiting to see how the new Lexus ES EV is doing before pulling the trigger.

In more recent generations, the Continental had become Lincoln’s smaller sedan, sold alongside the more traditional Town Car. Many were V6-powered, front-wheel-drive cars based on the same platform as the Ford Taurus. In my opinion, the great Jack Telnack-designed 8th generation looked very upscale and much more in line with what a proper Lincoln should be. The next generation tried hard to look more modern, almost like a four-door Mark VIII. By that time, however, the Continental was losing steam as the Town Car had become much more popular.

A return of a proper American luxury sedan would be something to celebrate. Something big, imposing, comfortable, and unmistakably Lincoln.

And why not…