1964 Lincoln Continental Convertable on 2040-cars

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Lincoln Continental sent 'into the vault' ... again

Ford confirmed today that the Lincoln Continental will be discontinued for North America after the 2020 model year. The news certainly isn't surprising given the Continental's meager sales figures, lukewarm critical reception and the fact that the Navigator has resoundingly entrenched itself as the brand's true modern flagship. "The name will go back into the vault," Lincoln spokesperson Angie Kozleski told the Detroit Free Press. "It has a long and rich history. But production for this vehicle will be ending at the end of this year." In an official statement, the brand said the decision was due to the continued decline of full-size premium sedans in the United States. The Continental is built in Flat Rock, Mich., and dates back to 2017 when Lincoln resurrected the nameplate after a 15-year hiatus. The car itself technically replaced the unloved MKS in Lincoln's lineup, and although based on a well-received concept car, the actual production model failed to live up to the rather grand style statement that had been promised. The interior in particular was a letdown. Lincoln sold 6,586 Continentals in 2019; likely many of those were fleet sales. Nevertheless, it can be argued that this Continental triggered Lincoln's rebirth. It was named something, for starters, as the Nautilus, Aviator and Corsair would eventually follow, signaling the end to the unloved and confusing MK nomenclature. And although it didn't live up to its concept, Lincoln at least learned from the episode and didn't repeat the mistake with Navigator or Aviator. They came as promised.  Though it's dead in the U.S., the Continental will live on for 2021 in China, where its sales are in decline but not by as much. And although it'll likely be remembered as a footnote in the long history of cars named Lincoln Continental, and with few fans in its corner, at least it reaches the end of the line having left a mark. Cue the Traveling Wilburys.  This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2017 Lincoln Continental: Detroit 2016 View 17 Photos Plants/Manufacturing Lincoln Sedan

RWD Lincolns are coming, fate depends partly on MKZ success

The product portfolio at Lincoln may seem a bit sparse at the moment, but if a report is to be believed, new products are on the way. TheDetroitBureau.com spoke with sources at Lincoln and Ford, who claimed the American premium brand is working on, perhaps more than one, rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
Lincoln would likely platform-share with the next-generation Ford Mustang to develop those RWD offerings in the early going. Moving forward, the report indicates that Lincoln could take the lead on other rear-drive projects in the future. As the RWD architecture continues to take shape, "most or all" of the front-wheel-drive portfolio will also be offered with all-wheel drive as an option, ala Audi.
But wait, there's more! The report also suggests that a replacement for the full-size MKS is on the way, as well as a new Navigator and a luxury crossover based on the current Ford Escape.

2017 Lincoln Continental spied on the inside

We just saw the lightly camouflaged exterior of the 2017 Lincoln Continental a few days ago, and a new set of spy shots now give us an even better look inside the upcoming luxury sedan. Where the outside largely brings the concept's design to the road, the production interior shows far more compromises. Rather than the expanse of blue leather and Alcantara upholstery, Lincoln's stylists tone things down with a mostly black cabin. While less overwhelming than on the showcar, there's still no shortage of chrome because strips of the shining metal outline nearly every surface. Wood accents also help add some visual interest. The general cabin layout remains close to the concept. The infotainment system gets prime position near the top of the center stack, and the buttons for the transmission sit vertically on the left side of the screen. The design then flows to an angled console that features physical controls for things like the radio and HVAC. These photos provide another view at the nearly undisguised exterior, too. The Lincoln emblem at the front is chrome on this test car, and you can now spot more shining trim underneath the grille. Also look close for a better view of the door handles along the beltline. We expect the full reveal of the production Continental at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Related Video: