1967 Lincoln Continental Base 7.6l on 2040-cars

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Watch 14 hot rides take over concept car lawn at Pebble Beach

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is an annual celebration of the beautiful, old cars that grace Monterey Car Week. But Monterey – and Pebble – features lots of newer metal, too, and that includes the concept lawn at Pebble Beach. Now, "concept lawn" isn't a totally accurate name anymore, and you'll see why in the list below. This year especially, plenty of production cars can be found in the area once reserved for the conceptual. Still, we're happy to see them. Here's what's featured this year: Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Audi R8 BAC Mono Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Buick Avenir Galpin-Fisker Rocket Speedster Hyundai HCD-16 Vision G Coupe Icona Volcano Infiniti Q60 Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 Maserati Ghibli McLaren 570S Rolls-Royce Wraith By our count, that's seven concepts out of fourteen cars. But it still makes for one hot group of metal. Check 'em out in the gallery above. Related Video: Related Gallery 2015 Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn View 38 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style Alfa Romeo Audi Bentley Buick Infiniti Lamborghini Lincoln McLaren Porsche Concept Cars Videos Original Video Pebble Beach

The Zephyr could help Lincoln, seriously

The Zephyr could help Lincoln. The concept car revealed this week at the Shanghai Motor Show is gorgeous and a conversation starter. People noticed Lincoln.  The brand is quick to say the car, officially called the Zephyr Reflection Preview, is only intended for sale in China and what we’re seeing is a concept. In other words, donÂ’t get excited and donÂ’t read too much into the reveal. Why not?  Mercedes, Audi and BMW still do pretty well with sedans. So do Lexus and Cadillac. IÂ’m not saying Lincoln should line up three wide against the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class and try to go head-to-head. Just make one car, maybe complemented by a crossover variant, like the Volvo S60 and V60 Cross Country relationship. Tiptoe into the segment. Price it right, make it electric and see what happens. IÂ’ve argued Chrysler only needs a few models to become relevant again. Lincoln already has more than a few solid models. Lincoln is relevant. The Navigator is the superstar, and the brand has a respectable lineup with attractive design, solid powertrains and clever chassis setups (like the AviatorÂ’s independent rear suspension). Lincolns arenÂ’t more expensive Fords with flashier grilles anymore. Ironically, thatÂ’s exactly what the last Zephyr was — a gussied-up 2006 Ford Fusion — that lasted for one year before being renamed the MKZ. Ford Motor Co., including Lincoln, famously pivoted away from cars. That was a mistake. The Ford brand can compensate with Bronco Sports and Maverick pickups and maybe a crossover-wagon thing that sort of replaces the Fusion. Lincoln could use something beyond crossovers and SUVs. At this point, youÂ’re probably saying, “Uh, Continental, hello — Lincoln tried this." In fact, Lincoln has actually sold 768 Continentals this year as it sells off remaining inventory of the now-discontinued sedan. IÂ’d argue the ContinentalÂ’s demise wasnÂ’t due to its merits. ItÂ’s a pretty good car. It just had the misfortune of launching in 2016 as the market for sedans continued to shrink. The Continental was never going to be a volume play, but the measly sales figures it did achieve didnÂ’t justify its existence, even for a halo car. The Cadillac CT6, the ContinentalÂ’s domestic rival, met the same fate for the same reasons. Why would a new sedan fare any better? Lincoln didnÂ’t reveal the powertrain of the prototype, but an electric Zephyr sedan could bring in a whole new customer to the brand.

Matthew McConaughey returns in new Lincoln MKX ads

Matthew McConaughey is getting back behind the wheel of a Lincoln for a set of cool new ads for the MKX. Unlike his oft-parodied spots for the MKC, the latest ones eschew the easy-going actor's semi-philosophical musings in place of some smooth jazz, a mysterious story, and shots of the luxury crossover on the road. Separately, the three commercials are titled Welcome, Arrival, and Winning Hand, and they combine to tell a story of McConaughey getting ready for a game of poker. Of course, the MKX is meant to be the real star, and the spots show off its high-end tech, including a 360-degree camera, Revel Audio system, and hands-free parking. Keep an eye out for a cameo from a classic Lincoln in one of the ads. For really curious viewers, the automaker is also extending the story to its homepage to explain more about the people McConaughey is meeting. In addition to giving McConaughey and the MKX starring roles, there's A-list talent behind the camera too. Replacing Nicolas Winding Refn from the MKC spots for these is Gus Van Sant, best known for directing Good Will Hunting and Milk, plus recent BMW i8 videos. The new ads make their broadcast debut during college football games on Saturday, September 12 on ABC and re-air during NFL games on the 13th on CBS and Fox. However, you can get an early peek by watching the combined short film above. Let us know in Comments how you think they compare to McConaughey's MKC spots. Collaboration Between McConaughey and Lincoln Evolves in Spots for All-New Lincoln MKX Quiet Luxury, an understated yet compelling experience brought to life by the all-new Lincoln MKX, underpins a new series of television advertisements featuring Matthew McConaughey. All-new Lincoln MKX, representing the latest chapter for the brand, featured in new television advertisements with Matthew McConaughey Acclaimed director Gus Van Sant brings distinct cinematic style to these Lincoln MKX ads, which introduce new characters and storylines. The new spots debut during key college football matchups on Saturday, Sept. 12, on ABC. They can be seen again during NFL games on Sunday, Sept. 13, on CBS and FOX. "What appeals to me about this new series of ads is that while the overall Lincoln message remains consistent, the way it is delivered continues to evolve," said Matthew McConaughey.