The Truth About What Lincoln is Doing Right Now

"ptak appreciates old racecars" (racecarptak) 10/08/2014 at 12:51 • Filed to: lincoln

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An open letter to the armchair experts, from an armchair expert.

*all pics belong to Lincoln

Before the mouthbreathers crash this thread with pictures of mid-'60s Continentals and "build THIS, Lincoln!!11!1!1!!!", I think it's important I explain the naming, which apparently has confused said mouthbreathers for many years.

MKZ = mid-size Fusion-based sedan
MKC = Escape-based crossover
MKX = mid-size Edge-based crossover
MKS = full-size Taurus-based sedan
MKT = crossover wagon SUV hearse thing

And yet you can remember "ATS", "CTS", "DTS", "STS"?

Moving on. If we take the beginning of their rebirth as the production of the new MKZ in March 2013, that makes 1½ years since then. You expect your RWD flagship S-class killer Continental now? Do you realize how ridiculous that is?

Cadillac, which is getting rave reviews right now, took more like 10-15 years to get where they are now. Lincoln has only begun. And they're doing well. The MKZ has been selling faster than it can be supplied, the MKC is primed to hit the crossover segment hard at the best time possible, the all-new MKX is coming next year, they're working on an MKS/MKS replacement, the next Navigator in two years will likely be built out of aluminum and despite the commentary the company has a sharp design language. They also officially said they might make a Mustang-based car, and they officially confirmed a full-size sedan by 2016, which is likely to be the MKS replacement, known internally under the codename "Continental".

Lincoln will rise again, like Cadillac, and your RWD flagship sedan will come too. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it will. Give them time.

JR1 > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 12:57

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As I have said before I will believe it when I see it. They have the design language down now they just need to build a proper luxury car to go along with it.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 13:01

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I certainly hope so.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 13:06

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This is the only modern grille I hate more than Buick's new stuff.

C'mon, Ford. You finally made your truck grilles look decent, now get Lincoln (or are they an independent company now?) to stop imitating baleen whales.

ptak appreciates old racecars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/08/2014 at 13:11

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They actually changed their "baleen" grille to the "angel wings" grille.

Each side frames the logo, see? Looks like wings stretching outwards. In any case the "baleen" grille was inspired by Lincoln's pre-war "waterfall" grilles.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 13:24

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Aaah, that's a massive improvement. I actually like it.

GeorgeyBoy > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 13:27

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When people say they should be like Cadillac: Lets see, copying Cadillac is like copying BMW, which is competing against Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti. How many wealthy people are there in the world, we already don't have a middle class.

Lincoln is entry level/near luxury, they said this when they released the MKS. They aren't failing at competing with the Germans, they NEVER were competing with ze Germans. They are in a much better segment with less competition. Further more, with Cadillac's move further up market, Lincoln has a chance to move up market, (No not where Caddy is going).

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 13:49

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How did Caddy end up bouncing back so much faster than Lincoln?

I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 10/08/2014 at 13:55

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During perhaps GMs worst period in history, no less! Ford is at their peak, with no sign of slowing down, and look at what they're producing now... I'll believe these rumors about Lincoln when I see them

GeorgeyBoy > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 10/08/2014 at 14:04

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Bankruptcy. Ford saw the bad first, canceled the DEW98 platform, laid off, sold off, etc. GM kept pumping in more money allowing the next gen CTS and similar platforms. USA bailed them out, rest is history. If Ford didn't restructure chances are they would've had to be bailed out, they might of kept Jag and Land Rover for far longer allowing further development of the LS. So Lincoln more or less would be like Caddy. No telling how the market would've reacted to 2 domestic competitors to the Germans.

Rock Bottom > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/08/2014 at 14:13

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I wish somebody (looking at you, Lincoln) would go back to building comfy couch-mobiles. I'm talking about bench seats, column shifters, cruise-ship-esque steering feel, overstuffed seats, lots of real wood, and the softest ride you can imagine. I want to be isolated from the outside world (and the road) as much as humanly possible. I want to relive the glory of early to mid 70s American luxury.

Do I also want to have fun in a car? Yes, but not all the time. I'm a Lincoln driver. I can afford to have another car to take out on Sunday afternoon and drive like I'm 49 again. But when I need to be at work at 8:00 am for a board meeting, I don't want to arrive disheveled and fatigued. I want to be confident my coffee won't be disturbed by a pothole. I want to be able to hear the hourly news on-the-8s on the AM radio without being bothered by wind and road noise. I want a couchmobile.

Oh, and rich Corinthian leather. I'd love some of that.

Unfortunately, I'm likely alone on this little island. I guess I'll have to settle for another Mercedes clone.

ptak appreciates old racecars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/08/2014 at 16:57

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Good! Awareness!

Snooder87 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/08/2014 at 19:59

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The new grill looks terrible in person though.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Rock Bottom 10/08/2014 at 22:08

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You're not alone. I think there's a huge untapped market for road pillows. There is nothing like floating down the road in total isolation. Rather than copy Cadillac and the Germans, Lincoln should offer the old disco-era Town Car experience.

Jedidiah > Rock Bottom 10/08/2014 at 23:16

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I want a luxobarge so badly.

Unless people start making new ones, then I'll always be buying used for dailys.

erikgrad > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 10/09/2014 at 08:06

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If we are looking at post-2009, GM already had a lot of development in the pipeline. I'm not sure exactly where you look to find the years of Cadillac neglect, but I suspect it is late 1990's-early 2000's? Lincoln's neglect is at least to the 1.5 years ago Raphy mentions (the other reboots were half-hearted), but the neglect may still continue. We'll see.

RazoE > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 10/09/2014 at 11:29

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The Escalade.

pip bip - choose Corrour > ptak appreciates old racecars 10/11/2014 at 09:20

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all new Lincolns look ugly , restyle the nose only