No Swagger: The Big, Boring Lincoln Continental Concept

"puppyknuckles" (puppyknuckles) 04/05/2015 at 22:30 • Filed to: lincoln, continental, nyias

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At last year’s New York International Auto Show, Lincoln’s was arguably the best looking display. They built a beautiful brand statement – elegant, upscale, sexy, pleasantly retro – and then filled it with the most forgettable cars you’ve ever seen. Look at this line up and then tell me that you could muster up a single shit about any of these cars:

And the names? MKS. MKZ. MKC, MKX, and MKT. I’m not making this up. The cars are so mind-blowingly homogenous that I genuinely feel sorry for the marketing department, who do seem to occasionally have their finger on the pulse of the Mad Men vibe that Lincoln could wear so well.

You want to root for Lincoln. The brand has been part of the American landscape for almost a century. So the announcement that there would be a flagship concept car reveal at NYIAS 2015 got people paying attention. Then when Lincoln revealed that the car would be the new Continental, the most revered name in the brand’s history, the buzz became as loud as the neon signs on the Las Vegas strip. Would this new car let Lincoln swagger through the crowd, drink and cigarette in hand, bow tie undone, and sit once again on their rightful throne as America’s true luxury bad ass?

Sadly, no.

The Continental concept is a big, boring hulk of a car, the automotive equivalent of the navy blue business suit. The design is tidy enough, and it does have some beautiful lines, but Lincoln is playing it safe here. The lights on the front and rear look like they were ripped straight off of an Audi, the body cribs heavily from Bentley. Maybe !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The interior is insanely plush, however, which is a nice nod to the luxury cars of days gone by. Most damningly, though, the Continental simply lacks presence (the number one essential ingredient for any status-mobile), a neat trick considering its truly gigantic size. The best thing I can say is this car looks like a great place for a nap.

Ford CEO Mark Fields has said that the business plan for the new Continental hinges significantly on the Chinese market, which may explain the conservative design. That’s too bad. The Continental is an American icon, and it could have been the shot of true character that Lincoln needs. At least this Lincoln will have a real name.

Originally published on puppyknuckles.com:

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Matthew Phillips > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 22:37

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You know what, you're right. I've been torn as to why this Ford guy is drawn to the CT6 more and that's simply because the CT6 looks American and not a mix of everything else.

puppyknuckles > Matthew Phillips 04/05/2015 at 22:43

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Couldn't agree more. Cadillacs currently don't look like anything else. They look like Cadillacs.

I can't get that ATS-V out of my head.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 22:46

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I really, really want Lincoln to make a proper come back like Cadillac has. Yes, I myself am a Cadillac man, but even though they say they're fighting the Germans at the big executive luxury car game, in my opinion Cadillac NEEDS Lincoln to succeed on their home shore. That competition from another domestic brand is what keeps these cars great for years. Once those pesky Germans came they, Cadillac and Lincoln, kinda wavered. Now is the time for Lincoln to return to those glory days, not just Lincoln, but the entire US Auto industry. It's time for our cars to be those that the new generation of auto enthusiast looks up to and dreams about owning. Now that's not to say they can't lust after imports but the US industry needs a stark revival to be a big global power again, and not the joke it had become for years.
I guess I kinda went away from my original message here but I think the point is made.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 22:46

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The fuck is all of this?

Vicente Esteve > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 22:50

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I don't exactly agree since I think they will look much better out on the road.

Also, I have a weird want of seeing them muddy.

Quadradeuce > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 22:50

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The MKZ is a legitimately nice car. Maybe not worth MSRP, but super damn tempting on the used market. I feel like it's similar to the first generation CTS in that it's a step in the right direction. I am rooting for Lincoln, and I'm a GM guy.

Matthew Phillips > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 22:54

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great pictures by the way, do you do the professionally ?

JR1 > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 23:05

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Styling is subject. Let me ask how many people were crowded around this "boring" car. Anything with this much chrome can hardly be considered boring to me.

I love the photos you took. Seriously top notch stuff

puppyknuckles > Matthew Phillips 04/05/2015 at 23:08

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Thanks! I've been working at photography for a couple years, and am just getting some actual work recently. Hope to get some more, especially when cars are involved.

area man > puppyknuckles 04/05/2015 at 23:13

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Nice shots! What are you using?

puppyknuckles > JR1 04/05/2015 at 23:14

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Thanks!

It still did really draw a crowd, I can't deny that. I would love to see the original concept drawings. I have a feeling this is watered down pretty hard.

puppyknuckles > area man 04/05/2015 at 23:20

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Nikon D750, some Nikon f2.8 zooms, and a Nikon 85mm 1.4

desertdog5051 > puppyknuckles 04/06/2015 at 00:08

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I wholeheartedly disagree with you. The Continental has always been about 'nice, classic, subtle styling' and elegance. Not like the Cadillac Elmiraj. Lincoln left that to the Mark series in the past. The lights are not ripped off of an Audi. They are distinctly Lincoln if you look closer. LED lights have become a distinct styling element and not just a functional bulb and reflector. Next thing is you will tell me the classic Lincoln cross/star in the headlights is a rip off from something. A grille that Bentley says they stole, give me a break. Some of the same cues, but hardly a rip off. Sort of like saying the Fusion grille is a rip off of the Aston Martin. Some similarities, yes. Copy, no. Beautiful styling does not always happen in one place. There is always overlaps between designers. How fast the manufacturers bring it to market is another thing.

Groagun > puppyknuckles 04/06/2015 at 00:12

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I'm not sure I totally agree but the real shame will happen when this car actually hits the show room floor and the roads of China and America. It wont look like this and the star of the show, the interior I fear will be totally neutered.

In the end I fear it will end up in a very sad list of concept cars that should have been made. Examples like these:

Forgot one:

Andrew T. Maness > puppyknuckles 04/06/2015 at 00:41

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Great photos Dave!

Couldn't agree more on the styling but at least you made it look good.

Matthew Phillips > puppyknuckles 04/06/2015 at 06:42

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what are you using, undo photography as a hobby, but in still using entry level equip when I'm not being lazy and using my phone. Canon(650)T4i with the standard 18-55 and a STM Zoom lense

puppyknuckles > Matthew Phillips 04/06/2015 at 07:23

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I use a Nikon D750 and a variety of mostly Nikon lenses, like the f2.8 zooms, and I had a 85mm f1.4 with me as well.