Does Lincoln Have To Bring THIS Back To Win You Over?

Maybe. It could stir some excitement into the brand. While they're at it, please do a revival for the 60s Continental with suicide doors. That was one cool car!

That's essentially what the 2002 Continental Concept was...

Lincoln really doesnt have a car that from a competitive sense really stands out from the crowd except maybe the MKZ hybrid. Otherwise unless your only looking at lincolns why would you buy one after seeing what else there is out there to buy in the highly competitive luxuy car classes, Lincoln really needs a standout car something like that MKR concept(i think thats the name of it??) to bring attention to the brand otherwise I think they will continue to lose momentum especially since Cadillac moved past them years ago and Buick appears to be lining up more with Lincoln than cadillac.

Well, the problem is that from my perspective, most buyers do a helluva lot more research now and days, and have noticed that a highly-optioned Ford will suffice.

For example, does the new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid truly differentiate itself from the Ford Fusion Hybrid? From my eyes and on paper, no.

But 001 would know best considering he just drove it...

Ford/Lincoln started making huge mistakes with the last LS. The gave it detuned versions of the engines they used in Jaguars and they were fairly small cars.
They have the tendency to have a good two years on their cars then let them fall off into oblivion rather than continue making them better, like Ford has now done with the Mustang.
Instead of keeping good strong names they went to the MK (insert letter here) names like so many other brands (Acura for example). This hasn't worked well because the general public barely knows what cars they are talking about. Aviator sounds much better than MKX.
The next mistep was blowing the Navigator, yes its hideous. I think they've done a great job with the MKS and blown the Zephyr/MKZ. But, the MKS should have ecoboost standard and at the very least a V8 option. The MKZ front end just doesn't work. They also need to do a better job of differentiating it from the Fusion.
The MKT thingamajig was a beautiful concept that didn't quite translate well into production. They need to figure that out too.
I would like to see a Mark IX Coupe with good style and some guts too. Imagine if Lincoln could make a CL competitior for around half the price of a CL.
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The 2002 Continental Concept was something they should have brough to production as is. Lincoln had names that were recognizable like Continental, Avaitor, Navigator. Even the LS I liked in the first form with the V8. But they let them all slip away and wither. Then they started with new names (Zephyr) and out of nowhere a year later turned over to a alpha-numeric type of system similar of many luxury cars today. Trying to copy the Germans is not going to work, they have been doing that naming for eons and have built lineage on it. Even Infiniti had the AN system down with the Q, G, J, etc. People cannot distinguish one MK from another, it is too close. You don't see Infiniti with a G37 G38 G39. They have the G37 and an upcoming G25. The two numbers are VERY distinguishable. Chaning one letter does nothing but cause confusion.

Even as an enthusiast I can't tell or remember what Lincoln is called MKZ, MKS, MKT? They don't make sense. Aside from that, they need new design language. The front ends are looking nicer but they let all fail when you work to the back. Lincoln needs to get some identity instead of selling themselves as an upmarket Ford or trying to be like the edgy Germans. Make it American luxury like Cadillac is.

The platform that Ford intends to replace the Mustang with in 2013 should also be the platform that higher end Lincolns ride on. Wheeelbase can or should be able to be stretched. It's supposed to offer an independent suspension. Offering a modified Volvo based platform is not going to work when you compare it to Cadillac,BMW,Mercedes,Audi,Jaguar etc. If Lincoln intends on competing as a player then it needs to have the proper credentials. I would say RWD with optional AWD assist.Offer a combination of fuel efficients V8 engines from Mustang and F150 along with ECO Boost V6.No Lincoln model should share "any" platform with FWD Ford products. If you remember Jaguar produced the X Type with a Ford Mondeo chassis. Anyone who knew anything about Jaguars new it was a fake. Sales tanked.Styling wize I've nothing against the "waterfall" grill. I would, however, make it a bit smaller so it does not look like a cartoonish charactiter. Also bring back the classic Lincoln names. Mulally brought back the Taurus name because he felt it had become a brand. Continental and Mark are the brands for the modern Lincoln,not MKS,MKZ,Zepher etc.I also agree with Aviator and Navigator. These are names people are familiar with.By sharing a platform with the 2013 Mustang and tuning it to be a luxury ride would also save on development costs.

Ford doesn't have the resources to give Lincoln its own identity, so it will just keep selling re-badged Fords until there ain't no more blood in that turnip.

I'll take a MK III re-creation and a Hot Rod Lincoln with suicide doors, thank you!

I liked this concept. I almost forgot about it. I wouldnt mind seeing an updated version of the Continental Concept in production as their flagship and the MKR as their take on the "four door coupe" segment. Remember this?: http://www.carversation.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lincoln-mkr-concept-01.jpg

Just my opinion. I know many didnt take too well to the MKR.

I just saw an MKX, and not thank you, I rather have the Edge

Look it can be said that there is not enough money to go around to spend on Lincoln.It does cost Ford some cash to shut down Mercury. But at one point they have to face the music and decide if they want Lincoln to be a true player. Mulally has done some good things to help turn around Ford. They restructured their debt,they sold off all the luxury brands that Nassar had aquired,they are shutting down Mercury.Essentially they have simplified their products with Just Ford and Lincoln. This should start to help their cash flow. If Ford is dissatisfied with Lincoln sales then it needs to change course. Other then the hybrid MKZ,which is nothing more then a rebadged Fusion, Lincoln has nothing to really compete with Cadillac or the world Luxury car market. I would venture to say that the redone Chrysler 300 with its upgraded interior is more exciting looking and better to drive then any current Lincoln product.If it were not for it's ecoboost engines Lincoln, in my opinion, would be a total dud.Further I am surprised that Mulally has not brought back the classic Lincoln names such as Continental,keep the Towncar name and bring back a Mark Coupe based on the 2013 Mutang chassis(which I'm hearing is supposed to have IRS).I've heard that the RWD brings out poor fuel economy. Doesn't excessive weight affect fuel economy as well? The MKS and MKZ are not what you would call "featherweights". Fords Taurus weighs over 4000 LBS. This is totally ridiculous! So here's my plan for Ford and Lincoln. I've heard that the next Mondeo in Europe is going to be the next Taurus. So with the Ford side there are 2 ways to go. Share the Mondeo chassis with the replacement Taurus and Fusion by altering wheelbases.The smaller platforms are now in place and shared with Europe. The Mustang replacement and all Lincoln sedans share a platform,again in differing wheelbases. Further expand on the Mustang platform by building a Mustang sedan(how about "Fairlane" or "Galaxy") to compete with the larger Dodge Charger. Drop the names MKS and MKZ etc. and bring back one or 2 of the names already mentioned.Bring back the Navigator name and build it off the new Explorer platform.Lincoln would end up with 2 sedans and perhaps a coupe to more directly compete with Cadillac. Fuel economy can be achieved through effecient V8 with DI,Ecoboost V6 and inline 4 engines with 8 speed trannys.However I don't think Alan would listen to me.

Lincoln needs to build products that don't appeal only to individuals drawing social security or looking for a great discount on a used rental car.

It would also help if they upped their styling and design. Lincoln should not be afraid to create some inspirational designs that break from their corporate heritage or demographic base.