Lincoln To REPLACE The Waterfall Grille, But What Does It REALLY Have To Do?

Lincoln To REPLACE The Waterfall Grille, But What Does It REALLY Have To Do?
When I think of a brand that really needs to differentiate itself from its parent company, only one marque comes to mind: Lincoln.

I mean, yeah, they have waterfall grilles -- though I can't see the waterfall -- and all, but there are much BIGGER problems than that. Why has Ford's Lincoln division been so slow to the punch on this one?

It's like covering a stab wound with a Band-Aid; the real problem will still bleed through.

Aside from striking out with the retro-inspired Continental Concept that never made production, what are some other ideas that could inject some life into this deteriorating brand?

You better believe if Cadillac gives the Ciel Concept the green light, once again another domestic manufacturer will steal an opportunity that Lincoln could have capitalized on.


Love it or hate it, Lincoln's waterfall grille is on the way out, according to sources familiar with plans for the updated MKS sedan and MKT crossover coming next spring.

One source said the MKS and MKT grille will be "completely different" from the current grille, which has been controversial. He said the new grille is "not as pronounced" as the waterfall and "more elegant...


[Source: AutoWeek]



Read Article

TauronB2GTauronB2G - 9/30/2011 12:12:05 AM
+7 Boost
Lincoln needs to bring technology back to the game. Ecoboost should be standard and the V8 needs to be in the MKS. They need to go back to names...nobody really knows the MKZST etc. Give the cars a name again. They need to pick a styling design and stick with it. Changing the grill every 3 years isn't going to help. Give the brand an identity and make them a technological force. They have to make it where a Lincoln is not only a great looking car but one that is really a best buy.
T


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 9/30/2011 12:56:32 AM
+3 Boost
Exactly. The problem with domestic luxury cars is no heritage. They are constantly changing design themes and names. Theres no continuity between generations. BMW continuously evolves their designs. The kidney grill, four round headlights, and the kink on the rear side glass are just a few examples. Even the style of the gauges on the instrument panel are evolutions of the design that cam out in the mid 80's. Its new but you can see the roots of the originals of many years ago. Ford started the 3 bar theme. Now that design is gone in only a couple of years. Lincoln went retro with its grills, now the waterfall, and now that is going to be gone. How can there be styling heritage without continuity. Cadillac has been using the same theme for their taillights for ages. You won't mistake a Cadillac for anything else from the rear. That is design heritage.


MorePowerMorePower - 9/30/2011 4:30:22 AM
+4 Boost
Changing the design of the grille is not going to help. Lincoln needs to be marketed at a younger audience instead of going after retirees(if there is such a thing anymore)!

Ford needs find out why their buyers jump to other brands, mostly foreign, instead of migrating to Lincoln for their next car purchase!


lewishamiltonpimplewishamiltonpimp - 9/30/2011 8:41:50 AM
+1 Boost
Change the name. Bring a car out like the Hyundai Genesis and then move over to that brand name.

I would never buy a car with Lincoln on the trunk. Call me a brand snob but they could put the name on a Ford GT and I'd have to think about it.


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 9/30/2011 1:41:11 PM
+2 Boost
The town car was no competitor to anyone. Sizewise it would be the Eqqus. Luxurywise everything is better. The Towncar doesn't even offer GPS!


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 9/30/2011 1:31:34 PM
+2 Boost
I would have boosted you but you called the 300 phenominal...Now way. Great for an American car? Absolutely but still pails in comparison to any luxury offerings from Europe.


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 9/30/2011 10:23:31 AM
-1 Boost
Like Acura Lincoln seems to lack focus and direction, they change their grills every couple years its like they are confused. Both brand are still far to close to Honda and Ford in the quality department and neither really offers a stand out reason to buy one over its competitors. Acura I think though is almost worse low grade plastics everywhere, silver tone trim all over the place, large amounts of bvious fake wood its like they are totally ignoring the competition after sitting in a new Acura I have no idea why someone would buy one over its competition that costs the same amount of money and has much better interior materials. They are somewhere in between a luxury car and a basic car.


1c3am51c3am5 - 9/30/2011 10:50:46 AM
0 Boost
The Mustang is the only Ford vehicle I'd consider, and that's based on its performance bang-for-buck. What holds me back is the teenager-appeal styling (which is what the Mustang SHOULD BE, just not for me).

If Ford wasn't so ashamed of the Mustang because of its live-axle (those are the negative opinions of people who know nothing about cars trying to sound smart by calling anything without IRS a truck) they would do a little wheelbase stretch and build a luxury near-supercar for $50K with very dramatic styling. Then their would at least be ONE car that Lincoln MKS, MKT, MRI, MSG, etc. owners could point to with pride.


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 10/2/2011 2:56:24 AM
+1 Boost
Live Axle isn't that bad in the mustang because it is designed for one thing traction off the line and Independent suspension is not as good off the line. Yeah its ancient technology but it does actually work better than one would think for the Mustang. I personally wouldn't waste my money on one but I can appreciate its purpose. I wan't a car that not only is fast and handles good but has great luxury, build quality inside and out, refinement, great steering feedback, brake pedal feel and an overall involving driving experience, and for me BMW, as unreliable as they can sometimes be at times, does it better than anyone else as far as putting it all into one package. I bet if they sourced their electronics from Japan they would be even closer to being the perfect car as reliability would be better. Every BMW I have had has been good, but I am a realist and as much as I love them If you are not a mechanically incline person or don't know where to get the parts for cheap, an out of warranty BMW can be very expensive to maintain. Then again so can a Cadillac.


1c3am51c3am5 - 9/30/2011 10:51:55 AM
0 Boost
* "there"


PlanBPlanB - 9/30/2011 11:10:37 AM
+2 Boost
Say cheese!!!


PLAYPLAY - 9/30/2011 8:27:49 PM
+2 Boost
The grille isn't Lincoln's problem. Their problem is they are simply selling re-badged Ford cars. They need a line of products that are distinct from what Ford is selling. Consumers are not going to pay such high prices for a vehicle that is basically a Ford with a nicer interior. Consumers expect a different vehicle that is luxurious and or more capable in the performance department. Personally, I think they need a sports sedan like the LS if they want to gain market share.


AutopinionAutopinion - 10/1/2011 12:14:01 AM
+1 Boost
Go big or stay home! Create a 21st century brand promise for Lincoln and deliver on it.


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 10/2/2011 3:03:09 AM
+1 Boost
If you line up the last 3 generations of the CTS you can see the evolution, just as you can other Cadilacs. Line up every generation BMW 3/5/7 and you see the evolution of the car. Lincoln can't hold on to a design theme for more than 3 years so how can anyone take them seriously. Cadillacs CTS is only on its 3rd generation and it has far more heritage and design evolution. Come to think of it, the Charger and 300 have evolved from their original. If you stripped the badging from them both they would still be unmistakable and easily identified as a Charger/300. Lincoln needs to pick a design theme and stick with it. Their current grill is actually not bad but they need signature body styling themes to match and evolve from.


Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC