Lincoln To Axe MKS At The End Of 2016 - Is It Tme For A Rebirth Of The Continential?

New Rule for American Car Companies, NO MORE CONCEPTS...

This Continental should have been released at the start of the year when the 2 Heaviest hitters of the midsize luxury market are at their most vulnerable the E Class and 5 series.

Not to mention, although the S Class owns the Flagship market, the Continental may have what it takes to lure owners of the aging 7 series, A8 and LS models.

The problem with Lincoln and Cadillac is they execute these concepts one model generation behind when they should, ultimately leading to a chronic case of catchup!

Ford has a nasty habit of introducing a car way way way before its on-sale date. Yes, I know the Continental was a concept but it isn't really.

A better ploy would have been to surprise the public with the introduction of the Continental with a speedy on-sale date. That would have been a game changer.

I do think the Continental will sell very well and further that it will be worth the wait.

Hopefully they retire all the MK names. And come out with The Continental nameplate. Followed right away with a new Mark VIII, and with a all new Navigator & premium small crossover. And all with Tech/features you can't get on a Ford. And then, no dual branded stores with Ford.

I'd love to see:

Mark IX RWD halo coupe aimed at the big Mercedes coupe
Town Car / a formal Rolls Phantom shaped version of the Continental
Continental
Zephyr / MKZ
Sentinel / LincStang 2+2
Scepter / "Focus RS" sedan aimed squarely at the CLA and WRX STI
Navigator
Aviator / MKX
Mariner / MKC (yeah yeah yeah I know that's a Mercury name)

Don't forget the Navicross or Navitmer for the MkT. I think the town car name should die at this point...sorry.
T

And I wanna see a new dealership experience. Not the typical one where you see row's & row's of the same cars. With being an american build car. You walk in, you'll have a few demo cars of each model. Then you sit down with someone where you select from vast selectoin of paint & interior trimings (woods, leather/suede) options. The car is built and delivered in a quick manner (give or take within a month, not 3-4months)

Then the dealer can really focus on high luxury service, plush environment to buy a car.

Lincoln is definitely TRYING to improve their dealer experience.

Many Lincoln stores have upgraded furnishings and decor so that it's not a "Ford" dealer. If you're trying to attract people with six-figure incomes, the store has to look that way as well.

Granted, having articulate, well-groomed, and knowledgeable sales people is key. The sales people should wear well-tailored clothes that are from quality brands. And Ford may need to pay for clothes.

Moreover, with wealthy clients you let the client tell you s/he is ready to talk numbers. People of that caliber know they can do the deal. I've seen a 7 Series put on a credit card without any discussion of numbers.

If I were Ford, I'd be targeting a dealer like Rusnak in Pasadena to have a Lincoln store that is next to their Maserati, Porsche, et. al. dealers. Rusnak is an amazing business. I can only dream of that gravitas.

Getting Lincoln into some key dealers that have multiple premium brands at one location would teach Lincoln a lot about how their targeted customers should be treated.

Order, build and deliver within a month? What planet are you from?

And seriously...these old Lincoln names are just that...OLD...the only people who will recognize them are too old to drive any more...and younger people will remember the crappy Continental's that their grandparents drove in the 80s...hardly a legacy you want to revive!

I predict Lincoln's sales with SOAR with names. The interest in the Continental is massive.

You are both right...Lincolns names, continental, zephyr and town car are old as hell...nobody wants them they sound like old man cars. But the Navigator, Aviator, Mariner type names work. I could see a Sentinel too. You'd have to come up with a good name to replace the Mark 8...9...etc but the older names should be retired.
T

Here is what these names conjure up:

Navigator = bloated Dinosaur
Aviator = had to Google this one...could not even remember it existed
Mariner = Mercury = over-priced Ford counterpart with a lot of useless body cladding

Yes...interest in Continental is probably massive...need to replace all those airport limousines!

Your check from Jockitch De Nysschen is in the mail. He appreciates your Lincoln bashing.