A big name who is reborn in a beautiful way

Avto 19 March, 2018
  • Photo courtesy Ford
    New standard-bearer
    of the Lincoln brand, the
    new Continental offers
    an interior that is sumptuous and
    the mechanical performance.

    Jacques Welcome

    Sunday, 18 march, 2018 21:05

    UPDATE
    Sunday, 18 march, 2018 21:05

    Look at this article

    By launching a new Lincoln Continental as sophisticated, the american manufacturer Ford confirms its intention to revive its centennial brand of luxury vehicles and prestige.

    The sedans do not have it anymore. Rightly or wrongly, more and more motorists replace them with light trucks large and small, both in areas of great circulation among the luxury brands. However, consumers have not yet made the transition to these different types of vehicles.

    Last year, for example, in Lincoln dealerships in Canada, a buyer in five has opted for a automotive of this brand. Among these, 35 % have chosen the Continental, the new flagship of the brand, while the others were content with a MKZ, a sedan larger distribution (read : less expensive and less sophisticated).

    In figures, this portrait seems, however, less laudatory since they are only 576 Canadians who have selected one of these Lincoln Continental. This score seems thin when it is known that during the same period, more than 3,300 utilities Lincoln MKX have found a taker.

    Yet, the Continental is new model. Launched in September 2016, it should contribute to raising the profile of this centennial brand that Ford barely rise to the level of the German competitors ; the brands that dominate the market of luxury vehicles. It is clear that Ford management would like to do as well as Mercedes-Benz who, in the last year, has managed to sell 3930 E-Class and CLS, two direct rivals of the Continental.

    IMPRESSIVE, THIS CONTINENTAL

    Photo courtesy Ford

    For a modern look, the dashboard has an ergonomic layout. The small switches used to control the gearbox, however, would benefit to be replaced by a gear lever, the use of which would be less confusing.

     

     

    Ford, therefore, has a long way to go and the Continental is only a start to this recovery. But it must be admitted that the manufacturer of Dearborn has done his homework, because this great sedan deserves to fly on its flanks the famous name appeared at the turn of the 1940s.

    For Ford, the Lincoln Continental is now used as an alternative to these big guns that are Class C (the top-selling model of the luxury sedan category of medium size), but also the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 and A7, and the superb Volvo S90. Added to this is a variety of models more or less original, like the Cadillac CT6, the Jaguar XF, Acura RLX and Genesis G80, just to name a few.

    In the Face of this impressive range of models, in Canada, Ford offers only two versions of the Continental : the Select entry-level and Ultra luxurious. However, south of the border, our neighbors the united states are entitled to two times more variants : Premiere, Select, Reserve and Black Label.

    Similarly, for our market, all the Continental come with awd as standard equipment, which is, basically, is a boon to the buyers. After all, one day or the other, on a stroll in winter, which starts with sun and ends with an unexpected storm, they will appreciate its four-wheel drive.

    TWO SUPERCHARGED ENGINES

    Photo courtesy Ford

    The buyer of a Continental may replace the back seat by two seats more who are reclining, heated and ventilated !

     

     

    The choice of engines is also limited. The V6 naturally aspirated 3.7-L that is offered in the United States for the two versions of the entry-level Premiere, and Select (rather bald, let’s face it) does not appear in the catalogue for the general public here. It is reserved for buyers of fleets of automobiles, and it is better as well. This engine of 305 hp, which also serves as the utility MKX, is rather arbitrary compared to the other two.

    These other two engines, the V6 biturbos, offer more brilliance. It is an engine of 2.7 L-series and a 3.0 L offered as an option. The engine of 2.7 L is also used in the Ford Fusion Sport, so that a 3.0 L can also be found under the hood of the Lincoln MKZ Ultra. For the canadian buyer, the V6 of more displacement requires an extra 6500 $ in the case of the Continental Select and $ 3000 for the Ultra. It should be noted that this option is associated with a vector control of dynamic torque that was not the Continental-equipped engine of 2.7 L.

    Compared to the engine of 2.7 L, 3.0 L increase the power of 335 to 400 hp and torque of 380 to 400 lb-ft. These gains, however, reveal rather abstract, as the 3.0-litre engine only takes away from a lean-second acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h : it drops from 6.3 to 5.2 s. 20 lb-ft of torque extra that comes with the V6 3.0 L remain difficult to discern, since these two engines share the same gearbox 6-speed automatic, which shines by its smooth operation.

    The fuel consumption does no more to distinguish between these two engines, since their average rating is identical to one-tenth of a litre nearly. According to natural Resources Canada (Nrcan), the engine of 2.7 L would have an average fuel consumption of 12.2 L/100 km, while the rating of a 3.0 L would be 12.3 L/100 km ! In one case as in the other, fuel consumption is not a strong point. Indeed, our own testing, which totaled more mileage in the city than on the highway, led to a sad average of 13.8 L/100 km.

    These ratings are casting a small shadow on this elegant sedan, which offers benefits that road yet astounding. Because make no mistake, it is not a “big char of the couch potato” ! Whatever the engine, its performance and road behavior predictable make it a strong rival in the face of the models offered by european manufacturers, and asian ; a quality that would not be the MKZ, which is still too ” american “.

    A TRUE LUXURY SEDAN

    The manufacturer has just managed to build an endowment that is to the extent of its claims. The E-Latch, which assists the closing of the door, the rich accents of wood (walnut or ash), that has been finely aligned with different upholsteries leather beautiful textures, the audio, Revel Ultima, which transforms the interior superbly sound-proofed in small concert hall private with its 19-speaker, or the optional set that allows you to replace the rear seat by two seats further heated, ventilated and reclining separated by a wide armrest, these are all attributes that will appeal to buyers of luxury vehicles. Buyers, however, remain under the banner of the cars, not light trucks !

    Aviator and Nautilus, new view

    Photo courtesy Ford

    This spring, the Lincoln Nautilus 2019 will replace the current MKX.

     

    The range Lincoln renews itself slowly, but surely, and it is by the multiplication of the SUV and the change in denominations which serve to designate the models that this transformation will take place.

    Ford announced this week that a new utility sized will make its debut at the auto Show in New York, on the 28th of march next. It is the Lincoln Aviator, a model intended to replace the Lincoln MKT, a twin of the Ford Flex.

    Ironically, the new Aviator will also be a clone of a popular model : the Ford Explorer. It’s common for Ford, which has already commercialized a Lincoln Aviator from 2003 to 2005, which was also a more luxurious version of the Explorer then !

    In addition, this spring, the current Lincoln MKX will hand over to the Nautilus. This is a revised and updated version of this model, which is currently the biggest selling brand, both in Canada and the United States.

    And since the redesign of the range Lincoln, this implies the adoption of new names, this means that the small utility the Lincoln MKC, the same as the sedan MKZ will change both name soon. This last will return to the Zephyr, a name that she has worn before ?

    Lincoln Continental

    Base price

    57 150 $ (Select) ; 60 6650 $ (Ultra).

    Transport and preparation

    2000 $

    Powertrain

    (series) biturbo V6 DOHC, 2.7 L, 335 hp at 5700 rpm, 380 lb-ft at 3500 rpm ; (optional) V6 DOHC, 3.0 L, 400 hp at 5500 rpm, 400 lb-ft at 2750 rpm. Gearbox 6-speed automatic. All-wheel-drive series.

    Features

    Four-wheel independent Suspension. Disc brakes to all four wheels. Anti-lock braking system series. Tires : P235/50R18 ; P245/45R19 ; P245/40R20.

    Ratings

    Wheelbase : 2994 mm ; length : 5115 mm ; width : 1983 mm height : 1487 mm. Weight : 1916 kg. Volume of fuel tank : 68 litres. Trunk Volume : 473 L. average fuel Consumption (V6 3.0 L, test) : 13,8 L/100 km

    Competition

    Acura RLX, Audi A6, Audi A7, Cadillac CT6, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac XTS, Genesis G80, Infiniti Q70, Jaguar XF, Kia K900, Lexus GS, Lincoln MKZ, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S90.

    Strengths

    • Elegant Silhouette that will age well
    • Luxurious interior and very spacious
    • On the road very nice

    Weak Points

    • Consumption important
    • Little models
    • Commands the box of speeds which can be improved