Ford Reportedly Considering New Lincoln Continental Model, but a Compact Makes so Much More Sense

Reports indicate that Ford has been meeting with dealer representatives to discuss the brand's options, including batting the Continental name around. Sadly, that's not likely because of the silly alphabetical naming system Ford's luxury brand has been using (I liked Zephyr to begin with) and the fact that Lincoln needs to be made young, not even more inaccessible.

As part of the renovation, Lincoln hopes to reveal up to seven new models in the next couple years. After the 2011 MKX, expect the rest of the lineup to get significant refreshes; that means new marketing and styling for the MKZ, MKS, Navigator, and MKT (with new limousine and extended-legroom models once the Town Car has moved on).

That leaves room for one new model, which could either be the aforementioned flagship or possibly even a compact entry-level model to make up for the loss of Mercury.

The compact seems more likely in the short term, as Ford is trying to convince Lincoln dealers it can make the brand youthful and yuppie to drive sales (versus its current aged, stagnant, and scattered state).

If that's the case, there's no need to rule out the flagship down the line. Once Lincoln can pull in some sales, money could then be aimed at the top-tier S-Class and LS segment. If Lincoln can get that far, it may very well be considered "ok". However, as it stands, Ford is looking shut down more than 200 dealers due to slumping sales.

Jesse Toprak, an analyst at TrueCar, says, "The biggest problem is [Lincoln's] brand identity itself. A lot of people have the image of the car that your grandpa owned." If you'll recall, that was Cadillac's major problem about ten years ago and now they're putting out M5-hunters, power-wagons, and good-looking crossovers. Should Lincoln be able to pull off the type of renaissance that Cadillac did, CEO Alan Mulally is even willing to get Lincoln its passport and go international with the brand.

By Phil Alex

Source: Autonews (Sub. Req.)

*Opening Photo: 2002 Lincoln Continental Concept Study

________LINCOLN CONTINENTAL PRODUCTION & CONCEPT MODEL GALLERY________

Mulally wants Ford to Cut Company-wide Lineup Down to Around 20 vehicles

Alan Mulally, President and CEO of FoMoCo, told an audience of business leaders at the Confederation of British Industry in London today that Ford is looking to downsize its current lineup to 20-25 models in an attempt to "simplify" and build better cars.

It seems to make sense; instead of spreading yourself too thin and trying to be everything to everyone at the cost of quality, spend more of your resources on fewer models to ensure a well put-together product.

Clearly addressing the euthanization of Mercury and its badge-engineered wonders (as well as parting out Ford's Premier Automotive Group), Ford CEO Alan Mulally said:

"When I arrived, it was absolutely clear that we had to simplify Ford dramatically...Fewer brands means you can put more focus into improving the quality of engineering."

For the record, Mulally came into a FoMoCo that had ninety-seven (97!) models in 2006. Thanks to cutting back models and standardizing components, Ford has helped bring down the cost of multi-market cars like the Fiesta (65% of which is standardized parts).

With Volvo's sale - at a huge loss - to Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ford's golden child already is now making sure those wasted Mercury funds are allocated properly (i.e. to Lincoln and its non-cohesiveproduct range). What's next?

Mulally says, "The key thing now is to keep the economy going. All the fundamentals say that we are moving in the right direction."

I'll believe that when Lincoln is a true-blue luxury brand once more.

By Phil Alex

Source: Bloomberg

Canadian 1966 Batmobile Replica Commands Audi R8 Money

Last week, Carscoop asked you what your favorite TV or movie car was. Many of you expressed a fondness for the Lincoln Futura-based Batmobile used in the Adam West TV series of the late 1960s.

One of our readers tipped us off to this sweet, '66 Batmobile replica in Saint-Eustache, Quebec. You'll no longer be the "uncool dad" when you drop your kids off at school in this baby, old chum.

But before you rush out to buy some grey tights and adopt a young, orphaned acrobat consider this: it has the rather un-sweet price tag of CA$176,995 (US$172,779). You could easily get into an Audi R8 V10 for that money. Heck, we even found a 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago for roughly the same price.

And it pains me to remind you that under that svelte body are the aging Ford V8 and 3-speed-automatic transmission from a 1974 Lincoln Continental. Sure it's appropriate for the era, but then so were headbands and paisley and nobody wears them anymore.

What we really want is the Batmobile we saw on TV, not the one that was wheeled on and off the set between takes. You know, the Batmobile that could unlock doors and sounded like a jet fighter taking off.

Unfortunately, this little boy is still waiting.

By Tristan Hankins

Thanks for the tip Craig! , Link: Excellencechrysler