Lincoln Town Car 4.6L

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

The American way of life

When the Town Car was entirely redesigned three years ago, its more daring lines caused quite a stir. Its image was more youthful, but its clientele was not necessarily any younger. In spite of everything, sales increased considerably increased, to Cadillac’s detriment.Now shorter than it used to be, the Town Car can still hold on to its title as the longest standard production sedan in North America. Luckily, exterior dimensions have a positive impact on their interior counterparts (which isn’t always the case), with five roomy and comfortable spaces. Over shorter distances, an extra person can join in the fun (yes, that makes six), at the cost of the arm rest featured on the front bench seat. As expected, the Town Car muffles all outside sounds, so there’s no need to speak louder should you run into rougher roads. And designers have gone all out when it comes to the choice of colors, textures and materials used to make this living-room-on-wheels as luxurious as possible. All that’s missing is a TV set and a bottle of bourbon! And what about the instrument panel? It does everything - well - not to attract undue attention to details and is more understated than a Christmas tree on December 26th.For the Town Car’s official presentation, Lincoln went so far as to invite the specialized press to take the model out for a few laps on the Michigan International Speedway. An all- time first! It should be said that in living memory, Lincoln has never offered a Touring package (completely different from the usual versions boasting an association with Cartier, Givenchy and others of the same ilk) featuring sportier shock absorbers, tires that hug the road and 20 additional horses (for a total of 220). All this may not add to its driveability and may not keep the rear axle from hopping on bad roads or give the Town Car stronger acceleration, but at least it spells more stability and safety on curves than the base model can provide. Even if the Town Car no longer behaves like a ship without a helm, its size still forces drivers to keep the laws of physics in mind at all times. Nevertheless, a sturdier chassis prevents roll when cornering and oversized brakes proved to be surprisingly efficient, which is saying a lot considering this sedan’s overall weight. When potential buyers compare it to the new Cadillac De Ville the Town Car has a few good arguments in its favor, but it still isn’t sure to emerge as the winner.

PROS
Quiet ride
Roomy interior
Touring version

CONS
Poor rear visibility
Disappointing dashboard
Jumpy rear suspension on bumpy roads

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * * *
Passenger: * * * *

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Lincoln Navigator 4×4 5.4L

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Turning back the clock

Lincoln has taught etiquette to the rough-and-ready Ford Expedition, decking it out in regal style and giving it a fancy new name, the Navigator. An old familiar recipe, you say? No question, but it works! Proof: 60% of Navigator buyers are people who had never gone to a Lincoln dealership in the past. But the make’s executives have another reason to be proud: over a period of several months, the advent of the Navigator made it possible for Lincoln to unseat its eternal rival, Cadillac, in the sales race. With the new Escalade on the scene, will Lincoln be able to hold onto its competitive edge?One thing is sure, the Navigator doesn’t fail to make a strong visual impression. To get to its throne (sorry, I mean passenger compartment), just hop onto the lighted step. It ’ s been redesigned this year, so don ’ t overlook it.

Magnificent leather seats await you in a warm ambiance created by an 18-ounce carpet and polished inlays. Lincoln invites up to eight passengers into the Navigator’s decor; but let’s be honest, access to the rear seat (don’t forget there’s another one in the middle) takes the talent of a skilled contortionist, not to mention the fact that the seatback is perfectly vertical and absolutely uncomfortable. It’s easy to sacrifice this seat (especially now that it features smaller casters) to add to the vehicle’s very limited cargo space.Intent on avoiding the embarrassment of being left in the competition’s dust at traffic lights, the Navigator teams its 5.4-litre V8 with 32 valves and a DOHC, bringing the power level to 300 horses and 360 pound-feet of torque. This is the only powertrain allowed aboard the Navigator this year. Given the vehicle’s weight, the power increase is an excellent move. Acceleration and pick-up are now well within the acceptable range. Another strong point is the perfect work accomplished by the automatic transmission. Choices? Buyers have one and only one decision to make: two-wheel or four- wheel drive. The latter option is the most popular, not so much because of its off-road capabilities (an area where the expensive Land Rover is king), but because of its stability on slippery roads. Things to remember when it comes to the Navigator: high gas consumption (the oil companies will be thrilled), a rear suspension that has trouble handling bumpy roads and a size that makes you think twice before taking it out on the town. On the subject of size, it ’ s worth paying extra for the reverse sensing system, that way you ’ ll be able to park without having to hear the sound of crushing metal from the car parked behind you.

At the risk of breaking a few sensitive hearts, the Navigator is a much better choice than the Escalade and the Denali. We can at least agree on that, can’t we? For one more year, anyway!

PROS
Improved performance capabilities
Detailed equipment
Easier access to rear seats

CONS
Spectacular size
Outrageous fuel consumption
Skittish rear suspension

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * * *
Passenger: no data

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Lincoln LS V6 3.9L

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Convincing

Until very recently, not very many people were willing to bet on Lincoln’s future. For years the corporation had marketed models that handled more like boats than cars. Did it make any special efforts? Some. But Lincoln never really created the impression that it neither wanted to change its image nor wanted to attract a younger clientele.

This was before the Navigator, a dressed-up Ford Expedition and, just maybe, before the LS, a sporty sedan (yes, you read it right). They both invited us to check our prejudices against Lincoln at the showroom door.

Reticent? If so, you should know that the LS rests on a platform that is virtually identical (45% of shared mechanical components claims Lincoln) to the one Jaguar uses for its new S-Type. Not bad at all!Needless to say, Lincoln is trumpeting its LS as the turning point in its history. And just as Lexus did in the beginning, Lincoln has a warning at the outset: "Consumers who opt for the LS are not as heavily influenced by the make’s notoriety" as are the buyers who traditionally choose BMW, Jaguar or Mercedes models.

From an esthetic standpoint, the LS will never win a Nobel prize for originality. Helmut Schrader, who came up with its lines and colours, admits that his styling is fairly conservative (this is the first Lincoln he has designed), but he notes that this model "will age well". Can the same be said of its fake wood inlays?

The driving position is comfortable but a bit more support for thighs and shoulders would come in handy. The dummy pedal is comfortable, and instrumentation is detailed and easy to read, so it ’ s easier to forgive this Lincoln’s unexciting interior presentation and a few ergonomic mistakes (a very high centre armrest, for example). While rear-seat passengers won’t have anything to complain about when it comes to roominess, they may have a hard time cramming their luggage into a trunk that just isn’t deep enough.Like Jaguar, Lincoln proposes two different versions of its sedan: one powered by a V6 engine, the other by a V8. But don’t be fooled into thinking that Jaguar and Lincoln share the exact same mechanical system.

Given the make’s prestige and the price that comes with it, the S-Type features more power than the Lincoln does. How? By using more advanced technological solutions (the induction system, for example), and by "cheating" on the V8’s displacement (Jaguar-designed, the V6 comes from Ford), which happens to be just a tad higher (3996 cc instead of 3950 cc).

But while Jaguar is content with offering a five-speed automatic transmission to power rear wheels, Lincoln proposes a semi-automatic as well (a first for Ford) and a five-speed manual to boot, exclusively available on the V6 model. Consumers haven’t seen a "three-pedal" Lincoln since the 1951 Cosmopolitain!

No doubt about it, driving the LS is a surprising experience. Forget the mushy suspension, questionable road stability and fading brakes all too often associated with Lincoln products. This LS brakes and corners like no other Lincoln ever has. And it boasts strong acceleration, especially with the V8 under its hood. What about the V6? As long as it stays under the 4000 rpm level, it’s fun - but nothing more. On the up side the standard manual transmission that comes with it is easy to handle and its clutching is smooth. But the most remarkable quality of the V6 version is its balance. Weight distribution is almost perfect (51-49) and contributes to make this car very driveable. It also makes cornering problem-free, especially given the diabolical precision of the steering system. And speaking of the latter, it has the decided advantage of not eliminating every single road defect, thus providing optimal driving sensation along with no harmful effects when it comes to comfort. And speaking of comfort: the V6, manual transmission model is the only version with a standard (optional on other models) sport suspension and 17-inch tires. Good news: the Advance-Trac (stability control) and traction control systems, two crucial safety features, are now available on all models.

While the V6 manual combination does have its attractions, according to Lincoln consumers prefer the V8 alternative by far, available solely with an automatic transmission. Although the V8 is heavier and fails to offer the excellent weight distribution the V6 does, it is still very pleasant to drive. And this V8 gets along marvelously well with the semi-automatic transmission, which runs impeccably. To take full advantage of the potential built into the chassis, feel free to check the "Sport package" option (17-inch tires and firmer suspension) and go for the Advance-Trac.

Lincoln has come up with a magnificent sedan that has all it takes to stand up to competitors, some of which are beginning to age, others which are plain dull. Now it has to convince dealers that this model has a lot of potential and more importantly, that it is targeted to attract buyers who are more interested in performance levels than carpet thickness. PROS Superb handling Transmission choices Competitive prices

CONS
Poorly sized trunk
Timid styling

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * * *
Passenger: * * * *

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Lincoln Continental 4.6L V8

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Missed the mark

At the moment when the Lincoln name is in ascent, the survival of the Continental remains questionable. In spite of its technological advancements, this sedan remains unrecognized. Should it simply disappear, like so many Ford products have recently?When you take a close look at the Continental, the design revisions from three years ago didn’t change this model’s appearance as much as Lincoln would have liked consumers to believe. There’s no question that the rear is the best part of this model, mainly because of the taillight design, very evocative of what you see on models manufactured by Jaguar, currently owned by Ford. After a while it’s equally obvious that while it’s easier to load baggage into the trunk (although the ingenious original storage drawer has been eliminated), the extra space comes at a cost to rear seat passengers, who have a few centimetres less for their knees. On the other hand, front seat passengers will appreciate extra headroom and side air bags. The interior design has changed and ergonomics have improved, but the steering wheel is in the same sightline as several instruments, including the speedometer, and the gear shift lever is anything but smooth (a word of advice to the design team: take a look at the Jaguar’s).While shorter than it once was, the Continental’s hood still covers the Intech V8, which notably has a significant amount of extra torque thanks to changes made to its camshafts. The four-speed automatic transmission transfers the engine’s 260 horses to the front wheels and shaves a few tenths of a second off the previous model’s acceleration time, which was 100 pounds heavier. Lincoln gives you the pleasure of using the assisted steering control as much or as little as you like. The significant turning radius is less pleasant, however. After Lincoln made a few changes to front-end design without making it any sturdier, the adjustable suspension is now part of the options list. As a result, the Continental still has a more than cushy ride and the chassis sways on curves as the car understeers with not the smallest sign of shame. Thank goodness drivers can count on four disc brakes and an antilock system. Although esthetically more refined, the Continental does little to improve it ’ s regal image. It’s too bad that efforts to improve technological features are somewhat ruined by the use of a few ridiculous gadgets, particularly while its little sister, the LS clearly proves that it is possible to do better.

PROS
Technological improvements
Smooth and powerful motor
Comfortable ride

CONS
Deceiving appearance
Notable turning radius
Lack of rear space

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