Posted on 07/05/2017 12:19:10 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
Comebacks are never easy — but they are doable.
Ask Cadillac.
Not so very long ago, GM’s luxury car division was on the mat, the count at seven or eight. Cadillac had lost its mojo, traded it for Metamucil. Its cars weren’t even gaudy anymore.
Just old.
Then an ether-fed cold start.
Over the course of about ten years, beginning in the late 1990s with the introduction of the Catera — the first Caddy in decades that zigged rather than shuffled — Cadillac redefined itself as the American luxury-sport brand.
So, it can be done.
Now Lincoln is in the process of trying to do it.
But, differently.
The emphasis is on luxury more than sport.
It is no accident that the new Continental — subject of this review — bears more than a passing resemblance to a Rolls Royce Phantom.
Well, except for the window sticker.
What It Is…
The Continental is Lincoln’s new flagship sedan.
It is cleverly positioned in between mid-sized (and mid-priced) luxury-sport sedans like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class and the much pricier — and only slightly larger — full-sized BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class sedans.
The Connie is only about 5 inches shorter than an S550 (and 7.6 inches longer than an E300) and has more front seat legroom than both the 740i and the S500 — and the Rolls Royce Phantom, too.
It also has much more backseat legroom — and engine — than the mid-sized 5 Series and E-Class offer.
You can also get a Connie with AWD for less than any of them. Or not at all. The Rolls Phantom is rear-drive only.
Base price is $44,720 — topping out at $65,075 for a Black Label edition with Lincoln’s new 400 hp twin-turbo V6 under the hood...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
First impression: FUGLY.
But not all of them.
Audi, for one.
The RWD-based layout is nominally preferable for high-speed cornering — because the weight of the drivetrain is spread out more evenly, front to rear than in a FWD-based car, which has most of its drivetrain weight over the front wheels. But the FWD-based layout is preferable for traction — especially in the wet and snow.
FWD = sucks.
Looks like a Taurus to me.
Yup, but the Ford Fusion folks would get upset.
400hp V-6? Guess what a 400hp V-6 sounds like? A V-6.
________________________________________
Oh no. No it doesn’t.
Ford and other automakers computer design the exhaust sounds to that of a V-8 rumble.
Even to the extent that the 10 speaker sound system will pump out the sounds of a V-8 throughout the inside.
V-8 purists are conflicted. After all - the eco-boost 4 bangers of today has more horsepower with great fuel economy than a V8 Mustang of 20 years ago.
LOL...totally agree. It also FEELS like a V-6. I heard all the Ford promo blather and reviewer prattle about how the "Ecoboost" sixes have more power and torque than the smaller V8, so I went out and drove the 2016 Expedition and Explorers. I thought they were awful, so I found a low-miles 2014 V8 Expedition and bought that instead. That was the last year of a V8 in the Expedition. With any luck, Trump will get Congress to come to their senses and repeal the insane Obama-era law about the average fleet economy hitting 54 mpg so the auto makers can bring back V8 power. Of course, I'm a neanderthal throw-back when it comes to smooth, powerful engines. Probably less than 10% of the US population has ever driven in a car with V8 power. They were raised on four-bangers.
Had a 2001 for about 4 years. My favorite car ever. 271 HP V8, FWD. Super nice interior and Jensen sound system ROCKED. 22.5 MPG, leather.
Of course most of my other cars are midline or compacts.
Never heard it called a Connie, we called them Conti’s.
Tenneco Automotive pioneered putting subwoofers in mufflers back in the late 1990’s - in the Walker Muffler division.
The systems were standard equipment on Dodge Vipers of the day, maybe even today. It changes the tone quality of exhaust so that it can make engines sound more powerful, or quieter, or just “tune” the sound to make it better.
I drove several of the test cars that had the technology, including a Corvette that had a dial on the dash that you could use to change the sound as you drove. Also a Prowler that sounded like a V8.
This interesting technology is now even in sound deadening headsets!
Does it come with Matthew McConnaghy in the back seat?
The last true Hot Rod Lincoln was the LS.
V8 motor? Check.
Rear wheel drive? Check.
5 speed manual tranny? Check and double check.
Looks like it’s designed for successful ghetto drug dealers.
Would rather have one from the 1960’s, the convertible. Those were the classic cars. Do you they even have a convertible now? Doubtful.
“Suicide doors”!
You had ONE JOB!
This car is completely anonymous from the rear quarter. How hard would it have been to give it a spare tire hump?
Wheels are hideous.
No!!!!!
Those fake spare tire bumps are almost as tacky and trashy as a Continental Kit.
Bring back the Imperial.
“...the 10 speaker sound system will pump out the sounds of a V-8 throughout the inside.”
Kinda like a kid pretending - “VROOM!, VROOM!, eeeeek!, VROOM!”
I asked about that very thing when I bought my Mustang GT. The sales guy said, “Oh no - this one’s ALL ENGINE.” It sounds really sweet when I stomp it.
All kidding aside - real car guys often listen to the engine while driving to determine if something’s wrong. That artificial sound would really mess that up.
I’m not disputing their power or economy, but I’ve personally heard their hotrod versions. Trust me, they still sound like V-6s, albeit on steroids.
BTW, I drive a V-6 suv, but not for performance or sound. I drive V-8 pickup that sounds kinda good and I have a 500hp V-8 in my old Jeep, which sounds really good.
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