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Lincoln is searching for a new identity after parting with its young chief of design, Max Wolff. It seems the rebirth of the famous split-winged grille wasn’t enough of a stamp on Lincoln design, so it’s time to start anew. It’s with that in mind that Lincoln presented the Continental Concept at this year’s New York International Auto Show.
Not only is it a stylistic about face for the marque, the Continental also signals the rebirth of one of the most famous model names ever to come from the Lincoln stable. We should should see the official return of a production Continental sometime next year.
For now, the Continental is just a design study, but you nevertheless get the feeling that there are big changes coming for Lincoln. Take the grille, for instance: instead of the split-wing, we get a large mesh grille with with a backlit Lincoln emblem. It’s new, but you do see the similarities with some Bentleys at one end of the spectrum, and some Kias at the other. Where the split-winged grille was suite distinctive, what’s seen on the Conti is relatively limited in scope.
The headlights, meanwhile, are of the laser variety, with a string of LED lights forming the silhouette of the Lincoln logo. Bit of Acura RLX, there. At the rear, a distinctive—and very Lincoln-esque—full-width taillight that changes from grey to red depending on usage.
While the profile is well balanced, again we see a distinctive nod to the Bentley Flying Spur; incidentally, that car is also part of the British manufacturer’s “Continental” line…
In order to catch the attention of multiple generations, the show car is finished in a luxurious blue (with matching interior trim, to boot) and features 21-inch wheels.
Luxury-wise, Lincoln is pushing way past its limits inside the Conti; that’s venetian leather you see there, with deep bucket seats for both front and rear passengers.
There’s some new tech to be found, too; simply by changing the tint of the full-length moonroof, interior ambient temperature is reduced by just under 8 degrees—that should help with fuel efficiency, as it doesn’t ask the A/C to do all the work, which burns through fuel. The moonroof also blocks the entry of UV rays to the tone of 99 per cent.
The addition of an all-new, Lincoln-specific 3.0-Litre EcoBoost turbo V6 should also be a boon for fuel economy, while also pushing out what could be upwards of 400 horsepower. It’s the first Lincoln vehicle in ages to receive a bespoke engine not shared with other models in the Ford/Lincoln line-up.
