there goes the rare car idea for gt350h….

Good but it would be better for Ford if the Fairlane and the MKS production starts earlier. Now all Ford needs to do is make the rest of Lincolns and Mercurys product line unique, because they’re total copies of each other. Or better yet, quit Mercury or restore the brands product line with totally unique models.
I wish they would make a Mach model of the Mustang. I saw one of those today THEY ARE AWESOME. But as of now, they’ve got to many variations to count, they don’t need more mustang ponies.
They don’t need more retro, there’s already enough retro cars on the road today (Mini, Mustang, upcoming pony cars, PT cruiser) they need to move on.
In the future do you think people will be making retro models of these cars currently in production? I think not because they aren’t inspirational. A few retro cars are ok BUT MOVE FOWARD! The consumer wants better, new cars not retro restyles. WE WANT AMAZING CARS that are inspirational, fast yet efficient, and have their own look. PUT YOUR CONSUMERS FIRST, NOT YOUR PROFITS, FOR IT IS THE CONSUMER THAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE!!!

Lets hope FORD doesn’t proceed with the Lincoln MKS based on the current showcar. The design is too much like current offerings from Nissan/Toyota. If FORD wants to elevate the Lincoln brand, then they must offer something more distinctive than an americanized Maxima. How about a 21st century version of the classic 1961 Lincoln Continental? Now there is a car design that still looks good today.

I’ll take one as long as I there is no re-got-damn-diculous dealer mark-up. Those greedy muthafukkers.

Sign me up.

the GT350h will still be rare. Ex. color, trim

Way to go with those “Bold Moves” Ford. Let’s see how many iteration of a retro car you can make. So original!

I would agree that the MKS could use some restyling. If you look at Continental made in the 89-90 years, the front of the MKS looks very similar to a moderized/freshened Continental of those years.

Mickiemac, you’re describing the 2002 Lincoln Continental conecpt:

http://br.geocities.com/capri7001/eua/continen.jpg

Absolutely freaking gorgeous. WHY DIDN’T THEY BUILD IT??!

Except for the MKS… Awesome!

The MKS will be a flop. It looks like a Japanese car and people who like Japanese aesthetics will buy a Japanese car. The 2002 Continental concept was beautiful. They could have used the new RWD platform to build the ford forty nine and perhaps a 21rst century mercury turnpike cruiser. People want retro. They are disillusioned with modern design. “Bland boring jelly bean cars” is the phrase often used to describe them. The companies are giving people what they want. Last time I checked, that’s how you make money, not appealing to snobbish design students.

Okay you stealth Ford employees/marketers/people that read these boards..here’s your chance to redeem yourselves..

In Lincoln’s corner, surprise us by resurrecting the beautiful Lincoln Continental Concept car mentioned in the previous post, circa 2002-2003. I saw this beautiful automobile at an auto show in that year, and it was absolutely beautiful, and the styling was fresh without being too retro. It said “Lincoln” and it would have definitely given the Chrysler 300 a run for it’s money…and still can!

Look, the MKS simply does not say “Lincoln”. It says nothing if not “Generic”! Get a REAL close look at it..it looks “okay”, but Ford does NOT need okay right now, it needs a home run, and in the Lincoln camp the MKS is not it. I’m telling you…bring in the Continental Concept (since the Town Car will be history), and you’ll see some light at the end of the tunnel….

First I want to say that I’m all for Lincoln making a Continental concept like vehicle get to production. Possibly they can after the MKS as it could be the variant of the RWD driver’s 4-door sedan that they’re making off of the Mustang platform for 2009.

As a relatively new poster to this site, I’ve asked some open questions on how the Japanese win with bland design. The one glaring car (note Car and not truck as the Ridgeline and Element are both bold and UGLY) that I can find is the 2003 / 2004 Infiniti M45 which I personally thought was absolutely stunning and quite likely a rip-off of the Lincoln Concept Cars at the time. The funny thing is, the car failed miserably and they stopped production after just 2 years. It had a big V-8 in it, RWD, great interior, sharp edges and dealers couldn’t give them away. Take off the front end, add a water fall and you’d have a production ready Continental (I found pics on KBB for those interested).

Maybe this is something that car-philes want from a design perspective. My concern is that we are a self-selecting small niche that even takes time out of our day to write stuff on this board and therefore we’d love to see this built, maybe the Camry/Accord/Taurus consumers of the world would be turned off and just want their milquetoast vehicles updated every cpl of years?

I’m a first time poster to this site but a very regular post to the Lincoln Luxury Sport Owners Club (most devoted to the LS). We’ve lament the lack of unique “Lincoln-ness” to the MKS but doubt that the concept car is the final word. There’s a new drawing out today that is quite a bit more attractive. At the time the Jerry McGovern penned Continental Concept came out in 2002, nearly every car mag either dissed or ho-hummed it as “more Ford retro.” I don’t recall anyone being particularly enthusiastic about. It got a new look when the Chrysler 300 was well received. I’m one of those those who still think the 300 is a joke, a cartoon car. As for the original Infinity M45 – hoo boy! That was universally panned as one stinker of a car. It had a great engine, and that was the end of the list of its virtues. Without exception its styling was ridiculed and its driving dynamics were considered a generation out of date. So much for Japanese styling.

Ah, but look at some of the current Lexus models in person. Here in northern California at least, they are practically traffic stoppers, whether the GS, ES, or IS models. Lincoln would be thrilled to come up with a design close to these, and that’s exactly what the MKS does. Wait till you see it live, and in its final version. Pictures almost never do a new design justice. On top of that, buyers in this price range don’t purchase solely on looks. If the rest of the car is right, and the design at least reasonably good, it will succeed. How else can you explain the success of cars like the Lexus 400? Or the current BMWs?

I am a first time poster, but I must express my personal commentary on the new MKS. I am but 20, but seeing the Town Car engendered a hope in me that I would own a new one someday after law school, but Lincoln dealt a crashing blow when they announced its death notice last month. I cannot warm up to the MKS. When I go to the Lincoln dealership, I want to see big American cars like in the days of Packard, the Cadillac Fleetwood and the majestic Continental of days long past. However, this will not be. I will drive by the dealership and not stop. I will see a “flagship” that cannot compete in size with a luxo-rice burner Lexus LS400, and, by the photos, has all the personality of Calvin Coolidge. I will drive by, and stop at the Cadillac dealership…..to buy a Sedan Deville, a real flagship.