DETROIT — Keeping fuel economy and tough times in mind, Lincoln rolled out its C concept on Monday, a shrunken version of a luxury car with an engine that's smaller than the one in the 2009 Ford Focus. The automaker said the concept achieves 43 miles per gallon on the highway.
The Lincoln C concept is 3 feet shorter than the long-wheelbase version of the Lincoln Town Car and has the same overall length — 175.0 inches — as a Ford Focus.
Such a creation might have been laughed off the stage in the not-so-distant excessive past, but Ford designers insist that consumers are more than ready for such a modest compact luxury car.
The Lincoln C concept — which weighs in at just 2,750 pounds — is a reflection of these scaled-back times in many ways, including horsepower.
Ford said the concept's 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine delivers an estimated 180 hp and 180 pound-feet of torque. In contrast, the 2009 Ford Focus has a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that delivers 143 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. The concept's engine is mated to a dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission.
Ford said the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine features Assisted Direct Start, which automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle is at idle to cut down on fuel consumption.
The Lincoln C concept stands in stark contrast to many of the brand's offerings, including the Lincoln Town Car. The 2008 Town Car is powered by a 239-hp 4.6-liter V8. The long-wheelbase version of the Town Car is 221.4 inches long. The EPA says the 2009 Town Car FFV returns 12 mpg in city driving and 17 mpg on the highway with E85.
"The Lincoln C offers sensible indulgence," explained Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director of design for The Americas. "During the past decade, people have gotten used to the idea that you could pay more money for a smaller version of the real thing." He cited the ubiquitous iPod as an example of a small yet premium consumer good.
The Lincoln C concept features a low-slung profile and has no B-pillar and center-opening doors — said to recall the 1961 Lincoln Continental. Other exterior details include an all-glass roof and a yellow metallic clearcoat paint job.
The cabin has an all-white look with chrome accents and light gray wood veneer. Curiously, it features bench seats fore and aft, an arrangement more commonly seen in full-size vehicles. Another unusual cabin touch is laser-engraved floral etching on such spots as the floor and the back of the driver's seat.
Inside Line says: Your future luxury Lincoln sedan will be tiny in all respects, yet highly fuel efficient. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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