- New C-segment car originally bound for Mercury will now be a Lincoln.
- Lincoln C Concept seen in 2009 is under consideration.
- Ford's luxury brand will offer a total of seven new or significantly revamped vehicles in the next four years.
DEARBORN, Michigan — Combined with Ford's announcement of the demise of its Mercury brand, comes good news for Lincoln. The new C-segment car originally bound for Mercury will now be added to Lincoln's growing portfolio.
Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development, would not provide details of the new C-segment Lincoln. However, he did acknowledge, in response to a reporter's question, that "we liked it," referencing the Lincoln C Concept that debuted last year at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. "It's certainly in our consideration set," said Kuzak at today's press conference.
The Lincoln C Concept was a four-door hatchback based on the same platform as the Ford Focus. It featured suicide doors and seating for six. Power came from a turbocharged 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that fed power to the front wheels through a six-speed, dual-clutch gearbox.
Kuzak said, counting the new Lincoln MKX, Ford's luxury brand will offer a total of seven new or significantly revamped vehicles in the next four years.
According to Kuzak, Lincoln will also offer technologies exclusive to the brand, and will see an expansion of Ford's Eco Boost engine. Lincoln will also get a new exclusive V6 although Kuzak didn't specify whether that meant something more powerful than the current Ecoboost V6.
Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said Lincoln's focus will be on North America, primarily the U.S., as it expands and accelerates. However, he didn't rule out global expansion in the future.
Inside Line says: Lincoln already benefits from Mercury's death. Hopefully it's enough to keep Lincoln from being next. — Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst, Edmunds.com
Add A Comment »
ev56 says:
12:57 PM, 10/19/2010
The Lincoln Model C is an interesting looking piece as it stands right now. It offers a few things; unqueness, unequaled outer beauty and Lincoln luxury.
ev56 says:
04:19 PM, 06/21/2010
Lincoln's using the underpinnings of the Ford C segment car is not unusual: most car makers use the underpinnings of one car to make anoher, upscale one: check out the Lexus ES/Toyota Camry cousins, the Taurus/MKS and what has always been a frame sharing exercise with GM(the A, B and C bodies of yore) and Chrysler vehicles. The only caveat would be to make sure the cars are distinctive; the Lincoln "kuga" off shoot should be clear of the Ford version.
wjtinatl says:
08:42 PM, 06/03/2010
My God... who approves these things? Am I the only one who would love to see a new Continental in sexy Coupe and 4 dr. Convertible versions? You cannot create brand image by repackaging inferior products in new wrappers and ignoring underserved markets. Just ask Microsoft, Xerox, Kodak or Polaroid.
smilez says:
08:41 AM, 06/03/2010
After seeing the DESIGN POLICE SUPER POLL, and looking at this vehicle and the Juke, I think there really needs to be a DESIGN POLICE FUGLY POLL. Pitting all of the more than questionable designs against each other.
redliner says:
10:41 PM, 06/02/2010
...and now for our next trick, we will turn this ford Focus, into an luxury car. Abracadabra-Shazam! (Nothing happens, awkward silence)
mce63 says:
07:15 PM, 06/02/2010
Cadillac had to be hit with the fail stick several times with the Cimarron and the Catera before they got the message. I can just hear some Marketing wonk at Ford convince the execs that they'll succeed because they know how to do a better job than the Cadillac guys.
They must have hired the guy from VW who came up with the idea to rebadge the Golf back to Rabbit.
kingon says:
05:17 PM, 06/02/2010
I believe Lincoln quit to rival ultra-luxury Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Maybach, Porsche, Maserati, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Cadillac. The Godfather have goodbye to Lincoln Town Car forever. The Godfather have big hello to Rolls Royce Phantom. if you not need buy new one Lincoln near future before it will dump a lincoln brand.
bayoujay says:
05:12 PM, 06/02/2010
IMHO, Lincoln has absolutely NO business being in the four cylinder hatchback arena. Leave that to Ford and grow what you know...luxury sedans. Upscale hatches just don't sell, and a new Lincoln won't suddenly shift the winds in that department. Can I get a witness??!!
half_ton says:
04:26 PM, 06/02/2010
@ed124c
(AFTER a good laugh) My apologies for the theft but it is what it is and I'm glad to see I'm not alone!
proxima says:
03:55 PM, 06/02/2010
This revamp over the next 4 years is Lincolns last gasp. They are diluting the brand with v-6 powerplants and amorphous styling. They should build a rocket of a four door sedan using the new v-8 offered in the Mustang GT as a counter weight to the CTS-V. The Navigtor is at least 2 generations behind the class--and next time lose the Retro tiny gauges. Use a TFT display. The new 2011 MKX has a great interior, although the grill is somewhat overblown. Sad to see Mercury go, but really when was the last time you saw one drive by on the street?