S550 based Lincoln?

[Wildcat]

S550-based Lincoln? I'm afraid to imagine. Most of what Lincoln puts out has been really uninteresting to me for the past decade or so. They need to replace whoever designs the taillights. Yikes.

IMO the Lincoln brand almost seems beyond redemption. The name itself just evokes images of things that are.....dated and old and boring to me. Would be nice to see a total reboot of a ford luxury brand under a new name. With a RWD V8 Sedan

In all honesty, I wouldn't be surprised if Lincoln just gets dropped one day. Ford can sell all of its vehicles in different trims including luxury under one nameplate.

I pretty much agree with the sentiments above. I don't think Lincoln will be around long term. Every time I see one, it's still usually a senior citizen driving it, even the SUVs. I can't remember seeing one on the road with a driver under the age of 50.

To me Lincoln sells to a very limited audience. Legacy customers who've always bought them, and then a smattering of luxury buyers who probably bought one because they got a good deal compared to a Lexus or Caddy.

Most people still see them as a dressed up Ford and would either get another luxury brand or save the dough and just buy the Ford equivalent.

I know some would disagree, but I think a Mustang based Lincoln coupe would flop. Because they would still have the same problem. Buyers would buy a Mustang and pocket the savings, or look at the German/Caddy competition.

Cadillac shares its guts with other GM brands, but their design identity is a complete break from anything else GM has.

The new Lincoln SUV, while nice, is clearly a dressed up Escape. The rear valence is directly off of the Escape.

I think Lincoln will get "Mercuryed" in the near future. Just my opinion

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[ShelbyGT350]

S550 Lincoln

If Lincoln had half a brain, they would take the S550 chassis, go with a convertible HARD TOP, take the upgraded Coyote, preferably twin-turbo, and compete head to head with a Ferarri California at 1/3 the price.:frusty:

 

[crysalis_01]

I pretty much agree with the sentiments above. I don't think Lincoln will be around long term. Every time I see one, it's still usually a senior citizen driving it, even the SUVs. I can't remember seeing one on the road with a driver under the age of 50.

To me Lincoln sells to a very limited audience. Legacy customers who've always bought them, and then a smattering of luxury buyers who probably bought one because they got a good deal compared to a Lexus or Caddy.

Most people still see them as a dressed up Ford and would either get another luxury brand or save the dough and just buy the Ford equivalent.

I know some would disagree, but I think a Mustang based Lincoln coupe would flop. Because they would still have the same problem. Buyers would buy a Mustang and pocket the savings, or look at the German/Caddy competition.

Cadillac shares its guts with other GM brands, but their design identity is a complete break from anything else GM has.

The new Lincoln SUV, while nice, is clearly a dressed up Escape. The rear valence is directly off of the Escape.

I think Lincoln will get "Mercuryed" in the near future. Just my opinion

Well, you are indeed able to have your own opinion. But your view on Lincoln's buyer audience isn't completely accurate. I (29yrs old) am very much a fan of the Max Wolff Lincolns thus far. And I cannot wait to see what they can do with S550. Like I stated earlier I'd love to pick up a Lincoln sport sedan. To another point my wife (27yrs old) really loves the MKX. We were going to pick one up as soon as it gets the "Wolff" treatment and nano based gen2 EB2.9L V6. But she's recently decided that she'd like 3 row seating, so were holding off until we see what the redesigned Navigator...or MKN as it may be...brings to the table. Hopefully a gen2 EB3.5L.

As another point neither of us come from families that own Lincolns...or Fords for that matter. Her family is very GM aligned and mine owns everything from Subarus to Jeeps to Buicks. They just appeal to us, especially the new ones.

 

[Wildcat]

Well, you are indeed able to have your own opinion. But your view on Lincoln's buyer audience isn't completely accurate. I (29yrs old) am very much a fan of the Max Wolff Lincolns thus far. And I cannot wait to see what they can do with S550. Like I stated earlier I'd love to pick up a Lincoln sport sedan. To another point my wife (27yrs old) really loves the MKX. We were going to pick one up as soon as it gets the "Wolff" treatment and nano based gen2 EB2.9L V6. But she's recently decided that she'd like 3 row seating, so were holding off until we see what the redesigned Navigator...or MKN as it may be...brings to the table. Hopefully a gen2 EB3.5L.

As another point neither of us come from families that own Lincolns...or Fords for that matter. Her family is very GM aligned and mine owns everything from Subarus to Jeeps to Buicks. They just appeal to us, especially the new ones.

Well, according to the numbers, you and your wife are definite exceptions to the rule.


Average age of a Lincoln buyer in 2012 was 65 years old, and they had only a 5.5% share of the luxury segment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/ford-tries-to-save-the-lincoln.html

Now that article is from last year, but I doubt things have changed much in such a short period.

The fact is they don't appeal to enough people to have anything more than 6-7K units a month. Even Honda's sagging Acura brand sells twice as much.

 

[Stevefreestyle]

Please! I loved mark 8s

The look a bit like a 1990's Aust' Falcon/Fairlane......not bad.

 

[aspensilver]

Well, according to the numbers, you and your wife are definite exceptions to the rule.


Average age of a Lincoln buyer in 2012 was 65 years old, and they had only a 5.5% share of the luxury segment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/ford-tries-to-save-the-lincoln.html

Now that article is from last year, but I doubt things have changed much in such a short period.

The fact is they don't appeal to enough people to have anything more than 6-7K units a month. Even Honda's sagging Acura brand sells twice as much.

Ya I have to agree, I'm 31 and my fiance is 23, neither of us would ever consider anything in Lincoln's current lineup.

I do however think something S550 based might change that though -- the modern look of fusion & new mustang pulled us in. Just don't see the same fresh look to the Lincolns. We both like the Fords better, so why pay extra for a Lincoln?

 

[moodster]

I'm 44 and like the Lincoln's,Im just getting a head start on being that old guy who doesn't use his turn signals and bitches about everything else on the road.LOL

 

[pacettr]

My first job in the car business was at a Lincoln/Mercury dealership in the late 90's. I used to LOVE Mark VII and VIII's. They're practically got me in the business. Those cars were relatively "unique"; IOW there wasn't a Ford equivalent. The Navigator even got its own engine that wasn't available in the Expedition. Continental, unique. Since that time Lincolns have become FORDS, period. An MKX is an Edge with different front and rear fascia and a THX sound system. MKS is a Taurus. There isn't anything "special" about Lincolns.

The word I'm hearing from some friends at Lincoln stores who have seen some of the new product are telling me that Ford is attempting to bring some of this exclusivity back in the was of premium engines only available in the Lincoln. IMO this will give Lincoln a puncher's chance in the long term.

 

[JBsC6]

A 420 hp Eco boost v6 based off the mustang chassis works as a Lincoln for me.

4 door coupe or if not possible a 2 door coupe is fine as well.

 

[rb336]

I hope they don't go the "4-door coupe" route. I just think the look is absurd

 

[w3rkn]

I hope they don't go the "4-door coupe" route. I just think the look is absurd

Why..? (You opposed to a 4-door sedan, over a 4-door coupe?)

You already have the Mustang, the Lincoln version would be a Performance Sedan. Just like the M3 and M4..! (3-series & 4-series)

Why would anyone buy a two-door Lincoln, when u can already buy a Mustang..? Ford doesn't offer an upscale 4-door performance Sedan. (ie: 3-series BMW). How does Lincoln compete with all those performance Cadillac, BMW & Audi, etc..?



I tried to get with Fields a few years back and pitch my design, but what Lincoln really needs is a 5-door performance sedan, with AWD and a "shooting-brake" design. Basically bring back the European flare that the Merkur XR4ti/Scorpion had.

Look at the wheelbase and length of the S550 platform, and re-imagine a (newer) and larger XR4ti.



This is similar to what Lincoln should do with S550:

A Mustang is nice, but not meant for everyday living. A Lincoln is.

 

[Dirk McGurck]

How is a Mustang not meant for everyday living?

 

[rb336]

Why..? (You opposed to a 4-door sedan, over a 4-door coupe?)

I tried to get with Fields a few years back and pitch my design, but what Lincoln really needs is a 5-door performance sedan, with AWD and a "shooting-brake" design. Basically bring back the European flare that the Merkur XR4ti/Scorpion had.

Look at the wheelbase and length of the S550 platform, and re-imagine a (newer) and larger XR4ti.



This is similar to what Lincoln should do with S550:

A Mustang is nice, but not meant for everyday living. A Lincoln is.

And that thing is butt ugly. Like someone slapped a porsche-esque nose on a Crosstour or ZDX. I have no problem with sedans, but things like the Panamera, Crosstour and ZDX are ugly. Same goes for the M-B CLS, VW CC, etc.

I had a Scorpio, and loved it. Ford should have used Mercury instead of Merkur, and used it as a means of bringing the cooler euroFords like the Puma, StreetKa, etc, to the US. Mercury might have survived and Ford Europe would be stronger

 

[FStephenMasek]

The Panamera is an excellent example of what they could do. While they are at it, they could make the rear seat and cargo areas larger than the Panamera.

With he new CTS, Cadillac has gone head to head with Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and there is no reason Ford can not take Lincoln head to head with Porsche.

 

[crysalis_01]

Well, according to the numbers, you and your wife are definite exceptions to the rule.


Average age of a Lincoln buyer in 2012 was 65 years old, and they had only a 5.5% share of the luxury segment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/ford-tries-to-save-the-lincoln.html

Now that article is from last year, but I doubt things have changed much in such a short period.

The fact is they don't appeal to enough people to have anything more than 6-7K units a month. Even Honda's sagging Acura brand sells twice as much.

Indeed we are. Honestly, in the current economy, not many people our age are willing to drop too much cash on just a car. We're by no means anything but middle-class, but as homeowners with the ability to actually manage our money intelligently, we have the ability to splurge every once in a while.

Id like to think that there will be ever more and more like us, in our age range, that will be looking for a luxury automobile, and future Lincolns will fit the bill for what they need.

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