The 2016 Lincoln Continental, which revives a nameplate dormant for more than a decade, is headed to the 2016 Detroit North American International Auto Show in its production-ready form. Before that event, we thought it prudent to remind you not to hold your breath for any performance-oriented variants of the full-size sedan; the 2016 Lincoln Continental – like the brand to which it belongs – is strictly about luxury.
Car and Driver reports that according to brand Marketing Manager Imran Jalal, Lincoln “[has] high-performance engines, but [is] going for a luxurious feeling rather than sportiness.” Yet, the brand’s target buyers aren’t necessarily members of older generations as you might expect. Rather, with products like the 2016 Lincoln Continental, the Ford luxury division is hoping to appeal to a younger crowd, and lower the mean age of its customer base.
Shocking, we know, but the average age of the Lincoln buyer in the US has already declined over the last 8 years, from 64 to 58.
Beyond that, we can report that the 2016 Lincoln Continental will be available with both front-wheel and all-wheel drivetrains, and the brand’s rejuvenation is centered on the US and China – not Europe. So far, says Jalal, no hybrid version of the new Lincoln Continental sedan is planned, while a diesel option seems even less likely.
Car and Driver also reports that down the road, the prospect of Lincoln teaming up with designer brands as it has in the past is a distinct possibility. Our fingers are crossed for a Pierre Cardin Lincoln Continental.
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