RE: Lincoln Continental - New York 2015
Discussion
The fact that there's a spat with Bentley over the Contintental design can only be a good sign. Compared to the new Cadilacs this Lincoln is more successful at looking like something that could sell in Europe as well as the far East (maybe with a little less chrome). Caddys have failed to shake off tha Tony Soprano wide boy look that means they will be transport of choice for Northern club owners only (I'm from Sheffield). Without world class premium brands (bet Ford are kicking themselves now for offloading JLR) it will be interesting to watch Ford and GM get over that - and FCA clean up with their stable of Italian exotica. In fact FCA have too many premium brands - they should do us all a favour and pass Lancia on to someone who would appreciate it and nurture it.
unsprung said:
Additionally, the interior of this car is heavily biased toward the back-seat occupants. Well-to-do Chinese like to be driven in their cars; Americans and Europeans prefer to drive themselves.
These will be turned into stretch limos 20 minutes after they are on the market for Americans to be chauffeured from the airports, wedding parties, etc. Maybe New York City is an exception, but Americans don't use regular cars to be chauffeured around with. It must be different in Europe because the European reviews of cars like S Class Mercs, XJs, Quattroportes, etc, all review the back seats as if this is where the owners are likely to be. In the US, that's where the kids sit.mikEsprit said:
These will be turned into stretch limos 20 minutes after they are on the market for Americans to be chauffeured from the airports, wedding parties, etc.
The stretched limousine market that you mention tends not to be a tremendous opportunity for an OEM like Lincoln / Ford. There might be a small bump in sales to owner-operators who choose to work for the likes of Uber, but many of these owner-operators now choose more thrifty, less-indulgent cars (because owner-operators must pay for fuel, maintenance and insurance).
mikEsprit said:
It must be different in Europe
Then there's the opportunity in China for massive growth in numbers as well as a clean slate that gives brands like Lincoln (and Cadillac and Buick), opportunities in Asia that they will not be able to duplicate in Western markets.
Sadly the current series of what used to be the finest in American automobiles (I'm referring here to Lincolns and Cadillacs) are just European look alikes. I had the privilege of owning one of the last full size (back then they were not claiming it was vast just full size at a mere 230 inches in length and 76 in width) sedans: the 1976 Fleetwood Brougham Cadillac which was smoothly propelled by a 8.2 litre engine. To experience that Cadillac was to find out why people that could afford and had no doubt tried other cars (American and European) only "aspired" to these two makes back then. Sooner or later the US auto industry will stop trying to copy the rest and then we will see American cars at their best. Sadly this hasn't happened and the Continental referred to is not leading the return to the unbeatable American automobile standards of the past and it's not vast even by comparison to the large European or Japanese models. Compare it for instance with the MB S600 or the Lexus LS600. I guess the writer just needed a extravagant headline.
My father long ago had a '64 Continental with "suicide doors." Probably my favorite of all the cars he had when I was a little guy.
This car is pretty, but somehow the nouveau Jaguar-esque grille and the V6 don't make it right. The '64 had a 430-inch V8, and one would think at the top of the Ford food chain they could come up with a proper engine.
This car is pretty, but somehow the nouveau Jaguar-esque grille and the V6 don't make it right. The '64 had a 430-inch V8, and one would think at the top of the Ford food chain they could come up with a proper engine.
unsprung said:
It's not, actually. In the UK, on the European Continent and in the US, having a dedicated and chauffeur-driven car assigned to you 24/7 tends to be mostly for the one percent and the cadre of managers who work for them. Conversely, in China, even a moderately affluent business person may run a chauffeur-driven car.
Then there's the opportunity in China for massive growth in numbers as well as a clean slate that gives brands like Lincoln (and Cadillac and Buick), opportunities in Asia that they will not be able to duplicate in Western markets.
The point in Asia, is it's not really about snooty Chinese not wanting to do their own driving, but more that the roads are dangerous, drivers get paid only £100 per month, and it's just far more sensible to get a driver than negotiate the stray cattle and rickshaws yourself.Then there's the opportunity in China for massive growth in numbers as well as a clean slate that gives brands like Lincoln (and Cadillac and Buick), opportunities in Asia that they will not be able to duplicate in Western markets.
In Europe where other road uses are generally qualified to be there, and an on call chauffeur would cost you thousands per month, you just can't afford to be driven, unless you are extremely wealthy
unsprung said:
mikEsprit said:
These will be turned into stretch limos 20 minutes after they are on the market for Americans to be chauffeured from the airports, wedding parties, etc.
The stretched limousine market that you mention tends not to be a tremendous opportunity for an OEM like Lincoln / Ford. There might be a small bump in sales to owner-operators who choose to work for the likes of Uber, but many of these owner-operators now choose more thrifty, less-indulgent cars (because owner-operators must pay for fuel, maintenance and insurance).
xRIEx said:
ZesPak said:
That body - length shoulder and to a lesser extent the front grille make it much more a jaguar xj to me.
Better looking than any current Bentley imho.
I agree, my first thought was the similarity between the faces of the Continental and the XJ.Better looking than any current Bentley imho.
Fetchez la vache said:
To my eyes it looks far nicer then the Bentley.
Never thought I'd type that.
I have to agree. No wonder Luc is throwing handbags about like a polo necked, Eurotrash mincer, he's just had his arse handed to him by a bunch or rednecks. Never thought I'd type that.
This car does look more elegant and stylish than the Bentley saloon. Which in its latest guise does look like it was styled by chaps who grew up in East Germany.
VW seem to be throwing handbags around quite a bit at the moment.
Plus, dear old Luc should really remember what brand he works for and understand it a bit better. Getting in a public huff over a blue collar product is somewhat belittling.
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