The traditional American luxury car is big, boxy, supremely comfortable and
awesomely powerful.
But when the last Cadillac Fleetwood is built this year, only the Lincoln Town Car
will be left to champion the old standards.
The future belongs to a new breed of prestige models like the Lincoln Continental
and its archrival, the Cadillac Seville.
These are cars that recognize how the extraordinary popularity of European and
Japanese sport and touring sedans has redefined what many affluent younger Americans
want in a pricey car.
They're trying to take what many Americans liked best about our traditional luxury
cars--the power, the size and the gadgets--and marry that with what we like most about
the new breed of foreign luxury cars--the performance, the handling and the style.
The new Lincoln Continental, which was completely redesigned for the '95 model
year, is an intriguing step in that direction.
There's a lot of traditional American luxury car here. It's more powerful. The
first V8 Ford has ever offered in a front wheel drive boosted the Continental's
horsepower 62 percent. It's bigger. The Continental is longer, wider, taller and
heavier--a hefty 3911 pounds, just 120 pounds lighter than the Town Car. It's gadget
heaven. An unsurpassed array of wizbang electronics allows you to customize 13 aspects
of the car to your personal tastes. But the new Continental also offers better
performance and handling--not great performance and handling, but definitely
better--cutting-edge technology and sophisticated styling.
Is this progress or what?
The first thing you notice about the Continental is a new look that conceals its
bulk in a sleek but understated design reminiscent of the elegant Mark VIII personal
luxury coupe.
Although some have criticized the Continental's appearance as bland and
uninspiring, we disagree. There may be nothing flashy or provocative about it from its
wraparound headlights to its wraparound taillights, but the Lexus LS 400 doesn't turn
many heads either, nor an S-Class Mercedes. Sophisticated styling is often unobtrusive
and the Continental has the same rich, well-mannered style.
Next, pop the hood. Inside, you'll find a 4-cam, 4.6-liter V8 that offers enough
smooth, effortless power to satisfy almost anyone. The so-called InTech V8 powertrain
can go 100,000 miles between major tuneups. It's superbly matched to a 4-speed
automatic transmission and controlled by an engine computer that can analyze 1.7
million bits of information per second.
Impressed? Good, because you need to be before taking a peek at the window
sticker. When the Continental was redesigned last year it took an astonishing $10,000
leap in price.
There are no significant changes in the '96 Continental, and it starts at $42,440
including destination charges. Of course, there's a long list of standard features,
from air conditioning, dual airbags and leather seats to tinted glass and remote
keyless entry. But a touring package with power moonroof, traction control and premium stereo brought the total of our test car to $45,210.
Now the question becomes: Is it worth it?
Step inside the Continental and you're surrounded by a superbly comfortable cabin
that is as fully tasteful as any luxury car on the market. The plush carpeting and
high-quality fabrics, the simple wood trim and rich colors, all work to put you at
ease.
Attention has been paid to many details, such as the large-capacity, extendable
coat hook and umbrella tucked into a pouch behind the right front seat.
There's plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy long drives, and the back seat is
extra spacious. Car seats and kids go in and out with ease.
The white-on-black instrument panel with floating red indicators is elegant and
