Lincoln Continental Concept

      The 2015 New York Auto Show was dominated by lazy refreshes (I'm looking at you GMC and Infiniti) and sensible family car redesigns, so Lincoln grabbed the spotlight when it rocked the Javits Center with its revival of the classic Lincoln Continental nameplate. At first glance this rebirth looks fresh and luxurious, unfortunately however, the new Continental's design is a mishmash of elements stolen from other luxury vehicles.

     The biggest mistake is also the most glaring one: the signature split-wing grille has been replaced by a new oval, chrome-laden grille, which has a Kia Tiger Nose-like indent on the bottom. The chrome is set back, and this, combined with the shape, is reminiscent of the Jaguar XJ's grille. While the similarities between the grille of the Lincoln and Kia and Jaguar are disconcerting, what makes this new component more disturbing is what it is replacing. The split-wing grille has been a key part of Lincoln's design for nearly a decade since it was introduced on the MKR Concept in 2007. The elegant look that the split-wing grille gives off was part of what made a Lincoln a Lincoln. Furthermore, Lincoln just redesigned almost their entire model line, the Navigator, MKX, MKZ, and MKC, with the wing grille design (see below for examples). It seems strange that Lincoln would revamp its entire lineup and almost immediately introduce new design language.

     The headlights, while handsome and modern, are reminiscent of those on the Hyundai Genesis, in both its shape and the LED strip running down the side. The five vertically oriented headlamp units also bring to mind the recent Acura headlights, known as the "Jewel-Eye" design.

     Lincoln's copycat antics don't stop with the headlights and the grille. The full-width taillights are very beautiful and intricate, but are very similar to the taillights of the recently revealed Audi Prologue Concept.

    There are some memorable new touches. The daytime running lights are simple yet elegant, and the chrome lining the bottom of the front fascia reinforce the Continental's luxurious presence. The silver, multi-spoked wheels and the other chrome on the side of the Lincoln continue its bold look. The font of the word Continental on the trim piece on the front door is particularly striking, adding an air of sophistication to the concept.

     The Continental also has a few gimmicks, which, while unlikely to make production, are fresh and exciting. The door handles sprout from the silver trim piece beneath the windows, adding a luxurious flourish to a typically overlooked design element. The futuristic door handles are referred to as "E-latch" by the company, and are operated by simply pressing a button. Another cool feature of the concept is the lighting sequence. As one approaches the car with the key, a light behind the badge as well as the head and taillights fade on. These cool tidbits enhance the sedan's design, but seem less significant considering their lack of production viability.

     Overall, while the design is quite attractive, there are too many elements that strongly resemble parts of other cars, making it hard to truly appreciate the design of the new Continental.


Grade:
Front: B-
Rear:  B
Overall: B

Brand new MKX with split-wing grille

Refreshed Navigator with split-wing grille

Recently redesigned MKZ with split-wing grille