A Lincoln Continental concept, representing two years of research and development, was unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show by Lincoln Mercury president Brian Kelley and ex-Rover design director Gerry McGovern.
The design includes updated features from Lincoln’s past, such as centre opening doors. The concept is powered by a six-litre V-12 engine developing 309 kW (414 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 560 Nm of torque (413 lbs.-ft) at 5,270 rpm. Drive to the rear wheels is via a six-speed automatic transmission.
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“This is a pivotal year in Lincoln’s long-term growth strategy,” Kelley said. “We are launching three new products this summer to build on our strong foundation, and we are presenting the Continental to show where we will take the brand in the near future.”
Ford is coy about whether or not the big new Lincoln will actually make production. After all the usual motor show blah-blah about design qualities and direction, McGovern added: “Someday, a flagship like Continental could join Lincoln’s showroom. But the emphasis on package efficiency, the approach to surface development and detailing, and certain Continental design cues absolutely will see production.”
The designers aimed for maximum interior space and the easiest possible passenger entry and exit (that’s English for your ‘ingress and egress’, guys).
The concept is claimed to have unique proportions, centring the cabin within the wheelbase.
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By GlobalDataThe car is painted Silver Sea Spray and a clearly-recognisable Lincoln grille, milled from aluminum, incorporates four round headlamps that use remote light generator technology developed with Philips Lighting.
In this system, light generated by a single source is transferred to each lamp by fibre optic cable. The technology requires less power than conventional halogen bulbs but produces two and a half times more light. Glare is reduced substantially because light dispersion is well controlled and the beam can be aimed precisely.
The sheer bodysides provide weight and strength and are interrupted only by subtly flared arches that wrap around 22-inch polished aluminum wheels and Continental tyres. Chrome finishers accentuate the car’s length to add tension to the bodysides.
At the rear, a Lincoln star badge divides large LED lamps and rectangular exhaust tips are integrated into the valance.
“In an executive car, there are inviolable principles,” McGovern said. “The vehicle must be engaging for the driver, supremely comfortable for everyone, and the car should do the work for you. Above all, space must be used efficiently and [entry and exit] must never be compromised.”
Other claimed Continental innovations include:
- Powered centre-opening ‘suicide’ doors are triggered remotely or by touching the flush aluminum door ‘handles’
- Front and rear doors operate independently and, with both open, the pillarless opening is almost six feet wide due to articulating hinges that open to 90 degrees and a ring frame that adds structural rigidity along the A-pillar, rear roof pillar, sill and roof rails.
- Indirect fibre optic lighting in each door panel and headliner
- The hydraulically powered boot lid traces a parallelogram as it opens to maintain its horizontal orientation. This feature keeps the rear lamps visible at all times and allows for easy access to three sliding storage drawers fitted in the 20.5 cubic foot (580-litre) boot
- A large luggage tray slides out of the trunk by remote control to present custome-made luggage and golf club cases
The concept’s full-width instrument panel is built around reconfigurable displays for engine functions and vehicle systems, including concierge and telematics features, navigation and audio system.
The concierge service allows passengers to check the weather, make restaurant reservations, seek route assistance or get personalised financial market updates, telephone functions are hands-free and a mouse built into the console is used to navigate the displays.
The display system’s sharply defined images are created by Organic Light Emitting Diode technology (OLED), developed with Pioneer Electronics Corporation. The heart of OLED technology is a light emitting polymer film. Current is passed through the film by a matrix of electrodes to illuminate individual pixels, which can display in green, blue, orange and yellow.
System response time is very fast, so displays can be changed quickly. Other benefits of the mercury-free OLED include high visibility even in direct sunlight, a wide viewing angle up to 160 degrees and low power consumption.
In addition to the mouse, the centre console also houses controls for the window lifts, power door openers and other functions. The upper section is for audio controls, the central section for dual-zone climate control and the rear compartment has dedicated dual-zone climate and audio controls.
The headliner and the lounge chair-inspired seats are covered in full-grain aniline leather dyed a creamy colour called Rhode Island Sand. A translucent silk panel shades the overhead fibre optic light strip and the flooring is a close-sheared midnight blue sheepskin. The instrument panel and doors are trimmed in a combination of Rhode Island Sand and Midnight Blue leather; the dark colour helps mask the transition to the window glass.
Front and rear seat roominess is designed to be exceptional. The front seats are adjustable for height and rake, and have fore and aft travel of 10 inches (250 millimetres). The seats adjust fore and aft across a range of eight inches (200 millimetres) and can be reconfigured into a bed by folding down the centre portion of the front seat back. The rear seat cushions also incorporate a tilt function to aid passenger entry and exit.
Built-in laptop tables are stowed in the console and case holders built into the front seat backs fold down to allow an attaché to be opened without removing it from the sleeve.
A cabinet between the rear seats houses crystal and a drinks dispenser. Each rear door has a large umbrella holder (Skoda, however, claims the first on this one with its new Superb) and compartments that can be personalised with such items as cigar humidors.
Research and development of the Continental concept began in early 2000, shortly after dedicated Lincoln design, engineering and manufacturing organisations were established.
