NEW YORK: Ford Lincoln has revealed its new Continental concept at the New York Auto Show, this new concept – a confirmed preview of a coming production model – reveals that Ford is once again preparing to honour the badge.
Speaking at the concept’s unveiling in New York, Ford boss Mark Fields described the Continental as a signal “of what we call quiet luxury”.
“The Concept is a very strong hint, I’ll underline ‘very strong hint’, as to what you’ll see in the production vehicle.”
And, as with its rivals in the premium market, Ford has set its eyes on China as the reborn Continental’s primary market, where the Lincoln brand has been trading for less than a year.
Doing away with the still quite new winged grille of the current Lincoln range, the new Continental concept is fronted by a wide-open, deep and chrome-heavy new mouth.
Long slender headlights flank the grille, filled with LED lamps that each bear the Lincoln cross.
Powerfully muscled guards and a single smooth character line sit beneath a long and low roofline, all coming together to form a suggestively Bentley-like shape.
That feel continues at the rear, where a long deck tapers off to the broad wheel arches and long glowing tail lamps.
The company has yet to reveal full technical details for the new concept, although it has confirmed that power in the concept is provided by an “all-new” 3.0 litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine.
When it enters production, the new Continental will face off against the likes of GM’s new Cadillac CT6 – also due to appear this week – along with the big Lexus LS and the anticipated Infiniti Q80.