Saving the Lincoln - Casanova Cars

Saving the Lincoln

Ford motors will be showing a rear-drive Lincoln concept car at the next month’s North American International auto show. It will be based on the same rear-drive chassis and engineering architecture that it’s planning for a future design of the popular Ford Falcon in Australia. The debate is whether to make the car a front-wheel drive or a rear-wheel drive. The front-wheel drives are usually cheaper as compared to that of the rear-wheel drive. However John Wolkonowicz, an auto analyst said that "If Ford is serious about saving and reviving Lincoln, than the rear-drive design is essential."

The automaker will be looking for enough positive response from the public and the media to make a case for the rear-wheel drive design. If Ford does manage to build this design it wont likely surface in showrooms until 2009 at the earliest. In the meantime, the Lincoln division is beefing up its heretofore paltry lineup with the new MKX crossover, hitting dealerships this month; a front-drive MKS sedan, which shares underpinnings with the much derided Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego sedans, due to launch in 2008; and a luxury "people mover" based on the Ford Fairlane concept.

For the comeback plans the Zephyr/MKZ has been the cause of some optimism inside Ford. Like four of Lincoln's offerings, it is a retrimmed Ford, but it has attracted notice for its improved interior. Ford is expected to sell about 33,000 this year up from the 25,000 for which it planned. Giombetti says the car has attracted a lot of first-time luxury-brand buyers and has pulled equally from American and import buyers. The car's upgraded engine this year, the company hopes, will boost sales by about 15%. Still, the addition in the next few years of a new, rear-drive flagship sedan or sports car—one that is totally unique to Lincoln—is seen as vital to a legitimate comeback.

If ford really is serious about reviving the Lincoln it will definitely face a lot of difficulties in doing so. No matter if it’s just the design, the management or even going up against their rivals like the Lexus, BMW and Mercedes it will have to design a car that will have the design features of the Lincoln and also attract the people to the new design in the luxury segment.

Lincoln's Luxury Lineup