AMID SCUTTLEBUTT THAT 2020 WILL BE THIS ULTRA LUXE SEDAN’S FINAL YEAR, LINCOLN GIVES US ARGUABLY THE BEST CONTINENTAL EVER

BY MATT SCANLON

The recent rumor mill has been fast churning with real or prognosticated sedan obituaries. The latest has been for the Lincoln Continental, which a number of industry analysts (like motor1.com and fordauthority.com) opine could be cancelled as the end of the 2020 model year. Be advised, however, that parent company Ford has made no such announcement… yet; in fact, it rolled out the 2019 model with a $110,000 Coach Door Edition a run of just 80 cars equipped with center opening “suicide doors” that sold out in just a few days. (One wonders, in the face of disappointing sedan sales overall, why such an adored option isn’t available on all Continentals, but that’s not for small minds to ponder).

If a reader wants to take out insurance in the event that this 80th anniversary example of the four door ultra-luxury cruiser is truly one for the history books, we declare the 2019 Continental to be a thing of poise, beauty, and sass, and a remarkable bargain at its $49,900 base price.

2018 Lincoln Continental

Three motors are available: twin turbocharged 3 liter (400 hp) and 2.7 liter (335 hp) V6s, and a 3.7 liter Ti-VCT V6 rated at 305 horsepower all hitched to a Select Shift automatic transmission with manual fingertips paddles. Each is more than adequate to the task, but we know the power of bragging, so the first is our go to, as there’s simply nothing like scorching an unsuspecting Porsche Panamera.

Inside, seats are trimmed in Bridge of Weir Deepsoft leather, created exclusively for Lincoln by the historic Scottish tannery. Inspired by those in private aircraft, these Perfect Position buckets feature a patented comfort carrier design that flexes around driver and front seat passenger, including thigh cushion extends that adjust independently to help support legs, as well as Active Motion massage that reduces muscle fatigue in the upper legs and lower back.

Rhapsody - 2017 Lincoln Black Label theme for Continental
Driving is made easier with a raft of assist systems, including a heads up display and collision and lane shift warnings, adaptive cruise control, post-crash auto response, and parking assists. Back seaters are treated to Maybach like commodiousness and tech features, not least a dedicated moon roof, auto sun shades, and the ability to stream movies and music up to 50 feet away using the Lincoln Connect 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

Cellini Spread

Lincoln of Wayne
1910 Route 23, Wayne, NJ / 888.418.6227
lincolnofwayne.com