2004 Lincoln Mark-X

Lincoln’s first two-door convertible concept with a power-folding, retractable, glass-roofed hardtop is the Mark X. Pronounced "Mark Ten," the two-seat luxury convertible roadster is based on the rear-wheel-drive Ford Thunderbird architecture, and features a 280 horsepower, 3.9-liter, 4-valve DOHC V-8 aluminum engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Mark X’s SelectShift transmission allows the driver to shift from manual drive to a five-speed automatic from the steering wheel or shifter in the center console. A multi-functional, 7-inch LCD information panel is operated by a mouse located in the center console and displays satellite navigation, climate control status and vehicle dynamics like seat memory or tire pressure.

2004 Lincoln Aviator

Lincoln has big plans for the all-new, redesigned Aviator. As the first car-based SUV to come from Lincoln, the next-generation Aviator promises a more car-like ride. Under the Aviator’s hood lies a 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time all-wheel-drive system that utilizes hill descent control. Incorporating design cues from Lincolns of old, the Aviator will feature a bright metal strip, which begins at the grille and outlines the vehicle’s structure.

2003 Lincoln Navicross

The rejuvenated Lincoln-Mercury design studios created the Navicross concept that had a similar size and shape to that of a sport sedan combined with a sport wagon with the ground clearance and breakover angles of a sport utility vehicle. First seen at the 2003 auto shows, Navicross was a stepping-stone for the creation and introduction of the 2007 Lincoln MKX. The interlocking doors were constructed to take the place of the conventional B-pillar without compromising the structural integrity of the body. Under the hood was a supercharged 32-valve 4.2-liter aluminum V-8 that powered a full-time all-wheel-drive system with adaptive traction control. The 5-speed automatic transmission had a manual sequential function, and sensed driving style and road conditions for optimal gear shifting and performance. Source: Internet

2002 Lincoln Continental

Few production designs age as gracefully as the 1961-63 Lincoln Continental. Its clean, restrained lines still stand out as the antithesis of the finned and chromed beasts that preceded it. As the Continental progressed through the decades, it lost its styling edge. But when the Continental concept debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January of 2002, it was clear somebody in Dearborn found what was once lost. In the two weeks that separated the L.A. show from the Detroit Auto Show, Ford Motor Company announced the results of one of their many restructuring plans. The production Continental was canceled, making the concept a PR nightmare … "Gee, Mr. Ford, you just killed the Continental, what’s this concept about?" For the Detroit show, the newly out-of-the-spotlight concept was shunned and parked in a dark corner of the Lincoln display. Lincoln is still struggling to find its way in terms of design. The MKR that debuted in Detroit this past January, while attractive, looks far more contrived than the 2002 Continental. With the success of Ford’s current Mustang, how much better off would Lincoln have been had they taken the historically inspired path with this Continental? With the average Lincoln Mercury dealer selling fewer than half a dozen cars per month, the company probably wouldn’t be worse off. The 2002 Continental is stored at a facility near Ford’s World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. Source: Internet

2001 Lincoln Mk9

The Lincoln MK 9 coupe concept features optimized proportions and stance, combined with an overall restraint in execution. The interior is designed to be indulgent and comfortable - all characteristics that define "American Luxury." "The Lincoln MK 9 displays a timeless elegance borne of the design’s inherent simplicity and visual logic, while its overall exuberance is unmistakably American," says Lincoln Design Director Gerry McGovern. Inside the MK 9, a combination of Dark Cherry Red and Marlboro Red leathers with accents of polished metal create a luxurious lounge environment. The front seats - which are cantilevered off the center console to improve passenger foot space - take their design influence from the Eames Lounge Chair, a mid-20th Century American classic, which was designed for comfort. The symmetrical dashboard is clean and simple. The etched glass instruments are crafted with jewel-like quality and illuminated indirectly. The MK9’s controls are a combination of advanced digital and analog interfaces. Navigation and telematics information is displayed on a reconfigurable screen in the center console that is operated by retractable controls that sit flush when not in use. The transmission selection is by an electronic, column-mounted paddle shifter. The creation of a design philosophy to define American Luxury at Lincoln is being driven by an international team of designers headed by McGovern, who joined Lincoln Mercury in 1999 from Rover Group, where he was Design Director for Land Rover vehicles. "Lincoln has given me an incredible opportunity to hand-select a team of the best young designers from all over the world to explore the brand’s heritage and build a design philosophy around the tangible and emotional qualities that define America and American Luxury," McGovern says. "We have a holistic view of product design that is different from a traditional automotive approach," McGovern adds. "Lincoln Design and our show properties like the MK 9 are about defining and embracing a philosophy to guide every step of the product development process." The Lincoln design team, which includes interior designers, modelers, materials experts and packaging engineers, began their work with an exploration of Lincoln’s heritage. "Before we could define what Lincoln design should stand for in the future, we first had to understand its past," said McGovern. "In our exploration, we learned that two Lincoln coupes - the 1940 Continental and the 1956 Continental Mark II - followed by the iconic Continental sedans and convertibles of the 1960's, had tremendous cache and were incredible design statements. Interestingly, they all have design elements that are still appropriate in a modern context." McGovern says the 1940 Continental - a car that architect Frank Lloyd Wright declared to be the most beautiful car in the world - is significant for its sheer elegance. The Continental, which was commissioned by Edsel Ford and designed by E.T. Gregorie, was the first vehicle honored for design excellence by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Mark II was envisioned as the contemporary evolution of the original Continental. The Mark II established the classic hood, cabin and deck proportions of the modern luxury coupe and was an oasis of restraint in a market dominated by tail fins, chrome and exaggerated styling elements. The 1961 Continental, which was designed by Elwood Engel, remains one of the most enduring automotive designs of all time. Its sheer body surfaces, unique center-opening doors, chrome-accented shoulder line and overall restraint established a signature look for Lincoln that was totally unique. Pablo Picasso owned a Continental from this era. 1960's-era Continentals still have tremendous visual impact and have been featured in several popular films, including "The Matrix." "When a brand has such a strong design heritage as Lincoln, the challenge is to recognize the past without being held back by it," McGovern says. "Between the 1940's and the 1960's, Lincolns were about beautiful proportions, elegant sophistication and restraint. These are qualities we can realize in a modern context without being at all retrospective." Source: Internet

1996 Lincoln Sentinel

In 1996 came the Sentinel, a startling expression of Ford’s edge design ethos: a high waistline, wonderfully sculpted lighting, ultra-clean, flat shapes and elegant proportions. It was a huge car, but felt right, and was even made into a runner on a lengthened Jaguar platform. Source: Internet

1995 Lincoln L2K

Lincoln’s 2-seat L2K roadster concept came equipped with a new 3.4-liter, 32-valve V-8 that cranked-out 250 horses. Power drove the rear wheels through a high-tech 4-speed automatic tranny. L2K stood for Lincoln 2000, and was one of several attempts to develop a convertible version of the Mark-series sport-luxury coupe. Source: Internet