No more dripping chrome and marshmallow suspensions, the Lincoln of the 2000s would attack the European conquerors head-on, be more BMW than BMW!
At least we believed it at Ford …
Questioning
If the 80s were excellent for Lincoln, by finally reaching the level of Cadillac sales, the 90s were more difficult and the brand owes its survival only to the very lucrative Navigator, launched in 1998. The clientele is aging and European and Japanese competition is getting stronger. The traditional recipe no longer takes. And so, as the saying goes: if you can’t defeat them, join them.
Photo: Lincoln
Transatlantic collaboration
That’s good, because Ford has in its purse the venerable English brand Jaguar, acquired in 1989. After a long period of hesitation, the project of a brand new propulsion platform, called DEW98, is launched. It is a joint development between Ford and Jaguar which will serve as the basis for the Lincoln LS, Ford Thunderbird (2002-2005), Jaguar S-Type (2000-2008) and XF (2008-2015). It was to be used for the 2005 Mustang as well, but Ford will change its plans.
The emphasis is on the quality of handling. This is why the LS receives four-wheel independent suspension and numerous aluminum components (suspensions, hood, trunk lid and front fenders) to reduce weight. The engineers manage to obtain an almost perfect front / rear weight distribution: 51/49 for the version with V6 and 52/48 for the version with V8.
The engines come from Jaguar. The 3.0-liter V6 is derived from the Duratec Ford found in the Taurus, but it benefits from a variable valve timing system. The 3.9-liter V8 is a Ford-specific evolution of the AJ-V8 block introduced by Jaguar in 1996. The powers are 210 and 252 horsepower, respectively. In both cases, they are mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission and, icing on the cake, a 5-speed manual transmission from Getrag is also available on the V6. We had not seen a manual transmission at Lincoln since 1952!
The exterior styling is entrusted to Helmuth Schrader. Born in Germany, he joined Ford Europe in 1974 before coming to work in Detroit in 1994. He has the difficult task of combining his European influences with the stylistic codes of Lincoln. Interior styling is led by Ron Swick.
Photo: Lincoln
Start with a bang!
The Lincoln LS was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in 1998 and hit the market in June 1999 for the 2000 vintage. It was then called LS6 and LS8 (depending on the engine) but Lexus feared that this name might be is too close to that of his LS sedan. Lincoln will rename them LS V6 and LS V8. At this point, the brand has high hopes for the LS and hopes to attract younger buyers (ages 30-50). She estimates that she can sell 70% V8, 25% automatic V6 and 5% manual V6 (but wants the latter figure to be higher).
For a while, Lincoln executives are seriously considering marketing it in Europe and are evaluating the possibility of a diesel version. However, the purchase of Volvo in 1999 turns things upside down and will delay these plans… before they are completely canceled.
Sales forecasts for the 1999 calendar year are 30,000 copies and 65,000 for 2000 (including Canada and Mexico). Indeed, the objectives are met with American sales of 26,368 units in 1999 and 51,039 in 2000. The title of Car of the Year 2000 awarded by Motor Trend must not be foreign to it. The magazine appreciates the bet taken by Lincoln. Moreover, the whole of the press recognizes the road qualities of the LS.
Photo: Lincoln
Special editions
For the 2002 vintage, Lincoln introduced an LSE version (for Lincoln Special Edition) which is in fact only an aesthetic whole (special grille, sill, single wheels and dual exhaust). This package will also be available in 2004 and 2005 (all 2006 models will have a front similar to the LSE).
Also in 2002, Lincoln presented at the New York Motor Show a concept unveiled with McLaren Performance (nothing to do with the English brand…). The 3.9-liter V8 gets an Eaton-type supercharger that cranks up power to 350 horsepower. It is mated to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission. Finally, the suspensions are revised and the 18-inch wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport. This could have made an interesting competitor to the BMW M5 but Lincoln will not go further …
It’s getting nasty…
From 2001, sales began to decline. A decline that the 2003 restyling could not stem. At this point, the engines were revised and their power increased to 232 horsepower for the V6 (after increasing to 220 horsepower in 2002) and 280 horsepower for the V8. The manual gearbox is discontinued. It has only managed to attract 2,331 buyers in three years, far less than expected. The front and rear facies are reviewed and the equipment is enhanced. A new THX certified audio system (an industry first) comprising 10 speakers and combined with a navigation system with touchscreen is optional.
Afterwards, not much is happening… The V6 was abandoned in 2006 to make way for the new front-wheel drive Zephyr, cousin of the Ford Fusion. The LS slipped out at the end of the 2006 vintage and the factory that produced it, Wixom in Michigan, was closed.
Photo: Lincoln
What happened?
This is probably the magazine Car and Driver That best sums up the Lincoln LS in a 2002 review test: an impossible car to hate, but hard to love.
The LS is rather successful, yet it does not manage to stand out. Neither the exterior nor the interior have the panache of some of its competitors. Its positioning is unclear: it aims to compete with the 5 Series but it is often compared to the 3 Series.
And then, there is still Lincoln’s image deficit to be filled in this segment… which is no small task.
Finally, Ford went through tumultuous years between 2000 and 2006 and the LS lost its main lawyer with the departure of CEO Jacques “the knife” Nasser in October 2001.
The LS will have been manufactured in 262,900 copies (including 245,520 for the United States) and will have no direct replacement. She will not have succeeded in “bringing a new dimension to Lincoln” as claimed. Motor Trend in 2000 when the Car of the Year title was awarded.