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Lincoln Continental redressed in bold new statement of style
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SEATTLE, Wash. -- Catching a shuttle to the airport typically entails a ride in one of Lincoln's full-size Town Car sedans, which seems to be the preferred conveyance of limousine operators, but recent experience resulted in a cushy cruise in another type of Lincoln that orients around a front-wheel-drive mechanism rather than Town Car's rear-wheel mode.
This other full-size Lincoln, looking classy with bold chrome grille and new sculptured face for the revised editions of 1998, rolled to a stop beneath a hotel's porte cochere as it flashed a chrome nameplate: Continental.
The badge tracks back more than half a century in Lincoln lore representing a car which at times has been both dashing and daring, often innovative and sometimes even iconoclastic -- like the "Continental Kit" that fostered cars modified with spare tire mounted to a back bumper.
Recent Continental iterations trace to a major overall of 1995, which produced a new platform in a package loaded with both trappings of luxury and enough mechanical and electronic hardware to dazzle but perhaps also confuse even the most adept techno-wired driver.
Continental for 1998 reduces the technical confusion in a redesigned package with plush new interior fittings.
One tester's introduction to the revisions of Continental occurred while ensconced in the leather-lined rear quarters of that airport limo, and let me tell you: It became a pleasing commute with big-car comforts and the smooth and soothing ride quality of a, well, a limousine.
Later, a week's experience of living out of a new Continental for at-home driving chores revealed that this new version doesn't forfeit handling finesse and drivability for the plush suspension and all of those on-board comforts.
And everywhere I steered it, Continental caused eyes to follow and heads to turn as it elicited admiring glances from the slick styling of this year's facelift.
The new face of Continental begins with shapely molded composite hood capped by chrome glints of a turbine-vaned grille, which now mounts to the front of all Lincoln vehicles as common signature.
More chrome as accent appears in flanking clear-lens reflector headlamps that wrap around the abbreviated front corners and seem to flow smoothly into side sculptured bodyside cladding.
Frontal overhang on Continental was pared for this design, but in balance the rear deck was extended to create a strong new tail treatment. Although overall dimensions remain essentially the same, revised proportions present a dynamic, windswept shape.
The tail, also with composite deck, protrudes for two additional inches this year and the extension carves out more trunk space inside.
Within Continental, the fresh layout installs a new instrument panel covered in textured suede, with polished bird's-eye maple wood dotting the panel as ritzy accent.
This Lincoln particularly impresses when you climb inside the spacious cabin -- it swamps you in luxury, with plush leather seating, power everything, conveniences set at every location and a superior level of interior quietness.
One of Continental's few options concerns front seat configuration. Standard are sporty twin buckets with center-mount gear shifter and console with armrest that flips to reveal an optional cellular phone, but a no-charge alternate brings a 3-person bench with column-mounted shift lever and fold-out armrest concealing a cellular phone.
The rear bench easily seats three adults. Airport commuting time spent back there demonstrated that this was indeed a comfortable space for long legs and tall torso.
For a big car, it's also surprisingly easy to drive.
With a rigid chassis and this year's simplified suspension, it performs with agility around curves, holding steady with little body roll.
Variable-assist power steering responds quickly to driver's input but returns to center rapidly. Continental's big disc brakes tie to electronic anti-lock action, and the standard traction control system employs engine torque reduction and brake pedal pressure to enhance vehicle control through various pavement conditions.
Electronic wizardry in the previous Continental extended beyond a dazzling electronic display of instruments in the dashboard to a computer-based command system which could remember and regulate driver preferences for seat and steering wheel positions, adjustments to mirrors and radio dials, even steering and suspension.
When first encountered, this complex system of commands and options intimidated and confused, making a driver think you'd need a crash computer course to learn to operate it.
Continental's revision this year eliminates confusion and simplifies the system, leaving easy-to-understand aspects like memory settings for seat position but deleting in standard configuration choices for suspension settings.
Now, standard Continental rides on non-variable gas-charged shocks and uses lower spring rates to create soft ride sensations. Suspension springs carry over from the previous edition, with steel coils in front and air springs in back tied to an automatic leveling system for stability.
The variable suspension becomes an option within a Driver Control Package, which includes selective ride control and memory system for preferences, plus touch controls added to steering wheel.
Continental's powertrain feels gutsy. Changes in the engine's governing microprocessor make this a quicker car, with snappy acceleration when you pound the pedal.
The all-aluminum 4.6-liter V8 Ford engine, with dual-cam configuration and 32 valves, stocks sequential port electronic fuel injection and produces 260 horsepower.
An electronic 4-speed automatic transaxle, which has a non-synchronous overdrive gear and lockup torque converter, shifts quietly and doesn't intrude on driver patterns.
Standard configuration of Continental includes many power-operated convenience items, but premium gadgets in addition to the Driver Control Package appear on a list of optional equipment, like a JBL audio system, personal security package and Lincoln's RESCU (Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit) communications program, which links to global positioning satellites and a hands-free cellular phone and can pinpoint the vehicle's earthly location and summon help when asked.
Retail figures for Continental begin at $37,830.
1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL SEDAN
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size luxury sedan |
| Model Options: |
Full-size luxury sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
109.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
207.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 4.6-L V8
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/TCS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
17/25 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 37,830 |
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