Lincoln News: Lincoln Planning to Add Suicide Doors To Continental

[William Maley]

The Lincoln Continental isn't doing so well. So far in 2018, sales of the model have dropped 30 percent. As we reported earlier this month, there is talk that the Continental could be going away once its lifecycle is completed. But the brand isn't giving up on their flagship sedan just yet.

During the 2018 National Automobile Dealers Association show yesterday, Lincoln showed its dealers a photo of the Continental with rear-hinged (aka suicide) doors and disclosed plans to build it. The move is part of an effort by Lincoln to show commitment to its car lineup. No timeframe or additional details were given. A number of Lincoln dealers who were at the meeting revealed this news under the condition of anonymity to Automotive News.

A Lincoln spokeswoman declined to comment on the suicide doors.

Suicide doors are not new nor unique to Lincoln. Before World War II, a number of brands equipped various models with this type of door. The 1961 Lincoln Continental would feature this type of door, helping make this version of the Continental one of the brand's most iconic models.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[ocnblu]

This will be cool, just what the doctor ordered.

[Robert Hall]

I'll be pleasantly surprised if this does happen.  I like the current Continental, and a retro touch like this would be neat.

[G. David Felt]

Nice Touch but they have many other issues they need to address besides putting on retro cool Suicide doors.

[Drew Dowdell]

This would require some fairly substantial engineering changes on the current car.  I'm sure it could be done to the current one, but at what cost? There should be a next generation Continental on the new platform already in the works, my guess is that it shows up there. 

I'm starting to wonder if Ford isn't doing a big media fakeout on some of this doom and gloom news surrounding the car lines.

[smk4565]

They should install suicide doors and then cancel the Continental the next year.  Seems like a typical Ford product planning sort of thing to do.  Maybe this can be the new Lincoln signature, and put suicide doors on every vehicle they make, then it will make their cars different than Fords.

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

They should install suicide doors and then cancel the Continental the next year.  Seems like a typical Ford product planning sort of thing to do.  Maybe this can be the new Lincoln signature, and put suicide doors on every vehicle they make, then it will make their cars different than Fords.

Would be a smart move for Lincoln to have Gullwing, Scissor, Suicide doors and more as you can use the same platform, but the style, interior and doors would make it different enough to not have comparisons.

[A Horse With No Name]

6 hours ago, ocnblu said:

This will be cool, just what the doctor ordered.

Doctors are useless when the patient is essentially terminal.

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Would be a smart move for Lincoln to have Gullwing, Scissor, Suicide doors and more as you can use the same platform, but the style, interior and doors would make it different enough to not have comparisons.

Would be smart for Ford to build F series and Mustang...pretty much the only product they can keep interesting and relevant.

4 hours ago, dfelt said:

Nice Touch but they have many other issues they need to address besides putting on retro cool Suicide doors.

...and 1973 would have been a good time for them to have started facing relevancy issues.

[balthazar]

Lincoln was down 23% last month, to 6700 units/mnth. I still don't think that's bad. Mini sold 3000 units with only 1 less model (really; it's 6 variations of the same cheese sandwich). Ford's volume can easily cover Lincoln.

The suicide doors is tremendously interesting- another major stepping stone to monetizing their heritage. Have to see what happens.

[A Horse With No Name]

I agree that it is intetesting.

[balthazar]

Ford made $8.4B in profit last year; Lincoln could sell 1000/mnth and FoMoCo would be just fine.

Only American brands are held to this unyielding white hot spotlight on 'volume'.

 

Put another way; guess how many cars Lincoln sold the first year of their iconic, oft-emulated, suicide-doored styling tour de'force (1961) : 25,164 units.

Edited March 26, 2018 by balthazar

[riviera74]

Save the suicide doors for other Lincoln models.  They may have a chance at survival.

[balthazar]

I wonder if people buzzed about Lincoln's survival in the early '60s, with sales volume far smaller than today. Myself, I've yet to come across such period conjecture.

[daves87rs]

If it just the doors, it would be a waste of money. Add a few other interesting ideas-now it might be worth something....

[frogger]

Lincoln's potential is mostly tied to China as a Buick competitor IMO.

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

35 minutes ago, frogger said:

Lincoln's potential is mostly tied to China as a Buick competitor IMO.

 

 

Bingo.  I hate to be a Buzz kill but on a recent trip I saw more Ford products from the 50's and 60's out on a March Monday on the interstate than current generation Continentals. 

Hate to Agree with SMK but Benz products are becoming as common as Toyota around here.

8 hours ago, balthazar said:

I wonder if people buzzed about Lincoln's survival in the early '60s, with sales volume far smaller than today. Myself, I've yet to come across such period conjecture.

Survival of the continental as a product vs Lincoln as a brand I think.  They will continue to build the SUV products.  Wonder what the inevitable demise of the fusion lineup will do for the Lincoln car line.

[Suaviloquent]

There’s no way they want to take the current car and then refresh it with those doors. That’s actual suicide for the car. 

The Continental really needs to provide obsessive luxury and quality, and the current car is good, but nowhere near that.

I just don’t understand how a car from LINCOLN that starts at $45,000 can be optioned up to $85,000. 

Ford needs to invest in its product very badly and Hacett isn’t a car guy plain and simple.

 

[Robert Hall]

6 minutes ago, Suaviloquent said:

 

I just don’t understand how a car from LINCOLN that starts at $45,000 can be optioned up to $85,000. 

 

 

Nothing unusual about that...plenty of models have a $40k or more spread between base and fully loaded...like the F150.

[Robert Hall]

This does also smell like a desperate gimmick to get attention to a failing model. 

[ccap41]

15 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Would be smart for Ford to build F series and Mustang...pretty much the only product they can keep interesting and relevant.

There's nothing wrong with the Fusion, Edge, or Explorer either. 

[A Horse With No Name]

49 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

There's nothing wrong with the Fusion, Edge, or Explorer either. 

Edge and Explorer are decent but not class leading. fusion will go the way of the dodo bird and is not the car the accord or Camry are IMHO.

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, Suaviloquent said:

I just don’t understand how a car from LINCOLN that starts at $45,000 can be optioned up to $85,000. 

 

This isn't out of the norm for any luxury automaker and even non-luxury vehicles. Look at all of the half ton trucks, for example. 

Chevy Colorado has a 30k price spread as well. Starts at $20,200 and can be built to over $50,000. Lexus GS starts at 46k and can be built to 90k. 

Just now, A Horse With No Name said:

Edge and Explorer are decent but not class leading. fusion will go the way of the dodo bird and is not the car the accord or Camry are IMHO.

Yeah they're not at the top but they're pretty close and offer performance trims their competitors don't save for the SRT Jeeps. There also isn't one brand that has a class leader in all of those segments so that's kind of a moot statement as each automaker kind of mixes and matches who's atop on each segment. 

Just because the Fusion is going away doesn't mean it isn't a good car and still towards the top half of its segment and for being around for 6 years already, isn't a bad testament towards the car. 

[FAPTurbo]

HET GUYS KNOW HOW TESLA MADE COOL DOORS WE CAN TOO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO US

[G. David Felt]

2 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

This does also smell like a desperate gimmick to get attention to a failing model. 

Probably would not be Desperate if they actually advertised the auto with a decent marketing plan so people know about the auto.

In fact IDIOT FORD, Needs to reduce the advertisements for their trucks and put some of the bucks into the other product sections.

I have not seen anything on any Ford car, CUV or Lincoln auto around Seattle, but plenty for their truck. Sad

[Robert Hall]

Just now, dfelt said:

Probably would not be Desperate if they actually advertised the auto with a decent marketing plan so people know about the auto.

In fact IDIOT FORD, Needs to reduce the advertisements for their trucks and put some of the bucks into the other product sections.

I have not seen anything on any Ford car, CUV or Lincoln auto around Seattle, but plenty for their truck. Sad

Problem is, Ford's ugly ass trucks are what sell in large volume and make the $$$$.....it's what the sheeple want. 

[G. David Felt]

3 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Problem is, Ford's ugly ass trucks are what sell in large volume and make the $$$$.....it's what the sheeple want. 

I understand that but I am also willing to bet that they could reduce by 10-15% the advertisements for the F150 and still get the same sales while increasing awareness of other products.

I have seen ZERO ads for the Continental or the new Navigator. Very sad for such new auto's.

[Robert Hall]

Just now, dfelt said:

I understand that but I am also willing to bet that they could reduce by 10-15% the advertisements for the F150 and still get the same sales while increasing awareness of other products.

I have seen ZERO ads for the Continental or the new Navigator. Very sad for such new auto's.

Not sure how effective advertising is anymore, in the era of cord cutters and streaming.    

[G. David Felt]

1 minute ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Not sure how effective advertising is anymore, in the era of cord cutters and streaming.    

Auto Industry need to embrace the change to ads that are in the screen of the tablet / smartphone user. I agree that it will be harder, so they need to evolve with the changing times.

[Robert Hall]

57 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Auto Industry need to embrace the change to ads that are in the screen of the tablet / smartphone user. I agree that it will be harder, so they need to evolve with the changing times.

Of course, with ad blocking software, many people (myself included) don't see most advertising on their mobile devices.  Advertising as a concept is obsolete--regardless of the medium--IMO.

Edited March 26, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Problem is, Ford's ugly ass trucks are what sell in large volume and make the $$$$.....it's what the sheeple want. 

Actually strange to hear this from me the Ford hater in the group but I really like the F series a lot. Ford did an amazingly nice job with both the regular series and the Super duty IMHO.

Plus Ford has a nice selection of specialty versions ranging from Raptor to king Ranch. I will happily give them the trucks.

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

I understand that but I am also willing to bet that they could reduce by 10-15% the advertisements for the F150 and still get the same sales while increasing awareness of other products.

I have seen ZERO ads for the Continental or the new Navigator. Very sad for such new auto's.

Even on YouTube I only pulled up one advert for the new Conti.

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

I understand that but I am also willing to bet that they could reduce by 10-15% the advertisements for the F150 and still get the same sales while increasing awareness of other products.

I have seen ZERO ads for the Continental or the new Navigator. Very sad for such new auto's.

It is a self perpetuating cycle...they sell trucks, they justify truck advertisement...which sells more trucks...rinse lather repeat. Plus a lot of truck advertisement is on things like network sports shows which will have a guaranteed male audience ready to buy them.

[Robert Hall]

2 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Actually strange to hear this from me the Ford hater in the group but I really like the F series a lot. Ford did an amazingly nice job with both the regular series and the Super duty IMHO.

Plus Ford has a nice selection of specialty versions ranging from Raptor to king Ranch. I will happily give them the trucks.

I'm sure it's a good product, but it's just so overwrought and hideously styled up front, IMO.   The F-series hasn't had a really good looking pickup overall IMO since the 9th generation ('92-97).

Edited March 26, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[A Horse With No Name]

Just now, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

I'm sure it's a good product, but it's just so overwrought and hideously styled up front, IMO.   The F-series hasn't had a really good looking pickup front end IMO since the 9th generation ('92-97).

We will simply ahve to disagree on this.  Although I do also like the 9th gen F series.  My brother in law owns one, lifted with a 460, clean California truck.  Hell, I would rock that thing!

[ccap41]

2 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

I'm sure it's a good product, but it's just so overwrought and hideously styled up front, IMO.  

I can't imagine what you think of the new Silverado if you think the F150 is overwrought. 

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I can't imagine what you think of the new Silverado if you think the F150 is overwrought. 

It's even more overwrought...  the only new pickup design I like is the Ram, but only certain trims. 

[ccap41]

The Ram is definitely the cleanest looking of the three. I also agree that it only looks "right" in certain trims. 

[Robert Hall]

3 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

The Ram is definitely the cleanest looking of the three. I also agree that it only looks "right" in certain trims. 

The trim levels I like are the Laramie, Laramie Longhorn, and Big Horn.  I like the Limited interior, but the grille is too busy IMO.  I don't like the Rebel front end. 

[Suaviloquent]

if they got rid of the rental stripper model and kept it to just reserve and higher I wouldn't complain.

 

But that's why the car isn't amazing outright. i knew that, and I still love the styling. But there's too much lost from the concept to get a $50,000 car, where if Lincoln was actually after prestige, they'd realize that hypocrisy doesn't run in their favor.

Mercedes can whore out S-Classes in Germany in livery fleets all they want, because America doesn't care about that.

That's why brining back a model from the dead requires an actual decent plan to capture buyers.

 

The closest thing to that is perhaps how the Zeta Camaro was so popular because it tied into the Transformer Films. Whoever got that deal is a legend in GM right now.

[A Horse With No Name]

There are also about a bazillion more people with pleasant memories of Camros than Continentals.  But also agree on the transformer thing.

[Robert Hall]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

There are also about a bazillion more people with pleasant memories of Camaros than Continentals.  But also agree on the transformer thing.

True..the '61-69 'suicide door' Continentals are from before my time, though I have seen them at car shows and in movies.  As far as Lincolns, I have good memories of the ones my Dad drove from the mid 70s through the 90s...Continentals and Town Cars.   I wouldn't mind having a modern Continental at some point in the future..I do like largish luxury cruisers--enjoyed the DTS and Merc S-class my sister and I had.  

[lengnert]

I will not begin to make predictions on the Continental. 

What I do know is that I did spend some time in one this past week (although I didn't get to drive, I rode as a passenger for a couple of miles on a test drive).  After last week, I decided I needed to go back to the dealership I used to work at (Coccia Ford/Lincoln), and see it first hand..... Finally. 

It is a really good luxury sedan.... really good. 

They are not moving off the lot very fast, but they are selling at that dealership at mostly the highest profitable trim levels (more Black Label than they anticipated).

I don't know if suicide doors some will move more of the lots, but it is an intriguing idea.

Edited March 26, 2018 by lengnert

[A Horse With No Name]

Kudos to them for moving them at the Black Label trim level.

[Drew Dowdell]

On 3/26/2018 at 11:32 AM, FAPTurbo said:

HET GUYS KNOW HOW TESLA MADE COOL DOORS WE CAN TOO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO US

I bet Ford could actually make them able to close and align properly.

 

The trim piece on the front part of that door looks lovely also.

[FAPTurbo]

...what's with the tail lights? 

[balthazar]

On 3/26/2018 at 1:36 PM, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Advertising as a concept is obsolete--regardless of the medium--IMO.

 

[Robert Hall]

2 hours ago, FAPTurbo said:

...what's with the tail lights? 

Maybe a color keyed lens option?

[oldshurst442]

3 hours ago, FAPTurbo said:

...what's with the tail lights? 

 

45 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Maybe a color keyed lens option?

Maybe pre-production model and maybe that is why trim is missing and door misaligned and tail-lights not finished?

Maybe its a legit production model, but the owner of this particular Model X is a aloof about his possessions and dont really treat his car right and tail-light is busted due to the fact he backed-up into something and is taped up and the trim that is missing...maybe its a wintery area that he lives in and when his window was frozen shut with freezing rain, he hammered the phoque out of the ice to de-ice his electric CUV and in turn, phoqued up his trim?  About the door being misaligned? Maybe his children hang on to that door when it opens and closes like its a roller coaster ride at an amusement park? 

I know one thing...my wife's 2013 Ford Fusion exterior trim has fallen out, FoMoCo has fixed the problem and replaced. Long story and huge job but FoMoCo did have an issue with the first Fusions with the chrome trim along the doors...

Edited April 1, 2018 by oldshurst442

[Robert Hall]

The picture may be bogus, notice how jagged the seam between the doors is right above the handles. 

Here is a clear photo of a Model X, don't see any of the trim anomalies.   Anyway, the Falcon doors on the Model X seem pointlessly complex; 'suicide' doors are less complex, but still pointless, IMO. 

 

Edited April 1, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[oldshurst442]

10 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

The picture may be bogus, notice how jagged the seam between the doors is right above the handles. 

Here is a clear photo of a Model X, don't see any of the trim anomalies. 

This is where I was getting at, without actually saying it. 

And...as 1st hand experience with a FoMoCo product, I found it ironic that we are laughing at Tesla....with a possible photoshopped pic, maybe not, but I having a 1st hand experience anecdote, we are using a FoMoCo automobile to use as an example of fine workmanship...

Not that FoMoCo is shyte, but with this generation Fusion...

YIKES!

Now...

I recommend the Fusion for ANYBODY to buy. Id even trade-in my Acura TL for a Fusion Sport,  but laughing at Tesla using FoMoCo as an example of how to do...I dont think so, Tim! 

 

Edited April 1, 2018 by oldshurst442

[ocnblu]

How much does a Fusion sell for

How much does a Model X sell for

 

Case closed

[oldshurst442]

5 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

How much does a Fusion sell for

How much does a Model X sell for

 

Case closed

Quality control is a thing...for ALL companies...regardless of price.

And...FoMoCo has been manufacturing cars, like, 4 Ev-R...

No excuse for FoMoCo...

Tesla...considering is still new at this, are doing not so bad...(but haterz gonna hate anyway...)

Ferrari and Lamborghini in the 1990s were WORSE than Tesla...

That would be both Italian companies in the car making business longer than Tesla is now as compared to those Italians in the 1990s.

And...the Japanese fanboyz would be laughing at ANY American car company in the 1990s due to workmanship...

So...

Point being, dont be laughing at Tesla when others do the same shyte...

Tesla's shyte stinks.

But so does the other's shyte!

About Lincoln...

The Continental does not sell to what FoMoCo was expecting it to sell...

Maybe the production Continental should have kept the tightness of the concept...

The irony...

The Continental is on the Fusion platform...

The Fusion DID have trim problems...

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2018 by oldshurst442