2017 Continental Invigorates Lincoln Brand – Uses Approach Detection Technology
It might replace the MKS at the top of Lincoln’s lineup, but the Continental is a much more fully realized luxury car. Its name and shape aren’t the only Bentleyesque things about it; the Continental offers the full suite of today’s luxury equipment, including adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, a 360-degree camera, an automated-parking function, adjustable dampers, and heated, cooled, and massaging front and outboard rear seats.
The brand needs something dramatic to raise it from the ranks of the walking dead. Like all other Lincolns, the new Continental starts as a jazzed-up Ford, but one that is less obviously so than the rest of the lineup. Whereas the MKS it replaces atop Lincoln’s hierarchy was built on Ford Taurus bones, the Continental rides on a stretched-and-widened Fusion architecture.
The 400-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 is exclusive to Lincoln and available only with four-wheel drive. Were we in charge, it would be called the Continental GT, just to send the Brits into a tizzy. (After seeing the concept that became the production Continental, Bentley’s chief designer, Luc Donckerwolke, asked David Woodhouse, Lincoln’s head designer, via Facebook, “Do you want us to send the product tooling?”) Lesser Continentals get two other engines, the 2.7-liter turbo V-6—Lincoln is eschewing the “EcoBoost” name for its turbo powerplants—and Ford’s naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6. They are available with front- or four-wheel drive. All Continentals use a six-speed automatic transaxle.
Loaded with way more content and originality than the MKS, the Continental will start $5000 or so higher than its predecessor, at $45,485, and slides just under $70,000 fully loaded. Yes, it looked much better as a concept car than it does as a production unit, but don’t they all? Expect to see it in showrooms toward the end of the year as a 2017 model.
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Lincoln Continental Uses Approach Detection Technology
DEARBORN, Mich. — The 2017 Lincoln Continental offers customers the additional luxury of a warm and inviting welcome with Lincoln’s signature Approach Detection technology.
Lincoln first unveiled its Approach Detection technology on the first-ever 2015 MKC. This technology enables the vehicle to sense when the driver, carrying the key fob, comes within a range of up to 8 feet welcoming them and indicating it is ready to go.
“The signature dynamic lighting of the Approach Detection feature is akin to the Continental greeting you with a warm smile,” said Solomon Song, Lincoln exterior design manager. “This is a subtle touch that reinforces our commitment to give every Lincoln client what we call quiet luxury – vehicles and experiences that are elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene.”
The Lincoln Approach Detection technology responds both inside and out:
- Illuminated welcome mats project onto the ground beneath both front doors where the driver and front passenger will step as they approach so they can avoid stepping into a puddle or debris
- The door-handles glow in a hue that complements the exterior color of the vehicle and highlights their location
- Signature LED accent lights on the headlamps and tail-lamps add a sense of warmth, while ambient interior lights on the door panels, instrument panel and cupholders liven up the interior, without glare
- A light softly pulses on the push-button start, signaling that Continental is ready to go
In addition, the available auto-folding pedestal side-view mirrors move into driving position after the driver enters the vehicle and closes the door.
Select, Reserve and Lincoln Black Label models of Continental have sequential exterior lighting, dynamically wrapping the car with illumination. Additionally, when the driver or passengers enter the vehicle, the ambient lighting activates in a sequence, enveloping the interior in a soft light to prepare or place any personal items before driving.
- Source: Lincoln Motor Company press release
- Related: 2017 Lincoln Continental Has Light-Up Door Handles, Puddle Lights
