Overview & Reviews

Lincoln is an automaker with a long history of building upscale vehicles for the American market. A division of Ford, Lincoln differentiates its vehicles through additional luxury features, more powerful engines and unique styling. The automaker's lineup includes cars, pickups and SUVs.

The company was established in 1917 by Henry Leland, an automotive parts manufacturer who had previously founded the Cadillac brand. He named the company after his boyhood hero: the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. Early Lincoln models include the L Series and the K Series. The company quickly hit dire straits, however, and was bought by Ford Motor Company in 1922.

Lincoln had found its niche in the luxury-car segment by the 1930s, riding high with the likes of Cadillac as a purveyor of premium status-mobiles. The 1936 model year saw Lincoln's launch of the popular Zephyr. The car's name and styling were inspired by the sleek lines of the Burlington Zephyr, a diesel-powered express train that boasted record-setting speed. The car was a big hit for Lincoln; at one point, nearly 80 percent of all Lincolns sold were Zephyrs.

The '40s also saw the rise of the glamorous Continental. The vehicle's development was shepherded by Edsel Ford, son of Ford's founder Henry Ford. After World War II, Lincoln maintained its premium status with vehicles like the Mark II and the '60s-era Continentals, which gained fame through their "suicide-style" rear doors and use as U.S. presidential limousines. The Continental Mark III luxury coupe rolled out in 1968 and by the late '60s, more than 1 million Continentals had been built.

The 1970s saw the launch of the Mark IV as well as a new Lincoln, the Versailles. The Versailles was the first midsize sedan from the marque, and right from the start, it missed the mark with the public. The Versailles was based on the Ford Granada platform, and many blamed its failure on its obvious similarity to its less exclusive -- and less expensive -- twin.

In 1981, Lincoln released its now iconic Town Car, the full-size luxury sedan that has since served as the marque's flagship. Though its moniker had been used to designate trim levels in previous years, 1981 was the year in which the Town Car came into existence as an individual model. Lincoln also distinguished itself during these years as the first American car line to offer antilock braking. The Mark series continued to evolve, and shrunk down considerably with the debut of the Mark VI. That velvet-lined cruiser was followed mid-decade by the Mark VII, which was more European in nature and could even be powered by a BMW turbodiesel engine.

The '90s saw the debut of the Mark VIII, which featured a four-cam V8 and air suspension. By this time, sport-utility vehicles had emerged as a segment to be reckoned with, and Lincoln made the most of this trend by launching its very first SUV, the Ford Expedition-based Navigator, for 1998. Bedecked in chrome and fitted with plush leather and luxury features galore, the massive truck was a breakout hit.

The new millennium marked the debut of the Euro-flavored, midsize LS sedan that shared much of its platform with Jaguar's S-Type sedan. More recently, Lincoln has dropped the long-lived Town Car and updated its lineup with the MKS and MKZ sedans as well as the MKX crossover SUV in hopes of attracting a new generation of consumers. Some of its offerings fall short of the competition in areas such as performance and refinement. Still, the marque is a favorite of car buyers seeking a generous dose of all-American luxury.

User Reviews:

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  Solid - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By schuhman - July 20 - 5:33 pm

  I drove the Infiniti M and the Acura, comparing them to the MKS. After the drives it was a slam dunk, I bought the Lincoln. I is a quick of the line, it looks better and the options closed the deal. I would recommend the care to anyone that wants great style, smooth ride and solid performance with every option. The sync system is great and I have downloaded every cd I like into the jukebox. The hands free nav, radio and systems are the cherry on top. My kids enjoy the dual moonroof and the adaptive headlights are a bonus I did not expect to enjoy as much I do. I put dark tint and it finished the car perfectly.

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  great - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By jlj; - July 20 - 2:40 am

  best

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  AVIATOR..AMAZING - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By tommy gvili - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I PURCHASED THE AVIATOR IN JUNE OF 2003 .I WAS LOOKING AT THE NAVIGATOR AT THE TIME BUT WHEN DRIVING I FELT IT WAS TO BIG THE AVIATOR HONESTLY "PERFECT"IT COMBINES LUXURY AND RELIABILITY ALONG WITH PRFORMANCE ,,ONE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE V8 ENGINE GAS IS EXPENSIVE ,,OTHER WISE I REALLY LOVE IT .

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  aviator 04 - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By bob hodges - July 18 - 2:00 am

  looked at volvo,buick,bmw x5 [1999 tec. in 04 world] aviator has it all, baby navigator.

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  Its Amazing! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Merk - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased a 2004 Navigator and I am HIGHLY impressed. It rides great, its gorgeous inside, it has an amazing stereo and more features than I could have imagined. I highly recommend this vehicle. Better have a big wallet!

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  A Great Navigator L 4x4 - 2011 Lincoln Navigator
  By rewaters - July 14 - 8:24 pm

  My 2011 Navigator L 4x4 is a Ingot Silver exterior and Charcoal Black interior beauty with 20" wheels and tires. This is my first Navigator L 4x4 after having had 14 Town Cars, an Aviator and a MKS AWD. The interior and exterior design, style, build quality, comfort and convenience are outstanding. I have no problems accessing and using all of the Navis features with ease. The THX sound system, Navigation system and Sync capabilities are also excellent. The ride, handling, performance, reliability and responsiveness of the Navi are also outstanding. Highway, suburban and city driving is easy, comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend the Navigator L 4x4 to everyone.

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  wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By paukl - July 14 - 10:00 am

  exellent handkes well nice smooth ride great v8 engine wow

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  Last of the "real" American Luxury cars - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Lawrence K. Mahuna - July 13 - 8:30 am

  This Lincon Town Car has a beautiful ride and it does not pretend to be anything else but a comfortable ride. It does not have 400+ horses, nor is it a sports car. But if you want a car that gets you from point A-B in the most comfortable manner possible, chose the Town Car. I have a bad back and the Town Car makes it feel better after a long run and does not make you feel that you need a chiropractor. It is too bad that Ford is thinking of discontinuing the TC. Perhaps a litte more horses and a six speed transmission with electronic control would do the job. It would take so little to make this car attractive to new buyers.

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  96 Cartier Town Car is the ****! - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By Mike Kahl - July 9 - 10:16 am

  This car IS the MOST comfortable automobile on the road...it Rules!! Even my brother couldnt believe how comfy it was. The air suspention is king too, thats what gives this car the ride, when u have to replace the air suspention, DO NOT go to springs, pay the money for the air bags!!!! My car now has 213,000 miles on it and still goes everyday! If ur concidering buying one of these cars, just do it, you wont be sorry. I have converted 2 friends to the Town Car so far!!! Once you have one, you never go back to anything else

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  Baby Nav, but better.... - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By J. Davis - July 7 - 11:43 am

  My wife LOVES this vehicle. I really like it as well. Power to spare, kicks down when you really need it. Almost as much seating room as our friends Navigator, but handles and drives much smaller than the Nav. We went shopping for a Mercury Mountaineer, but there is night-and- day difference between the Mercury and the Aviator, and not that much difference in the cost.