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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  much better than the first edition(1998) - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By jpearo - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Everything about the 04 is greatly improved over the 98 with the exception of the engine.While the 98 had a 16 valve engine, it took regular gas. There is no improvement in the gas milage with the 32 valve engine and it takes only premium gas,and plenty of it.Plus, the engine is a little tired. It could also do very nicely with at least a five speed transmission

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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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  Sweet Ride - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Tyrone Martin - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Everything about this SUV is awesome, from the handling to the impressive luxury features. My only complaint so far is the gas mileage.

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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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  Lincoln Quality Not! - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By W - July 13 - 10:20 pm

  Headlights kept filling with water when it rained, the rear windows failed open on a ski trip, the light in the stereo last about a week. They replaced the headlights three times with headlights that filled with water, told me I didnt know how to operate the stereo four times until they finally replaced the whole unit. Repair the windows twice. Then the plastic imitation chrome started flaking off the interior panels and the sun roofed leaked. The car started to idle like a D-10 CAT in a coal mine. Called in quits after a year and a whopping 8,000 miles, lemon lawed it and gave it a new home in the dealers junk yard. That was the same year Ford was "At Ford, quality is job one".

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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.

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  Good but could be great - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By maferwin - July 7 - 10:00 am

  This LS with a V8 is a powerful, well balanced car. However, the front is only comfortable if you are under 6 feet tall. The leg room in a long trip makes you wish you had walked there The front seats could have been made a little bit plusher and the design should allow for a bit more room on the "wings" that "hold" you in place. So when one gets in the leather is not scratched with your left back pocket. Other than that, the car is fairly well built. Of course is Ford made so you dont get the finished that you find on a comparable car of European descent or even Cadillac. Weve problem with all windows, fogged- up headlight & noise Would I buy another one? No

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  great - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By KathyHauser - July 7 - 10:00 am

  great car but bad gas price