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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  awesome aviator - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By soprano - October 16 - 10:00 am

  love it interior is fabulous!vehicle is very solid,I also have town car03 and this is a lot more luxury than my town car.very happy with this vehicle.

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  teh best - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By sucker1234567 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  very good car no complaints except on bumpy road or up a mountain in tends to tilt over...................

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  Great Lexus - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Bruce Bock - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Quite a plesure to drive. It has it all

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  Love it - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By Love the best - October 14 - 9:30 pm

  I owned this since it was new, now 9 years old and still great. I have had the heaters in the seats go and not covered under even extended warranty, and also had a transmission electrical switch go out while traveling, and the one plastic piece on the door and one on the lumbar seat. But those were to only trouble I had with this wonderful vehicle. For 9 years service I have loved it since day one. With gas at $4 a gallon I still love it but for me the end is soon because being a woman I want something newer. 9 years is a long time for me. If you are thinking of an older navigator I would say go for it. For 9 it still looks great and performs great.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Driven - 2001 Lincoln Continental
  By gittingjr - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I currently drive a 2001 Lincoln Continental, and I plan to own the car until it dies. It is such a reliable vehicle that also has a great level of performance. Despite the fact that it is a Lincoln, I compare it to a Cadillac because the Cadillacs were always known for their performance while Lincolns were known mostly for their comfort level. This is a great vehicle for people of all ages, but unlike its counterpart Town Car, the Continental appeals a lot more to a younger man like me due to its torque and smaller size. Discontinuing this model was one of the worst mistakes Ford ever made. The car got better as the years went on. Imagine what a 2010 Lincoln Continental would look like.

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  every part lincoln - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Lincolnfan - October 11 - 7:36 am

  Simply a awesome car. Great reason to BUY AMERICAN! Quality is amazing....Cadillac should learn for this... especially in the interior segment. When I buy a luxury car I expect it to look better than a base every day economy car. Cadillac interiors are no nicer than something you would find on a Chevy Colbalt econo-box. Add some wood and leather and you got a Cadillac. Lincoln went ahead and provided a full new interior; can you spot a ford fusion part? I canÂ’t...in the end this a excellent car and the price is just as stunning as the car (in a good way)

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  We Love This SUV - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By art_lover82 - October 10 - 2:00 am

  Could not be happier! Handles like a dream, very peppy, smooth and quiet. Looked at Explorer, Escalade and Lexus. Aviator the best by far. Using premium fuel and traveling 80 miles per day - Getting about 16.6 mpg on freeway driving.

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  Great Addition - 2002 Lincoln Blackwood
  By danfrank - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a great special purpose truck. I like it because it is very different from other similar vehicles and has all the luxury I expect in a Luxury Vehicle

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  Best SUV on the Market - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By lincoln rules - October 9 - 10:00 am

  this is way better than mb and bmw suvs the real luxury and ride can beat out any suv around.

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  Critics are wrong - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By Mike - October 7 - 2:26 am

  I have had my MKS AWD for 2-months and absolutely love it! The ride, handling, looks, and performance are second to none. Comparing this car to a Lexus ES-350, Volvo S-80 etc. is a joke. Daily driving does not require the use of a skid pad or some bogus zero to sixty times. Nice job Lincoln!