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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  Perfect Blend of Form, Function & Value - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By RIXLS - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I have had my LS for about a month now and have loved every minute of it so far. The as-received build quality was excellent. It is very quiet and solid - no rattles or squeaks. The V8 is strong, responsive and quiet. It has excellent power throughout the entire rev range. Handling is superb. The Advance Track system wont let you lose control, especially in rain and snow. Near 50/50 weight distribution. Anti-dive suspension. It is a lot of car for the money compared to BMW, Lexus, Infiniti and Mercedes. It has an excellent Navigation system and a THX certified stereo.

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  I love my Lincoln LS - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By yadira - July 21 - 4:06 pm

  I love my car. Runs good, no noises, fun to drive and I always get nice comment from people. I love the leather interior and lots of room inside. I love it

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  A "BIG" Step Up - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By Steve S - July 19 - 2:06 pm

  Ford has real winner this year with its 07 Navigator. Cadillac fans are even taking notice and believe it or not...switching! The ride is better and so is the handling. Maybe a little less power but well worth giving up the extra power for the remaining assets.

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  Really Like this car! - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Tony - July 14 - 1:36 pm

  Im really sorry to learn that this car will no longer be built. I was looking forward to purchasing a new one. The car rides great, looks great and has very good performance. For a car of its size, it also gets pretty good gas mileage.

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  Good but could be better - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By cristo - July 14 - 1:30 am

  I have owned this Zephyr for 2 years now. All in all it has been a good car for me. There have been some issues,however. Since day one of ownership the car has idled very high after sitting for more than a couple of hours! It takes several minutes for the car to idle down on its own! Have been to the dealer and they say all is fine! My mileage is now dismal and I believe it is due to the high idle every morning and afternoon. 2006 was the only year this particular engine was used.Ive talked to other owners of 2007-08 models they have no problems. They also have more power as Lincoln added about 43 horsepower! A friend drove my car and thought it was a 4 cylinder!

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  I will never buy a lincoln again - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By gonzo13 - July 12 - 8:00 pm

  I bought this vehicle brand new in Oct 2004. When I bought it I was impressed with the styling more then anything else, but that quickly faded when the mechanical problems started soon after. I kept up on all required maintenance since I bought it. The problems started early on. From the climate control to the spark plug coils going out on me continuously. The gear shift leaver broke when I was putting it into park from drive. On the back tail gate there is a crack right below the back widow. I was told that it is a trend on these vehicles. I will never own another Ford/Lincoln product as long as I live. After all said and done, the dealership goes out of business. How ironic is that

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  Love My Linc - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By EHP - July 11 - 6:53 am

  I bought the car 2 years old with mileage in the high 30s to replace my ailing Buick. I have never been sorry for a minute that bought this car, it was way ahead of its time technologically and my now 8 year old car with 153K miles on it under my foot still put most to shame.

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  good truck, bad on gas - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By joe mcc - July 10 - 10:00 am

  bad gass milage, but great truck.

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  Love it - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Brothers - July 10 - 10:00 am

  This is simply the best car I ever had. The garanty and services are exceptional. I would buy another one!

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  Vibrating Down the Road - 2007 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Roger - July 6 - 9:40 am

  Extremely disappointed. Expected quality ride, however truck constantly shakes when driving, regardless of speed; and shimmies when brakes are applied. Have been to dealership 3 times and service manager responds with "I hate Ford; thats as good as its going to get". Would not recommend this truck or dealership. If you go over a bump, the back doors sound like they arent completely closed, which of course means truck is not as quiet inside as you would expect. Also, for a truck with under 10,000 miles, it idles roughly. I expected much more for the price. After meeting with owner, I expected some resolution rather than "it drives better than my Ford 350".