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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  You gotta get one or two - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By Eric, Fairfield OH - January 15 - 2:56 am

  I brought this brute used and it was going to be the long trip car only. Well guess what, it is my everyday driver. The features on this car rival all the so called new tech opts even on the 6 figure imports. The best feature is the selectable rear susp and steering level. Wow! Only Lincoln drivers know what Im talking about. The steering wheel mounted controls for HVAC fan speed, temp, radio and cruise..all the things you need to keep any button pushing techy stoned with amazement and awe for years. I have been on Ohios northern snow highways and others spun while I run. When summer hits the clean paint and chrome blinds the sun.

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  Anns Navigator - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By adharrell - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Other than the side mirrors that may not always roll back to original position, I love my Navigator. I have always loved the grill on Navigator so have wanted one ever since I saw the very first Black Navigator in Norfolk, VA.

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  Fits Me - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Good Looking - January 12 - 3:20 pm

  I have had my LS since April of 06. Bought it brand spanking new. I traded my Mercury Mountaineer for it because I wanted a car something sporty for a 40+ yr old female, good looking. It growled at me at the dealership showroom. The performance is excellent. It will git up an go. The color, Silver/Platinum nice. Now, the only problem I have is the rumbling noise in the dash. Supposedly it is coming from air in the heater line?

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  Best Car I have ever Owned - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Lenny - January 12 - 10:00 am

  I have owned several Licolns in my life, but the 1999 Continental has exceeded every expectation. Its comfort and beauty meet any expectation of luxury and its performance and handling are outstanding. I am anxious to see what Lincoln has in store for the 2004 model.

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  Johnny Mack - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By johnnymack - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Gas mileage is a killer but the suv is quite nice. A good amount of power from the 300hp dohc 5.4L V8. It handles quite well for such a large suv and it can stop very quickly for a fairly heavy vehicle. I realy enjoy driving this suv.

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  Legendary land yacht - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By Ken in Raleigh NC - January 12 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my 96 Lincoln Town Car for one year as a used vehicle and thoroughly love it. It carries 5 (6 if needed) in total comfort, drives with ease and kicks butt when needed. The only way to travel!

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  continental - 2001 Lincoln Continental
  By drrios - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Great features, in top model. Not lacking in comfort Wood steering wheel makes driving fun

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  Noisy and uncomfortable - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By Billcars - January 12 - 2:00 am

  From day one this car has been a complete disappointment. Uncommon vibrations and very high ambient noise make it very uncomfortable. The selling dealer didnt want to hear the complaints and said the noise and vibration were normal. A second dealer replaced two front tires with flat spots and no mileage on them and put in new motor mounts. The vibrations were stopped but the road noise is unbearable. This was my first and last Lincoln.

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  Mytouch gone wrong - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By Unhappy - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Ok looks good. Feels good. But I believe I am part of the first recall with locking problem. In addition the technology of the car would be amazing if it did infact work. The phone will not sync with bluetooth. The navigation locks up. The rear camera blacks out in a regular basis and the only fix Lincoln has at this time is temporary. The disconnect the car battery for ten minutes to reset system. I have had the car for about 2 weeks now and the car mytouch system has failed at least 6 times and the temporary fix has lasted 5 day at most. The promise of a fix has been delayed twice now. Customer service at both ford and the dealership is lacking. This has been a issue ford was aware of.

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  Fasle Expectations - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Mark - January 8 - 9:36 pm

  This car rode great for the first year of ownership, after that, things started falling apart. Took it to the dealer twice for transmission problems. I have replaced the tires twice to reduce road noise and interior noise from the engine is bad. Scheduled maintenance on this car is expensive, interior materials like imitation wood trim and vinyl are of the lowest quality and I cant wait to get out of it. I expected better quality from Lincoln.