Lincoln Continental Convertible, Multiple Show Winner, Including Ccca Winner on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Ford rethinking vehicle launch strategy

With a new boss at the helm, Ford is looking at new ways to improve its vehicle launches in North America to prevent recent issues that have popped up with models like the Lincoln MKZ, Ford Escape and Ford Fusion. Speaking with Automotive News, Ford's new president of the Americas, Joe Hinrichs, revealed a few ways the automaker plans to avoid early build issues such as the engine fires on certain 2013 Escape and Fusion models and months-long delays for customers to receive their MKZs.
It sounds like the root of the problems may have been Ford's relationship with suppliers compounded by the fact that the product surge came on the heels of the recent industry-crippling recession, and in the AN article, Hinrichs says improvements are being made to reduce problems during the launch of new or redesigned models. Three such improvements that were implemented during the first quarter of this year including more rigorous quality comparisons, better use of computer technology to catch major problems sooner and hiring engineers to work closer with suppliers.

2021 Lincoln Navigator gets a black top with new Special Edition Package

For 2021, you can add a two-tone paint scheme to the Lincoln Navigator's list of vaguely retro-inspired luxury elements. The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's top-drawer Black Label variant adds a new Special Edition Package, and it includes a black roof as well as black 22-inch wheels, a black mesh grille, a black rooftop spoiler, and black mirror caps. Lincoln is already one of the bravest manufacturers when it comes to its color palette, and the Special Edition Package's black-roof treatment can be combined with any of six different body colors: Burgundy Velvet, Chroma Crystal Blue, Chroma Molten Gold, Silver Radiance, Pristine White, or Flight Blue. The package will become available in the Spring and is priced at $6,695. The 2021 Navigator Black Label starts at $99,420 or $102,620 for the longer-wheelbase L version. For those who don't want to go full two-tone, Lincoln continues to offer the mid-grade Navigator Reserve with a Monochromatic Package that brings black wheels, a dark finished grille and body-color mirror caps. It's available in combination with Infinite Black, Ceramic Pearl, or Pristine White body color for $3,965. Related Video:

Dealers mobilize to protect their margins from automaker subscription services

Six individual auto brands — Lincoln, Cadillac, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Volvo — have established or are trialing a vehicle subscription service in the U.S. Three third-party companies — Flexdrive, Clutch and Carma — run brand-agnostic subscription services. And three automakers — Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and General Motors — have also launched short-term rental services. Dealers, afraid of how these trends might affect their margins, are building political and lawmaking campaigns to protect their revenue streams. So far, three states are investigating automaker subscriptions, and Indiana has banned any such service until next year. It's certain that those three states are the first fronts in a long political and legal battle. Powerful dealer franchise laws mandate the existence of dealers and restrict how automakers are allowed to interact with customers to sell a vehicle. On top of that, Bob Reisner, CEO of Nassau Business Funding & Services, said, "Dealers and their associations are among the strongest political operators in many states. They as a group are difficult for state politicians to vote against." In California earlier this year, the state Assembly debated a bill with wide-ranging provisions to protect against what the California New Car Dealers Association called "inappropriate treatment of dealers by manufacturers." One of those provisions stipulated that subscription services need to go through dealers, but that item got stripped out when dealers and manufacturers agreed to discuss the matter further. In Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a moratorium on all subscription programs by dealers or manufacturers until May 1, 2019, to give legislators more time to investigate. Dealers in New Jersey have taken their campaign to the state capitol, asking that the cars in subscription programs get a different classification for registration purposes. Automakers run the current subscription services and own the vehicles. Sign-ups and financial transactions happen online or through apps, leaving dealers to do little more than act as fulfillment centers to various degrees, with little legal recourse as to compensation amounts when they're called on to deliver or service a car. That's a bad base to build on for business owners who've sunk millions of dollars into their operations.