One Of 200 Made, First Year For Push Button Handles, Black Exterior, Black So... on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Bentley designer calls Lincoln Continental concept a Flying Spur 'copy' [w/poll]

When you first laid eyes on the new Lincoln Continental concept, we'd wager you were likely impressed, because it's an impressive design. But if you also thought it looked familiar, you're in good company. According to Car Design News, design chief Luc Donckerwolke over at Bentley thinks the Lincoln concept bears more than a passing resemblance to another Continental: Bentley's own Flying Spur. "This behavior is not respectable. Building a copy like this is giving a bad name to the car design world," Donckerwolke told CDN, after posting some disparaging comments on Facebook and offering in jest to send over the tooling. "It is very disappointing, especially for an exclusive brand like Lincoln," added Sangyup Lee, his deputy for exterior design. The irony is further entrenched by the name, which Bentley only dropped from its Flying Spur in its latest iteration but still uses for the coupe and convertible models. Both automakers have a deeply routed history with the nameplate, but Lincoln's stretches back further, having first used the handle in 1939 before Bentley did in 1952. However it's not the nameplate that's the subject of controversy here, rather the design of the vehicle to which it's applied. So what do you think, did Lincoln borrow too heavily from its British counterpart? Related Video:

Lincoln trumpets $129M investment, 300 new jobs in Louisville for MKC

Remember when we used to talk about how close Lincoln was to being axed and how it seemed any day now the Grim Reaper would use it as a car service back to the grave? Last time we did it was, oh, not even a month ago. What a difference 27 days makes: Ford and Lincoln are trumpeting a $129M investment in the Louisville Assembly Plant that builds the MKC.
In July the MKC was the third-best-selling Lincoln of the brand's six offerings, beat by the MKZ and - by a much smaller margin - the MKX. It has sold 2,895 units in the two months it's been on sale, which is more than half the year-to-date sales of the MKS, MKT and Navigator. It's already important, is what we're trying to say, and this is before the Chinese market gets a crack at it later this year.
The money headed to Kentucky will be joined by 300 new workers, another marker in Ford's march to create 12,000 hourly jobs in the US by next year. You can read more about it in the press release below.

Hennessey’s 600-hp Lincoln Navigator is here

The tuners at Hennessey have begun deliveries of the 2018 Lincoln Navigator HPE600, a full-size SUV that boosts the Navigator's normal 450-horsepower output to 600 hp, announcing its arrival with a video showing the performance 'ute riding a dynamometer. Hennessey said it was a natural decision to turn to the Navigator because it has mostly the same 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine as the F-150 Raptor, which it converted last year to the 602-hp 6x6 VelociRaptor. So it added engine management computer software upgrades, a stainless steel exhaust system, high-flow air induction and large front-mounted intercooler with blow-off valve. Dyno results in the video show the Navigator topping out at around 500 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque at around 3,800 rpm at the wheels; Hennessey says the 600 hp comes at 6000 rpm. The upgrades are good to take the nearly three-ton SUV from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, about 0.7 seconds quicker than the standard Navigator, and run the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 107 mph. The tuning package will set you back $19,950, including installation. Additional options include 22-inch forged monoblock wheels, lowered suspension and Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers and 15.1-inch brake rotors. There are also HPE600 badges on the front door jambs and tailgate, and embroidered headrests. It comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Just 200 are planned for the 2018 model. You can order it now through Hennessey or any authorized Hennessey Lincoln dealer. Related Video: Image Credit: Hennessey Lincoln SUV Luxury Performance Hennessey tuner lincoln navigator tuning