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2002 Lincoln Continental concept should've made production, headed for auction instead

It seems like the retro design aesthetic in autos might be petering out, with even a former poster child like the Ford Mustang taking a step in a more modern direction. Sometimes those updates of old-school models really worked well, though. Just take a look above at the Lincoln Continental concept from 2002 that took the extruded shape of the 1960s version and updated it for the new millennium.
Now there's a chance for this gorgeous concept to take a spot in your garage, as RM Auctions is selling it as part of a 130-plus-car, no-reserve auction of the Sam Pack Collection on November 14 and 15, in Dallas, TX. Among the lots for sale are a number of Fords, including several recent concepts from the brand. "My collecting philosophy is simple: buy what I like, but always with an emphasis on quality," Pack said in the auction announcement.
The Continental concept absolutely nails the mix of modern and retro. Its perfectly crisp lines make the shape appear hewn from a single piece of metal, and there's just the slightest ornamentation with the angled, chrome slats in the grille and chrome strips over the wheel arches. It even retains the suicide doors from its inspiration.

2016 Lincoln MKX gets 330-hp EcoBoost V6, new auto braking system

Lincoln has been treading water with the MKX. The crossover's sales were flat in 2014, and its appearance and mechanicals have been largely unchanged since its last redesign in 2011. That changes this fall, when the redesigned 2016 MKX goes on sale in the United States with a more powerful EcoBoost engine, an upgraded cabin and a host of new comfort and safety features designed to make the crossover more competitive and increase its sales. The MKX debuts Tuesday at the Detroit Auto Show, though pictures leaked last weekend. The new vehicle has at least 36 new features compared with the outgoing model, and perhaps the most significant is the addition of the optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, which is expected to make more than 330 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. That's a major jump from the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6, which is the only engine option available on the current vehicle. It continues as the standard engine for the 2016 model and is rated at 300 hp and 280 lb-ft. The engines are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions. Front wheel-drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is an option. Lincoln engineers focused on improving the driving character of the new MKX. The chassis is revised, and the rear suspension uses an integral link setup. It's also the first Lincoln to get adaptive steering. The body structure is updated and designed to keep more outside noise from the cabin. "Quietness is luxury," chief engineer Elaine Bannon said. The MKX was also redesigned with a focus on safety. The MKX is among the first Ford Motor Co. vehicles to get a new feature, called pre-collision assist. The technology will warn the driver if it senses a crash is imminent and apply the brakes. The technology is also launching this year on the European version of the Ford Fusion, the Mondeo. Additionally, the MKX gets a 360-degree camera that aids with parking. The camera is mounted behind the Lincoln star badge in the middle of the split-wing grille. It extends to offer a view of up to seven feet around the perimeter of the crossover. Lincoln also added an auto hold feature, which keeps the vehicle from moving when it is sitting in traffic. Lincoln underscored the MKX's new safety and technology with a more dramatic design for 2016. It has a swoopy appearance with fender flares similar to those on the MKC, and it's curvier and more creased than the outgoing MKX.

Mulally wanted to kill Lincoln as late as last year, Fields vows to turn it around

Lincoln fans might want to give incoming Ford CEO Mark Fields a pat on the back for having a hand in saving the brand from the chopping block last year. He's among the people spearheading the rejuvenation of the division away from its stodgy image to appeal to younger customers.
According to two unnamed sources speaking to Bloomberg, CEO Alan Mulally was ready to kill Lincoln last year. Following the slow production ramp-up of the MKZ combined a with a costly ad campaign, Mulally was frustrated and openly suggested dropping the brand. However, Fields and Jim Farley, Ford's marketing boss, convinced the CEO that the brand was worth saving. They also created a plan to prevent similar problems for new models in the future.
It seems that one part of the strategy may involve waiting until new models are at dealers before starting a big ad campaign for them. Lincoln global director, Matt VanDyke, recently told Autoblog that the division is holding off on a full marketing push behind the new MKC crossover to prevent the supply problems that plagued the MKZ last year. Its big offensive begins in the fall when the CUVs are at all of the dealers and consumers are at home watching more TV. VanDyke also told Bloomberg that Fields, Farley and Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, have more direct oversight over new product launches now.