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Lincoln to adopt Mini-like personalization strategy?

There's no single silver bullet that will cure all that ails the Lincoln brand, and Ford knows that just as surely as we do. Coming out with exciting new models like the well-received MKC crossover counts as several steps in the right direction, assuming of course that the production version is as appealing as the concept just shown at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but more is needed. According to Jim Farley, executive vice president of Lincoln, one more trick may be "mass customization."
Put another way, Lincoln is considering ways to allow buyers to customize their new vehicles right off the showroom floor, similar to how things are done at Mini, and, to a lesser extent, Scion, where Farley previously served as corporate manager. Imagine, for instance, ordering a new MKC with a large Lincoln insignia embossed into the leather seatbacks, according to Automotive News.
While we're not so sure anybody is all that interested in paying extra for more Lincoln logos, it's a strategy that has proven rather fruitful at Mini. Only time will tell if Ford's erstwhile luxury division will once again be seen as something truly worth reaching for, and if customers are willing to pay a further premium for customization.

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

Analysts warn Lincoln shouldn't follow Ford out of the sedan market

Lincoln looks set to mimic Ford's on-going shift away from sedans. The move makes sense on the surface, but analysts warn the luxury brand needs to keep some low-riding models in its portfolio. The company's current lineup includes two sedans, the MKZ and the Continental, plus five SUVs. The sedans aren't long for this world, according to The Detroit Free Press. The publication learned Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico, factory will stop manufacturing the MKZ in late 2020 or early 2021, and it pointed out UAW documents note Continental production will continue "through its product lifecycle." In other words, it's the last model on the Continental branch of the Lincoln family tree. These two nameplates represent 23.3 percent of Lincoln's annual sales so far in 2019, which is a surprising and respectable statistic. One in four cars the company sells is a sedan. The problem is that they accounted for 27.6 percent of the firm's sales in 2018, and that number will continue to fall in 2020 as customers flock towards crossovers and SUVs. And yet, exiting the sedan market isn't the right answer for a company that wants to re-establish its reputation as a luxury automaker. Eric Noble, the president of consulting firm CarLab, told The Detroit Free Press about 40 percent of American buyers in the market for a luxury car choose a sedan. The Chinese market — where Lincoln hopes to gain a secure foothold in the coming years — also has a healthy appetite for sedans. Going SUV-only is a strategy that might work well in the United States, but it doesn't suit Lincoln's ambitions. Germany's big three luxury brands all have a flagship sedan at the top of their range. We can't argue against sales data; the sedan market is shrinking. There are ways to keep buyers in the fold, however. The Continental is a stellar effort from the brand, and a solid foundation on which to build. Noble pointed out Lincoln could use the rear-wheel drive platform found under its Aviator and Ford's latest Explorer to build a four-door model with a fastback-like roof line in the vein of the Audi A7. It's a sleeker, sexier body style that tends to attract more buyers than a more conventional three-box sedan, which is often criticized as old-fashioned. Automakers can normally get away with charging a little bit more for these cars; the A7 is more expensive than the A6, for example. Electrification could be the Lincoln sedan's saving grace.