Ford to stop Lincoln LS production
With new sedans already being planned, the days are numbered
for the Lincoln LS. Production of Lincoln's RWD sport sedan will end after the 2006 model year. The plant in Wixom,
Michigan that currently assembles the LS has already lost the Ford Thunderbird. The Lincoln LS, Towncar, and Ford GT
are currently being assembled at the plant. This certainly puts the Wixom plant in jeopardy, with Atlanta earmarked for
the Towncar replacement and the Zephyr being built in Mexico. For enthusiasts, the loss of the Lincoln LS is
disheartening. While the next generation Lincoln sedans will be capable and luxurious, I still hope for a return to
rear wheel drive at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. The current Autoblog Garage Mustang Convertible shows how a solid axle
rear wheel drive car can provide acceptable ride quality and a decent price.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iQuack 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
The Jaguar version of this car is so much classier than the LS.
Lincoln is a very weak brand. See site below, then look at any Lincoln from the last several decades. How the mighty have fallen:
http://www.1motormart.com/gallery/48linc02.jpg
iQuack');">Reply
dave 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I'm not sad. There are at least five better choices in that class for 'enthusiasts.' The LS is a decent car, but Lincoln was too timid to give it the charisma it needed to succeed.
We all remember reading about Ford's waffling over how to manage and fund Lincoln several years ago. Any replacement for the LS would have to have been approved and developed during that period. I doubt we'll see anything beyond tarted up Fords from Lincoln for at least 3-4 years from now.
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Chris 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Can't say I hate to see it go either. It had a classic old school look but for the same money there are better choices.
Lincoln-Mercury would be better off dead and Ford would be better off using one of its other brands to peddle its luxury offerings.
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Jay 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
The LS was the best effort Lincoln has put into trying to remain relevant in today's luxury market. While solid, it wasn't 100% ready for prime time, but neither is the Cadillac CTS....the difference being that at least Cadillac is putting a lot of effort into making their new product direction work and will get to where they need to go if they continue to improve and refine the solid product they have. The LS needed some constant improvement and attention, and other models with similarities in spirit to the LS...other models that LS buyers might be interested in, but Lincoln wasn't prepared to give the LS the support it needed. The rest of the lineup (now and in the near future) is patchwork...an huge old man's car on an ancient platform, a rebadged FWD Mazda 6, and some bling-bling SUV's and a pickup. Lincoln has no focus on what they want to be and where they want to be. The LS was a good start but they chose to just dip their toe into the pool a bit to see if it would be okay while Cadillac cannonballed into the water. Cadillac obviously is reaping the benefits for believing in their product and their direction, while Lincoln is paying for their hesitation and dawdling.
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md 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
why not use the chasis for a ford vehicle. the majority of the chasis developement is already done, just design a new interior and give it some exterior design tweaks. it could use the mustang engines, and could be competition for the 300/charger. either that or bring over the falcon from australia
I can always dream can't I?
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Joseph Willemssen 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
That's too bad, because that's a cool car. But Ford sure is dragging its heels with the engines on the Crown Vic, LS, etc - kind of weak compared to its competition.
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Jason 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
how sad that the ls is leaving lincoln, it was one of the few Ford vechicles that didnt have undesirable Ford characteristics such as cost cutting exteriors and ugly interiors(ugly radios, poor quality plastics).
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steven 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
The chassis was already used for Ford vehicles. It's called a Mustang. The new Mustang is on that platform. The Thunderbird was too but it's been cancelled. Lincoln LS needs more than a tweak. Ford has no money to make big overall changes to Lincoln so it is going total front drive. LOL
It owuld have cash if it would stop making Mercury. What a waste! Ford is so stuck on their selves that they are willing to hold on to a clone brand that is bring them down.
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richard elsbree 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Ford has apparently decided to get out of the automobile business.Hiring Mays and Nassar was the first step in the process.. Now all thats left is for Bill Ford to hold the going-out of business
sale.What a pity.
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whofan 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
They should keep the RWD platform for the Lincoln. I`ve read here that Lincoln was going to be primarily a FWD car. Nothing wrong with FWD but in a luxery car?
Ford could use this plant to come out with something cool like a Mercury Cyclone spoiler or something to accompany the Mustang. Ford has become a company for old farts. GM has Too. Chrysler is building what people want or at least what I like. Maybe persistent gas prices might change everthing. Chevrolet might be right by not bringing back the Camaro?
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Garris 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Jay's post is 100% correct. This was a very good car that was met with critical respect upon debuting and good initial market success. Like always, Lincoln promised LS buyers that they were buying into a entire reimagining of Lincoln. So much for that. If I were an LS buyer, I'd never return to Lincoln (or Ford) until they showed some consistence, and that's not going to be for a loooong time.
Enormous strategic blunders like not building on the LS's direction and momentum (as well as letting the Taurus, Focus, Ranger, and other key nameplates whither and die) is a key reason Ford is as close to the abyss as they are.
Shame on them. When GM, of all folks, in the form of Cadillac shows how poor Lincoln's reasons to exist are, you've really been shown to be a fool...
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Tracy 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Has anyone ever noticed how similar this car is to the 2001-2 era Mitsu Diamante? The real funny part about it is there is a "Diamante LS" model.
check out these pics, http://www.cardomain.com/ride/573019
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748922
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Adam 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I believe ford is the dumbest company in the world. Oh well Lincoln is too good for ford. Ford sucks and still needs to recall all the vehicles that are at the risk of blowing up!
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Motorin 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
"Enormous strategic blunders like not building on the LS's direction and momentum (as well as letting the Taurus, Focus, Ranger, and other key nameplates whither and die) is a key reason Ford is as close to the abyss as they are."
Quite true. I'm far from a Ford fan, but I did cheer the LS when it was introduced and I was one of the first people hoping Ford would bring the original Focus to the U.S. when it was introduced in Europe. The LS stagnated and now the American Focus is also left to wither and die as well (of course the Focus RS never made it to these shores either). Even Lexus has gotten back into the game with the new IS (which has needed an update almost since day oen). Even after getting thoroughly trounced by the 3 series, Lexus is giving it another go.
Of course, Ford is now spreading the plague to Jaguar. The first gen X-Type had a lot of flaws, but could be a contender with it's unique style and brand heritage. Fix the problems? Nah...kill the car. Soon PAG nor Ford's domestic divisions will have an affordable RWD (near) luxury vehicle.
At least when Cadillac killed off its existing nameplates, it was because the entire brand did a 180.
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pennsylvania 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Lincoln has to stand more out of the crowd. Like they used to decades ago...
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Ian 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Blame FORD.
This platform was shared development with Jag for their "S" Type. It's a little over engineered and expensive.
Then FORD Squashed the itnernational re-launch of the Lincoln brand as they were worried that the LS would sell better than the "S" Type (they were probably right as the LS was set to be priced well under Jap's offering). Then on top of this FORD pushed an underpowered V8 version into the LS and while it handled far better than the "S" Jag it had puny peformance. Later Ford relented somewhat and allowed more power into the LS's engine, but it was too late, the image of an underpowered car was set and the international launch never took place.
So Silly of Ford to defend the Jaguar brand in this way. Now Ford realise that their expansion plans for the Jag brand were over-inflated and they have reduced the expected Sales of Jags worldwide by 50%. Lincoln LS with the right engine could have been a huge seller worldwide and re-launched the Lincoln brand. I bet the Lincoln Brand managers were/are upset at home Ford manged them!
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olderty 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I'm with Garris and Jay. I have an 02 LS V8, and I love it. It has power, 252 hp. The 2003 and newer has 280 hp. It rides nice (IRS), quality is good, Alpine stereo puts more than enough wattage in the cottage. It's just too bad Ford missed a what could have been a shining star in the Lincoln line up.
However, the Zephyr does look promising...
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Eric Bryant 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
This is a bummer. During my first test drive of one of these in the late 90s, I thought that Lincoln was going to eat Cadillac's lunch, along with a few others as well. I've spent some time crawling around underneath them and there's some sweet parts in the suspension. There's some rough edges as well; the sort of things that get ironed-out with regular redesigns. Too bad that those improvements were never allowed to happen.
7 years ago, it sure seemed that Lincoln was going to be the place to go for RWD Detroit luxury and performance; it's funny how things change.
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Mike 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
They should keep the LS and also rear drivers such as the Crown Vic. They could be vatly improved by dropping in the Mustang V8 and the six speed tranny from the 500. The Crown Vic needs a more aluminum to lighten the load and some new seats. The new engine and tranny would be enough to keep the LS going if they lowered the price a little.
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Michael Casados 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
This was the best car that lincoln, ford has ever put out. It will be sad to see the LS go. I hope that Ford changes their minds, as this is one of the most exciting cars from lincoln in a long time. At least do some sheet metal work to make it look more aggressive, and tune the engine over 300hp. That would be great. Even with its conservative styling, it still looks better than most.
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