While it could be said the concept's grille is almost too understated, it's a beautifully executed display of aluminum brightwork that spans the car's entire width, encapsulating two remote light generator headlamps at each side. Incidentally these headlights use fiber optic cables to transmit light from a single source reducing required energy while emitting two and half times the beam strength of regular halogen bulbs, the result of Ford's relationship with Philips Lighting.
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| The concept's beautifully executed grille is almost too understated. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
A noticeable lack of wraparound lighting clusters front and rear is distinctive, although possibly not as safe when viewed from the side at night. That profile view is particularly attractive though, and would be marred if altered for safety's sake. Like the early '60s Continental a thin strip of chrome trim highlights the car's broad shoulder lines from front to back, starting from grille level, straddling suicide-style rear doors and ending by wrapping downward toward the tailpipes in the rear.
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| As dramatic and stylish as the Continental concept is, it still retains the look of a classic Lincoln. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Its rear styling might be its most cohesive aspect, combining a sweeping C-pillar into a large rear decklid that gently drops rearward integrating unique dual, horizontal taillights bisected by Lincoln's legendary badge.
I think what is most important about the Continental design exercise is that it looks like a Lincoln. It pulls from the brand's healthy gene pool leaving the uninspired BMW (LS) and Jaguar (Town Car) influences in the past, where they should stay.