It's High Time the Current Lincoln Town Car Chassis was Updated
Time is running out at Ford to make a decision on how to replace or update its
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| Ford needs to make a decision on how to replace or update its flagship luxury sedan, the Lincoln Town Car. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
Paul Mascarenas, the executive director for medium and large front and all-wheel drive platforms at Ford commented on the situation, stating that there are a number of viable alternatives available, and that the Five Hundred-based vehicle is just one of the tentative solutions.
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| A stretched out Ford Five Hundred architecture with all-wheel drive and V8 power could be used for the new Lincoln. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
If given the green light, this new Town Car would become the largest vehicle to be based off the front-wheel drive midsize platform, also shared with the Ford Freestyle crossover and Mercury Montego. The platform was developed off of Volvo's large car architecture, underpinning the S80, ensuring class-leading safety and top-notch vehicle dynamics. The trio will go on sale next month, mostly featuring a CVT transmission, except for specific trim levels of Five Hundred which get a 6-speed automatic, and front- or all-wheel drive.
But in order for this plan of action to become reality, a great deal of work on the Five Hundred's structure is needed. Aside from styling the vehicle as a Lincoln, it's most likely that the vehicle will also be defined by a wheelbase stretch and an extension of the front and rear overhangs. On the issue, Mascarenas said, "I would think [the wheelbase could be extended] 100 mm (3.9 in), 125 mm (4.9 in) before you would need to start widening the vehicle to balance out proportions."