Will Lincoln's Next Town Car be based on a Stretched, AWD, V8-Powered Ford Five Hundred?

Considering that the wheelbase of the Five Hundred is 112.9 inches, a stretch of 4.9 inches would bring the wheelbase to

If Lincoln were to use the Five Hundred's platform, it will only be the AWD model. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

117.8 inches, which would be slightly larger than that of the Town Car. As it stands, the 2004 Town Car's wheelbase is larger than many high-end European luxury cars.

A secondary point to consider is that if Lincoln were to use the Five Hundred's platform, it will only be the AWD model. Lincoln hasn't had a front-wheel driven vehicle in its range since the demise of the Continental several years back, and considering its customer base and determination to uphold a prestigious image, they're not about to start with their high-end executive model. As for power, Mascarenas said a V8 could fit in the engine bay.

In a time where Chrysler and

Although the plan for a Five Hundred based Town Car sounds most viable, keeping the current Town Car underpinnings is still an option that's on the table. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

General Motors are switching to rear-wheel drive, Ford feels that it's best to stick with what they've got. Mascarenas stated, "I'm not sure the customer needs rear-wheel drive," which furthers the idea that a rear wheel driven Town Car isn't going to be produced. With no suitable, modern rear-driven platform on hand, it appears that Lincoln will be doing the second best thing, following the footsteps of Jaguar and its X-Type by introducing all-wheel drive.

Although the plan for a Five Hundred based Town Car sounds most viable, Mascarenas also suggested that keeping the current vehicle's underpinnings could be an option. The old Panther-based chassis has been in production since 1978, and is currently shared with the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Marauder.