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Lincoln Continental Reserve comes with the twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 that makes 335 horsepower

by Jorg Dambrosio (2023-04-15)


The Versailles was the very first midsize sedan from the marque, and right right away, it missed the mark with the public. The 1970s saw the launch of the Mark IV in addition to a brand new Lincoln, the Versailles. The Versailles was on the basis of the Ford Granada platform, and many blamed its failure on its obvious similarity to its less exclusive -- and more affordable -- twin.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2020 Lincoln Continental its highest rating of Good in every crash tests, and models with LED projector headlights were awarded a Top Safety Pick+ designation, the highest honor. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Continental a standard safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. Depending on trim, the Continental received a Good rating or the best rating of Poor for how well its headlights illuminate the road ahead. The Continental received the best rating of Superior for the standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system. The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. Lincoln Continental comes with standard and available Lincoln features.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Lincoln Continental a standard safety rating of five out of five, with five stars in front and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Continental received the highest Superior rating because of its standard vehicle-to-vehicle forward collision avoidance system. Depending on the trim, the Continental received a Good or the lowest Poor rating for how well its headlights illuminate the trail ahead. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Lincoln Continental the highest Good in all crash tests, and models with LED projector headlights received the greatest honor, Top Safety Pick+. The Lincoln Continental is sold with standard and existing Lincoln features.

Lincoln isn't chasing sports sedan glory with the Continental like Cadillac did with the Cadillac CT6 and instead seems content to provide a well-cushioned ride. The Lincoln Continental Reserve comes with a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 that delivers 335 horsepower versus the Standard car's non-turbocharged 3.7-liter V-6 that offers 305 horsepower. Unfortunately, the behavior of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 we tested was uneven, having an overly aggressive throttle response and some transmission issues. However, in our real-world testing, our test car outperformed the EPA highway rating by an impressive 4 mpg. Even at its most efficient, the Continental has a substantial thirst for fuel and is smashed by a number of its rivals in fuel economy ratings, like the Volvo S90 and Lexus LS500.

Bedecked in chrome and fitted with plush leather and luxury features galore, the massive truck was a breakout hit. By this time around, sport-utility vehicles had emerged as a section to be reckoned with, and Lincoln made the absolute most with this trend by launching its 1st SUV, the Ford Expedition-based Navigator, in 1998. The '90s saw the debut of the Mark VIII, which featured a four-cam V8 and air suspension.

However, the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 packs plenty of power. The top-end gets a 400-hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. The beds base engine is just a lackluster 3.7-liter V6. The Lincoln Continental 2023 variant is based on the successful Lincoln MKZ, and the Continental is just a high-tech flagship sedan. The Lincoln Continental is a series of mid-size and full-size luxury cars manufactured by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional, ride is very comfortable and the cabin is super quiet.

The vehicle was a huge hit for Lincoln; at one time, nearly 80 percent of all Lincolns sold were Zephyrs. The 1936 model year saw Lincoln's launch of the favorite Zephyr. Lincoln had found its niche in the blissful luxury car segment by the 1930s, riding high with the kind of Cadillac as a purveyor of premium status mobiles. The car's name and styling were inspired by the sleek lines of the Burlington Zephyr, a diesel-powered express train that boasted record-setting speed.

The Continental Mark III luxury coupe rolled out in 1968 and by the late '60s, more than 1 million Continentals have been built. The '40s also saw the rise of the glamorous Continental. The vehicle's development was shepherded by Edsel Ford, son of Ford's founder Henry Ford. After World War II, Lincoln maintained its premium status with vehicles just like the Mark II and the '60s-era Continentals, which gained fame through their "suicide-style" rear doors and use as U.S. presidential limousines.

The Mark series continued to evolve and shrunk down considerably with the debut of the Mark VI. In 1981, Lincoln released its now iconic Town Car, the full-size luxury sedan that's since served while the marque's flagship. Lincoln also distinguished itself during these years as the first American car line to provide antilock braking. That velvet-lined cruiser was followed mid-decade by the Mark VII, which was more European in nature and could even be powered with a BMW turbodiesel engine.  Though its moniker had been used to designate trim levels in previous years, 1981 was the entire year in that your Town Car came into existence as an individual model.