Ford to bring back Lincoln Continental, with eye on Chinese market - Los Angeles Times
For America's rich and famous, the Lincoln Continental once was the last word in automotive luxury. Ford Motor Co. stopped making the Continental in 2002. It lost its allure as Americans gravitated to German and Japanese luxury brands. Forsaken by the Hollywood stars and the Wall Street wizards, the Continental became the preferred car of limousine services shuttling high school students to the prom. Ford sees the car as the linchpin connecting two strategies: proving to Americans that Lincoln once again can be synonymous with luxury and attacking the red-hot luxury market in China. In China, the Continental will try to appeal to a new breed of wealthy back-seat drivers. The rear seating area, often an afterthought in American and European car design, is essential in the Chinese car market. “In China the focus is on the rear-seat passengers in terms of everything from space to amenities. The Lincoln's back-seat amenities will include a laptop table that motors itself into position, electric sockets to power a laptop and other devices, and a champagne cooler in the center console. The rear seats are covered with high-grade leather and are adjustable 30 ways. Source: www.latimes.com
