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Ford Authority

Lincoln Dealers Hope The Company Doesn’t Drop Sedans

Ford surprised many when it discontinued all its cars in North America except for the Mustang. Lincoln’s dealer council is worried the automaker will also drop all the sedans from its lineup. Sales numbers show that the Lincoln MKZ and the Lincoln Continental don’t sell in huge numbers, but the Lincoln dealer council doesn’t want Ford to walk away from sedans just yet. Tom Lynch, chairman of the Lincoln National Dealer Council, which represents Lincoln dealers around the country, says that the Council continues to talk to the company about needing to be in the sedan business.

Lynch notes that “you only have to look at Tesla” to see that if you produce a strong product, people will buy it. Many would agree, if you make cars that people want, not necessarily the cars the automaker wants to build, consumers are still interested in cars. Ford rather proved that there is still a market for entry-level cars when it discontinued all its vehicles in that segment and pushed many buyers to Asian brands like Hyundai and Toyota. There are still many luxury sedans on the market from BMW, Mercedes, Tesla, and Cadillac.

Lynch admits he’s not sure what the future of cars looks like for Lincoln. Sales of the mid-size Lincoln MKZ sedan declined 11 percent in 2019 to 17,725 units. Sales for the iconic Lincoln Continental declined 25 percent to 6,586 units. Lincoln did introduce the 2020 Continental Coach Door Edition in extremely limited numbers last year that generated a lot of buzz and sold out quickly. It was a car that people wanted.

The Coach Door Edition had rear suicide doors and aimed at people who prefer to be driven. The sedan started at $115,470. Lincoln dealers may be out of luck as Lincoln has already stated that it will discontinue the MKZ this year, and reports indicate the Continental will go out of production in 2021.

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Source: Automotive News

Shane is a car guy with a fondness for Mustangs and off-roading.

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Comments

  1. Ford and Lincoln have worse ideas. Don’t build cars, and watch your car company become irrelevant.

    Reply
    1. Yes, the way to stay relevant is to push vehicles that most people clearly do not want, and to lose money on each one. Genius!

      Reply
  2. The CONTINENTAL is a beautiful sedan both COACH DOOR and standard versions. FORD ought to listen to dealers since they are the first link in the chain connecting FORD to it’s customer base. They could always bring the TAURUS built in China over here as a lower cost alternative to the CONTINENTAL. Funny how other builders like TOYOTA don’t seem to have a problem with sedans. I was at the CHICAGO AUTO SHOW this last Saturday and just strange that not a single sedan in the BUICK and CHEVROLET divisions to be found unless I missed something.

    Reply
    1. Maybe CAPS LOCK was needed for you to COMPREHEND, but Toyota sedans are in deep decline as well, its just that they are far more dependent on sedan sales (which are attempting to be propped up by low-margin rental fleet sales, something American companies were chastised for in the past) than Ford, GM or FCA.

      Go look at the best selling vehicle from brands like Toyota, Honda and other Asian automakers. Hint: none of them are sedans.

      Reply
    2. Your use of capital letters is jarring

      Reply
  3. I appreciate sarcasm but I use cap lock when spelling a private business. I understand the market but I have a right to question it. Why is the CAMRY so popular? So what if fleets buy them?

    Reply
  4. Well then you can ask the moderator to delete my post if it upsets you so much. Or perhaps you can just ignore it if you’re going to be so petty about it.
    FORD is being run by stupid people so I’m at the point of buying my next car from whomever builder has a suitable sedan. If not, I’ll buy a CHRYSLER minivan since I’m not ready to jump into the crossover craze yet.

    Reply
  5. Worst? They’ve been building them forever and they are beyond proven. I’ve driven them(and still do) for many years as a delivery driver alternating between them and full size vans. I’ve ridden in minivans as cabs and UBER and find them to be a great alternative to a sedan in terms of ride quality and spacious. Unlike crossovers, they have a nice long wheelbase which contributes to the ride. Plus at least the CHRYSLER, HONDA and TOYOTA versions, have V6 engines as standard equipment unlike most of the crossovers that have the buzzy 4 and 10k more if you want the smooth V6.

    Reply
  6. Ford & Lincoln power that he need to desperately rethink their decision to do away with all sedans. There’s a reason Dodge/ Chrysler are selling so many Chargers & 300s, rear wheel drive Sport & Luxury model. Toyota Camry & Honda Accords as front wheel drive sell well in Texas. Sell normally go down on a car when you announce discontinuing it, it would be a great move for Lincoln to keep the Continental coach door addition on the market as a Flag Ship model let it sell at a 100K, Ford can keep the Taurus & Sho model for 30/40K to test the market. If all go well move the Continental coach edition to a rear wheel drive platform & bring back the Crown Vic / Galaxy “HotRod” model to replace Taurus by 2024. The Continental will be the Ultra Top Luxury model 100K, Crown Vic – A 300 alternate 40K ,Galaxy A Hellcat fight 60K plus

    Reply
  7. You have to also factor 100% electric and hybrid versions too. I could see them putting a sedan body on the new EXPLORER/AVIATOR platform. GM has announced that the CT6 is officially finished so FORD ought to jump at the chance to show that sedans are still in the line.
    Time will tell and I like those ideas Roy.

    Reply
    1. Thanks I thought of the idea and then had to freshen it up knowing that Ford may do a four-door Mustang. Which will fall in-line more money wise, its a better move that’s very do able minus some name changes & your I idea of Electric models would fit perfectly in that plan

      Reply
  8. Ford & Lincoln power that he need to desperately rethink their decision to do away with all sedans. There’s a reason Dodge/ Chrysler are selling so many Chargers & 300s, rear wheel drive Sport & Luxury model. Toyota Camry & Honda Accords as front wheel drive sell well in Texas. Sells normally go down on a car when you announce discontinuing it, it would be a great move for Lincoln to keep the Continental coach door addition on the market as a Flag Ship model let it sell at a 100K, Ford can keep the Taurus & Sho model for 30/40K to test the market. If all go well move the Continental coach edition to a rear wheel drive platform used with the 4 door Ford Mustang model thing Porsche Panamera .The Continental will be the Ultra Top Luxury model 100K & a 2 door Coach edition & convertible can be add to Lincoln,the 4 door Mustang the Sports / HotRod model 40/60k.

    Reply
  9. People have been wanting a has suicide door Continental for decades now someone decided to do just 100 a car most people never seen let alone know exist that sells out in minutes. Common sense would dictate that’s the car that the public market wants to buy. Ford don’t have a problem selling $90,000 F Siri’s pick ups,GT500 let alone a Ford GT that cost $500,000 which you wouldn’t just bill 100 of. Lincoln shouldn’t have a problem selling $100,000 sedan with 400+ horsepower & suicide doors. It supposed to be the Luxury Brand of Ford. Am I not right? Build the car let the customers buying everybody don’t want a SUV or Puckup, people want cars they can talk about and show off Lincoln…

    Reply

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