As many Blue Oval fans are already well aware, the Lincoln LS lasted for a single generation – from 2000-2006 – as a luxurious and sporty four-door coupe with rear-wheel drive and a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Available with either a V6 or a V8, the LS could also be spec’d with a manual transmission, and it shared the Ford DEW98 platform with the Jaguar S-Type and the Ford Thunderbird. That latter piece of information is also the theme of this video from YouTuber David Long – or the Car Wizard, as he’s otherwise known – who recently had a customer’s 2001 Lincoln LS in the shop because its valve cover gaskets were leaking.
Underneath the familiar styling cues this 2001 Lincoln LS sports, it’s far more than just a floaty, comfortable, luxurious sedan, as is the case with most that wear the brand’s Star emblem. Even though the engine cover says “Lincoln V8,” the powerplant that lies beneath it is actually a Jaguar 3.9L V8 – a part that, like many of its other mechanicals, the LS shares with the S-Type, such as its suspension components.
Interestingly, there aren’t too many Jaguar logos on these various bits and pieces, which was clearly an effort on Ford’s part to hide their origin. That includes the rear differential, track rod, and many other parts, to the point where Long notes that the LS is really isn’t an American car at all, but rather, “a Jaguar S-Type with a Lincoln body.”
Of course, this presents owners with a bit of a problem – Jaguar parts are generally more expensive than Lincoln ones, and the LS has its fair share of known issues. As Long points out, this is still a great car, but it’s important that prospective buyers know what they’re getting into before bringing one home.
We’ll have more informative videos like this to share soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Lincoln news, Lincoln LS news, and ongoing Ford news updates.
Comments
From the times when Lincoln produced real luxury cars and was really a luxury car brand and was not a pathetic shadow of what it once was and was not way behind its competitors with a lineup of only boring, cookie cutter and uninteresting SUV’s and crossovers. Lincoln needs a flagship sedan or a sports coupe to be in the same league than MB, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Tesla, Maseratti or even Cadillac among other serious luxury car brands.
Agreed. Lincoln desperately needs a halo vehicle (preferably a hybrid sedan) if it wants to be seriously considered a luxury brand. Unfortunately, Farley is solely focused on full EV trucks and SUV’s which will not be viable for 5 to 7 years.
They did try that with the Continental which had very good reviews, but sold poorly. Only 33339 units were sold from 2016 to 2021 when inventory ran out. The Lincoln Nautilus has sold since 2018 83868 units. The Lincoln Corsair sold 92874 units since 2019. Aviator almost 75k, and the Navigator almost 115K since 2014. I am also a car person, but these SUVs all outsold any their Flagship model.
It’s no use, Joe, their minds are made up. They want 5 Lincoln sedans that sell 300/month and lose thousands per sale. Just so they can go ahead and say “I’ll buy it used when it’s twice as good as Lexus for half the price”.
We have a Nautilus and a Corsair, both 2022 and got good deals on both, low APR and one had 3K in rebates, the other $1750.00 in rebates. I don’t expect anymore cars from them. I expect less ICE vehicles and more EVs.
I was lucky enough to own one of these, RHD, silver with a beige interior. I fixed the soft suspension by fitting neoprene suspension bushes etc and the only 2 problems I ever had were the sunroof being a bit hit and miss at times and the coolant overflow tank cracked. Luckily I was able to find one sitting in a local Jaguar dealership in Melbourne for just $US50 albeit that in itself was a issue. When l went into pick it up all the mechanics and spare parts people wanted a look at and lots of questions until the dealer principle arrived and asked me to leave as “we don’t want any association of our cars with a Ford” Stuck up knob.
Absolutely loved the car, pulled close to 150mph, returned over 30mpg , with a non factory twin system exhaust it was pure evil music to the ears and was a head turner wherever you went, especially at Ford club days. If only I could have got a 2006 model with a 6 speed manual and the blown 4 litre V8 motor from a Jag. One day.
” When l went into pick it up all the mechanics and spare parts people wanted a look at and lots of questions until the dealer principle arrived and asked me to leave as “we don’t want any association of our cars with a Ford” Stuck up knob.”
Exactly. He also kissed you off as any kind of future customer who might be working his way up a career ladder, and your desire to eventually own a Jag. This reminds me of a time when my brother was expressing an interest in a car at Hollywood Sports Cars in Los Angeles, decades ago. He is a a short, beefy man. The salesman took one look at him, and looking down his nose said (fake English accent here) “You just deaunt look like the spohts cah type” and walked off. My brother bought elsewhere, and kept doing so.
Lincoln LS was on my short list. They sent me a picture of the battery in the trunk bragging about 50/50 weight distribution.
Which is actually quite common on sports sedans.
Try having a battery in the fender well like a Chrysler/Dodge
When Consumer Reports tested an LS, they said it was the best car they had ever tested. Maybe the Jaguar connection helped.
Well a big part of the premium spec was due to extensive benchmarking exercises on all the premium competition.
The car spawned a lot of new component sets like tilt telescopic steering column, engine, trans, driveshaft, etc.
The vehicle dynamics were reviewed by RPJ and Jackie Stewart and some very late and expensive to incorporate for Job 1 changes were made.
They didn’t say that. It said it was one of the better performing cars it it’s class, not the best.
Although Ford were aiming for it to be BIC (but even MN-12 aimed for that and, was well, a good effort but wanting), D/EW-98 was also wanting with regard to some things.
I was involved in several parts for this vehicle and some of them and at the time had the impression of benchmarking run amok that found the highest cost solution without a commensurate increase in performance.
I can only think that because Jag was chasing BMW and DB and trying to make the S-type a volume world beater, these things were approved.
S-type was spoiled by wrapping all that hardware in a boring interpretation of styling that had been successful for the niche market that Jag served in the 1960’s.
(A few years later, a similar thing happened on the new F-series, Ford put about 1,000$ of cost into the vehicle with no way to convince the consumer to pay even that much more.
How that ever was allowed to happen at the finance, program planning and chief engineer’s level is a mystery, but within a year or so, Ford spent a bundle to revert parts to older less expensive designs with still adequate performance and quality levels, just to reduce that hard to recover on-cost.)
I agree 100% with JE above! Well said JE!
I had a twin to this one, but mine was the first 2000 model year. But it was a beautiful car in the pearl white with two tone tan leather. The sport package with those wheels, V8 and all. It was a fantastic car! That is, for the more sporting person who liked the firmer ride and handling instead of the true Lincoln ride. I did love the car for shorter trips and just running around, but long trips were not pleasant. On top of that, mine didn’t come with any cup holders. I ended up trading that on a 2003 Mercury GM in light fern (green) with tan leather. Now that car was a road car!
I bought my wife an 02 V6 5 speed (she wanted it). Put P275/40R 17s on it and it handled very well. Two different encounters with a deer spelled it’s demise. Jag underpinnings and mostly all aluminum body. Great car.
Actually DEW98 had Al hood, deck snd fenders. The rest of the outer skin was double sided galvanized steel.
Bought my wife a 2001 LS 2 years ago. 35000 miles, showroom condition. She didn’t like it, so I had to buy her a minivan the same day. Her loss, now I have a nice little toy that only comes out of the garage on nice sunny days.
Car Wizard has some good videos. It is good to know about the underpinnings of the LS and make anyone who is interested in it that the parts and labor will be more expensive because it has a lot of Jaguar parts. I always liked the LS and I remember seeing a number of them when they were new. Neighbor across the street from me a couple of them furnished to him by his employer and when they stopped making them he had a Chrysler 300.
The DEW-98 chassis was developed in Dearborn. IIRC in Building 3.
S650 if done right can become a new and updated Lincoln LS V8 and V6. With a longer wheelbase for more interior room the vehicle could off a full range of models. Sedan, Coupe, Convertible, maybe a sport wagon and even longer wider Continental worthy of the name. Why should Mustang have all the fun. Pump some life into Lincoln and give us what we want! I know I’m wasting my time and ford doesn’t listen But something needs to be done with the brand and this is it. Cadillac has no problem selling CT4’s and CT5’s by the way.
Remember when Chrysler introduced the great American Road car back in 2005? The 300, Charger and Challenger! Still selling right up until the very end. Guess what will happen if Lincoln can crank out an LS v8 series soon?? Lincoln earns some respect finally, that’s what you get.
If they introduce a V8 LS they would need a Time Machine to go back 25 years and if they did it all again it would still happen like it did.
There’s a reason Chrysler isn’t replacing the LX platform like for like.
And Lincoln currently has nothing in the lineup that i would consider. I could be interest if they had some youthful excitement in the lineup. Watch sales increase. Duh. Using S650 would bring Lincoln back ahead not back25 years and Lincoln would earn respect again. It’s a no brainer unless the people are you, a negative nilley.
Love my new CT5! Best of All, it’s a Sedan AND a Cadillac! Whoo Hoo!!
Funny thing is how the CTS evolved into what the LS was to be. Then the CT4 and 5 took over to bring the level higher. Lost opportunity for Lincoln and sales show. As we all agree, the LS was the last real Lincoln even if related to Jaguar. That is a good thing even if not a Ford clone (exception is Thunderbird but Lincoln always had ties to Thunderbird. Look at the Marks 3 -8) Lincoln will never have an individual, distinct vehicle with passion and aspire, just fancy Fords. oh well, we move on to something better, I guess. Wow that Genesis convertible is a stunner, isn’t it?