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Lincoln Dealer Council Head Wants Brand To Offer New Sedan

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Along with the Ford brand, sedans disappeared from the Lincoln lineup a few years ago, following the discontinuation of models such as the Lincoln Continental and MKZ, after which the luxury brand transitioned to a crossover and SUV-only lineup. Since then, many consumers have called for Lincoln to bring sedans back, but as Ford Authority reported back in October 2020, the brand had no plans to do such a thing at the time – at least, in the foreseeable future. However, it seems as if one notable figure in the Lincoln Dealer Council would also like to see a new sedan added to the lineup as well.

“I’m still a believer that a four-door sedan could be wildly successful,” Matt Demmer, chairman of the Lincoln National Dealer Council, told Automotive News in a recent interview. “When you’ve seen a lot of people exit that market, there’s a big percentage of those buyers willing to defect to another brand to have a sedan. I think that’s a huge opportunity. Any time there’s a sports car, kind of a halo-type product we could get to bring some more awareness to the brand, that’s always a winner too. I don’t think [leadership’s] closed to it by any means.”

“Obviously the CUV/SUV space, that’s where a lot of clients want to be right now, and that needs to be our primary focus. Could it shift and go the other way? Sure. I don’t think there’s anything they’d put a hard no on. They’re always willing to listen to feedback from the dealer body, and I’d tell you a sedan’s probably a topic they’ve heard more than a few times.”

At the moment, we do know that Lincoln isn’t focused on EVs, but we’ve heard nothing about a potential sedan rebirth as of late. It is worth noting that in China, Lincoln does offer a sedan called the Zephyr currently, a tech-heavy model that was designed to appeal to younger customers.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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  • This car sold less than 13,000 units in China in 2024, which is about the same as Lincoln Continental was selling before it was axed. If real buyers wanted 4 doors, they should have supported the MKZ and the Continental by buying them when they were in the lineup.

    • Can't buy a $80k car every year. When I was ready to buy in Fall '22 none were left. Had to buy a MB E450 4Matic. After 35 years, I may never go back to Lincoln.

  • I bought 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020 MKZ hybrids & a 2019 MKZ 400hp. When Lincoln dropped MKZ sedans, that’s when I defected to 2022 & 2024 & soon 2026 Lexus ES hybrids! Please no imported China vehicles!!

  • It can be successful, but it must be done right, too. A boring corporate design isn't going to cut it.

    The former Dodge Charger crowd (amongst others) is going to be looking for a real replacement now as Dodge's new EV and 4/6 cylinder "Charger" here is DOA.

    • The Charger crowd would go for a Ford but probably not a Lincoln. I see no reason not to offer both. But Ford Execs might not be closed to the idea but it's certainly not in their Top 10 list, I'm sure. "More Mustangs, more Raptors, another Lightning", etc.

      • I think the new Dodge Charger...is going to sell pretty well...infact i believe it out sell the old one...offers two door or a change and 4 doors....it they offer the Hemi in it...a homerun. with new leadership at Stellatis it might be possible..nice looking car...that Daytona

    • I've had a number of Lincoln sedans, when it was time for replacement I ended up getting a Cadillac, won't buy a SUV or station wagon whatever you want to call them.

  • Building a sedan would give Lincoln a purpose and a unique selling proposition. For far too long, Ford designed autos as Fords and then slapped some fancy crud on it and called it a Lincoln. Lincolns were just Fords with fancy lipstick and a much larger price tag and not worth the money. If Lincoln made a sedan that was just and only a Lincoln, that would give the vehicle a certain degree of panache. It would be special. It could truly be a luxury vehicle. And corporate Ford should listen to the dealer networks more often. Dealers seem to have a much better sense of what customers actually want to buy. Corporate seems lost in the woods.

    • Excellent observation. Not too far removed from the logic that ultimately killed the Mercury brand. For too many years Mercury was also a "Ford with fancy lipstick." I don't think a Lincoln sedan needs to be "a commodity car," either. Remember, the original Lincoln Continental (the one Edsel Ford inspired) lost money, but it was Lincoln's "halo car" for many years!

    • First they took away the 2 door coup. Everything now has to be 4 doors, even pickups. Then they took away the sedan, (the real car). Now everything has to be SUVs, just because they say so. We want an affordable sedan or coup again, we're starting to run out of used ones, like Cuba. Go figure!

  • As former owner of a couple of Lincoln sedans, I stopped considering Lincoln the day they stopped producing sedans. Not everybody likes SUV's or crossovers or is willing to buy one no matter what. Lincoln, with an uncomplete lineup composed of only boring SUV's, today is way behind it's competitors. Lincoln today is nothing but a vulgar joke when compared to other luxury car brands.

    • They sold over 100K last year, the best year in 17 years without a sedan. The 2017 to 2020 with the 400 HP 3.0 Ecoboost was more car than any other Lincoln. It had more room than the Town Car, 0 to 60 in 5 seconds and AWD. If that didn't sell, nothing they bring in from China will.

    • Very well said! I own 3 Town Cars ('79 Collector Series, '97, and '06) and previously a '93 Continental. I am constantly bombarded with offers to buy them because no one wants the new Lincolns.

  • Lincoln needs a Cadillac CT4 and CT5 rival. Cadillac makes excellent sedans and Lincoln offers nothing. The younger generations are in favor of sedans so I'm wondering why Lincoln doesn't offer one if Lincoln wants younger people to be brought into the portfolio?

    • I’m reading where Cadillac is ending production of XT4 & XT5 this year and CT4 sedan too. CT5 has no future plans after 2026 models. Looks like Caddy want very expensive mainly all-electric 3-row SUVs. They have ‘teaser’ return of Fleetwood sedans and Coupe DeVilles estimated at $100G. Just talk for future sedans. Caddy like Lincoln became a boxy tall SUVs company. Sad. Not getting my business 👎

      • The CT5 had a refresh for the 2025 model year and both models have been confirmed for the 2026 model year from GM Authority GM design chief has said that Cadillac is working on two electric sedans which will probably replace the CT4 and CT5 by the end of the decade most likely.

  • I think the Chinese Zephyr would do well enough here. It's got a high tech interior, svelte exterior and is more compelling as a mid range luxury sedan than the Continental was keeping the price at the lower end of the market. Heck, it's already engineered - just ship the damn thing over already.

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