Background: Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln division is going fishing with a new kind of lure. Long associated with large, full-size cars, Lincoln broke the mold a couple of years ago by introducing the Navigator, a full-size sport utility built off the Ford Explorer platform. Consumer reaction was positive; the leather- upholstered Navigator brought a younger breed of buyer into Lincoln showrooms (those not yet collecting monthly Social Security checks.).
Now, building on the Navigator's success, Lincoln has introduced the 2000 model year LS, a four-door luxury sports sedan. The well- equipped, rear-wheel-drive LS marks yet another departure for Lincoln. It's the first Lincoln vehicle since 1951 to offer a manual transmission. It's also aiming for shoppers in the 30-to-50- year-old range, a much younger demographic than traditional Lincoln buyers. The all-new LS is also the first Lincoln not falling in the full-size category in two decades.
With a booming economy, LS is entering the marketplace at a good time. Forty percent of all luxury vehicles sold fall into the luxury-sport segment, one of the fastest growing during the past five year. Competitors include the Acura 3.2 TL, Cadillac Catera, Lexus ES 300 and Mercedes-Benz C280.
Ford Motor Co., the world's second-largest auto builder, assembles LS in Wixom, Mich. outside of Detroit. Sporty LS sedans have been in Lincoln showrooms since last June along side Navigators, Town Cars and Continentals
Safety features: The LS includes most popular safety features standard including: reduced-force front air bags, front-seat side air bags, daytime running headlights, five-mile-per-hour bumpers, anti-lock brakes, traction control, remote keyless entry, child safety rear door locks and anti-theft security system.
Trim levels and engines: Lincoln markets LS in one basic trim with three engine/transmission selections: V-6 with five-speed manual transmission; V-6 with automatic transmission and V-8 featuring automatic transmission.
The Duratec, 3.0-liter, double overhead cam V-6 engine delivers 210 horsepower. The 3.9-liter, double overhead cam V-8 delivers 252 horsepower, taking LS from zero to 60 miles per hour in the mid seven-second range.
Both engines feature platinum-tipped spark plugs that, under normal driving conditions, can last 100,000 miles along with sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection. Both are constructed with aluminum blocks and aluminum heads.
Standard equipment: Falling into the luxury segment, LS includes many popular features including: five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive; cruise control; power windows, locks and side view mirrors; dual zone air conditioning and climate control, fog lights, power assist rack-and-pinion steering, intermittent heated front windshield wipers, cellular phone pre-wiring, four-wheel vented disc brakes, AM/FM cassette stereo and rear window defogger.
Options: Optional LS goodies include five-speed manual transmission, engine block heater ($60), six-unit compact disc changer ($595) and power moon roof ($995) and heated seats ($290). Also optional in the automatic-transmissioned LS is SelectShift, allowing drivers to manually shift gears higher or lower (without a clutch), if so desired with a gentle touch of the floor-mounted transmission handle. LS offers a convenience package ($858) and sports package ($1,000) with options including electrochomatic rearview mirror and HomeLink universal garage door openers.
Price: Lincoln provided the Daily Herald with a couple LS test- drive vehicles. Our silver, six-cylinder LS with V-6 engine and five-speed manual transmission included a manufacturers suggested retail price of $31,715. With a full compliment of options including heated seats, compact disc player and sport and convenience package, the bottom line totaled $34,550 including a $535 destination charge.
We also drove a green V-8 with automatic transmission that included a starting price of $34,990. A LS V-6 with automatic transmission starts at $31,215
Interior: Lincoln made entry and exiting LS a bit more accommodating for drivers with the telescoping steering wheel, that mechanically moves in when removing the key from the dashboard- mounted steering column, and moves back out once the key gets inserted.
The mostly analog instrument panel includes two large centered semicircles with speedometer and tachometer information flanked by two smaller fuel and temperature gauges. Odometer readings are digital in the lower left corner.
Windshield wipers monitor from the turn signal stalk while headlights can be switched on from a dashboard dial left of the steering column. Power window and lock buttons rest at a 90-degree plateau on the driver's door while power mirror controls are found on the dash near the headlight dial. Cruise control functions are mounted on the steering wheel. The optional six-disc compact disc changer is found in the glove box.
Between front bucket seats are a flip-top storage bin and hand- operated parking brake. Five-speed manual transmission editions come with one single cupholder ahead of the bin with five-speed automatic transmissioned vehicles include two in-line beverage holders.
Equidistant from both front seat travelers and centered in the dashboard is the stereo system with decent-sized present buttons. The digital clock readout is separate from the radio frequency display. Below sits the climate control system with dual temperature controls and toggle-like levers controlling fan speed and temperature. An assortment of buttons monitor fan direction. A central digital display illuminates outside and inside temperatures. Two buttons operating the heated front seats are found below the climate control cluster.
Seating comfort: Leather seating is staple in all LS editions. Also included are eight-way power driver's seat and six-way front passenger seats. Front seats are positioned lower to the ground, providing a more sports-like feel than other Ford sedan products, including the new Taurus.
In back, Lincoln's sales literature promotes three riders fit in back, but in reality, two average-sized adults fit with optimal comfort. The LS includes theater seating in back, meaning back seats sit a few inches higher than their front bucket seat counterparts. A fold-down center arm rest includes dual beverage holders for back seat travelers, and seat backs fold down with a 60/40 spilt for toting long items. Back seat riders also have their own vents for heat and air conditioning.
Exterior: Like many entry and performance luxury competitors, exterior styling steers towards the conservative side. The radio antenna gets molded into the rear window for a clean look and the aluminum hood keeps weight down.
Both side view mirrors and four flush-mounted door handles share the same color patters as the rest of the vehicle. Sixteen-inch tires come standard while larger, seventeen-inch varieties are part of the optional sports package grouping.
Demographics: Household income of an LS shoppers exceeds $100,000 annually. While 35 percent of buyers are expected to be women, many buyers are married with post-graduate degrees who are technologically savvy with such hobbies as investing, golf fitness and fine foods. The age range falls in the age range between 30 and 50 years.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 114.5 inches
Overall length: 193.9
Oveall width: 73.2 inches
Overall height: 56.1 inches
Curb weight: 3,593 pounds
Trunk: One nice surprise is a full-size spare tire fitting snugly in a wheel well below the trunk's flat floor, next to the battery. At 13.5 cubic feet, LS' trunk volume measures bigger than the Mercedes-Benz C280 sedan and Lexus' ES 300 sedan, but a bit tighter than Cadillac's Catera. Two back rest release handles, unlatching the 60/40 spilt seat backs, are accessible when the trunk lid is open.
Fuel economy: Our V-6 LS with five-speed manual transmission averaged 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 m.p.g. along the highway. The V-8 LS with automatic transmission was slightly more liberal burning fuel. The fuel tank holds 18.3 gallons of unleaded fuel.
Final thoughts: Lincoln gained valuable marketing ammunition last month when the all-new LS was named Motor Trend Magazine's 'Car of the Year,' and wasted little time touting the new award in its advertising campaign.
Lincoln designed rear-wheel-drive LS with a near 50/50 weight distribution, adding to crisp handling and above-average responsiveness. The lead-acid battery was moved from the engine compartment to the trunk area to accomplish the equal-weight proportioning.
General Motors Cadillac division debuted a mid-size luxury sedan of its own, the Catera a few years back. But the German-built, rear-drive Catera (with a starting price around $34,300) was slow to gain a foothold. Unlike the LS, Catara is only available in a V- 6 with no V-8 powertrain. Price wise, LS offers good value for the dollar when sized up with the competition.
If driving a rear-drive vehicle throughout snowy Chicagoland is a concern, rest assured the sure-footed LS is up to the task. We put LS to the test during recent snowfalls and found the standard traction control keep the vehicle on a straight course during panic-breaking situations.
The LS shares some undercarriage characteristics with Jaguar's all-new 2000 S-Type sedan. Jaguar is a Ford subsidiary as is Lincoln. |