Lincoln Continental Finally Gets the Suicide Doors It Deserves
The Lincoln Continental is an attractive full-size luxury sedan that’s worthy of the storied nameplate Ford Motor Company has given it, but it unfortunately lacks the reverse-opening doors of the iconic fourth-generation model.
While so-called ‘suicide doors’ are expensive to implement and wouldn’t have been feasible for a somewhat affordable, mass-market vehicle, Ford has found a solution. The automaker today rolled out the limited edition Lincoln Continental 80th Anniversary edition, which features reverse-opening suicide doors similar to the 1960s-era Continental. Just 80 examples of the Continental 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition will be built, but Lincoln is also promising a small production run in 2020 – likely based on customer demand.
SEE ALSO: 2020 Lincoln Aviator Debuts with 600 lb-ft, Turbo-PHEV Powertrain
“The center-opening doors became synonymous with the Lincoln Continental, even though they were only featured primarily in the ’60s,” said Lincoln design director David Woodhouse. “But they struck such a chord that they’re still remembered so fondly today.”
“People appreciate elegance and glamour,” Woodhouse added. “And they want the easiest way to get in and out of a vehicle. These doors answer to both.”
The Continental 80th Anniversary Edition will feature a numbered plaque in the door sills, signifying its exclusivity. It will also come equipped with Ford’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, which makes 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, along with Lincoln’s 30-way Perfect Position seats and a Revel audio system. Various Lincoln Black Label trims and options will be available as well, offering buyers a broad range of interior and exterior colors.
The Lincoln Continental 80th Anniversary limited-edition model is available to order now through Lincoln Black Label dealers, with first deliveries expected to commence next summer. Pricing has yet to be announced, but a loaded Continental Black Label will start at $70,045. It’s safe to say that Continental Coach Door Edition will cost at least that much, then, if not quite a bit more.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
More by Sam McEachern
Comments
Join the conversation