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The design of the front end is heavily influenced by Continentals of the early '60s, with the steam roller tires and 22-inch wheels adding a touch of modern-era muscle.
If the long, horizontal lines of the exterior aren't enough for you, there's plenty more inside.
One of the design goals was to make entry and exit as easy as possible. Old-school "suicide" doors seem to do the trick quite nicely.
Looking more like James Bond's Aston Martin than a Lincoln sedan, the Continental concept features rear quarters fit for the most discerning globe-trotting executive.

Lincoln Continental Concept

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What is it?
Lincoln Continental Concept

What's special about it?
Apart from the dramatic styling that borrows heavily from the Continentals of the '60s, this design exercise from Lincoln features the latest in high-tech gadgetry and an interior that would look right at home in a personal jet.

The front and rear captain's chairs were inspired by Charles Eames' lounge chairs, while extensive use of indirect fiber optic lighting sets a more futuristic mood. A center console that runs the length of the car houses flip-out computer screens in the rear, as well as all secondary controls for the driver and passenger in front. Reconfigurable screens across the dashboard display everything from the navigation system to the controls for the THX-certified sound system.

The long, uninterrupted horizontal lines that dominate the exterior are meant to convey strength and weight. Precisely angled rear window pillars were designed with maximum privacy for rear passengers in mind. Power from the V-12 engine is put to the ground via massive 22-inch wheels and tires. The trunk rises vertically to expose custom luggage that rides on a sliding tray for easier access.

Why should you care?
Lincoln is looking to reclaim its place as one of the United States' premier luxury carmakers, but with the current Continental on the way out, and the redesigned Town Car retaining an old-school design, the company's going to have to come up with something dramatic to get the public's attention once again. The Continental concept shows that Lincoln's hard at work, but maybe a little too hard in our opinion. We're as fond of big '60s Conti's as the next guy, but if this is the "future" of Lincoln, they can leave the shades at home. — Ed Hellwig