What's New for 2000

The Town Car receives additional safety features, including an emergency trunk release, child seat-anchor brackets and Lincoln's Belt Minder system. A new storage armrest has been placed on the front-passenger door-trim panel. One new exterior color has been added: Autumn Red Clearcoat Metallic.

Review

Lincolns have always been big, comfortable cruisers designed to coddle drivers and passengers in silent, swift comfort. In 1998, the Town Car was updated with new exterior styling, a new interior, traction control, and an improved rear suspension. Overall, the new style is clean, with a profile that is chiseled and strong. The only discordant element is the strange headlamp design that appears as though penned by an action comic-book artist.

Three trim levels of the Town Car are available: the base Executive, midline Signature, and top-of-the-heap Cartier. The Executive comes loaded with luxury: leather seating, power-adjusted front seats with power recliners and automatic climate control are all included in the entry-level Town Car (why Lincoln spoiled this classic name with that "Executive" tag is beyond us). Safety features abound as well, with antilock brakes, traction control and front side-impact airbags among the standard fare. Stepping up to the Signature adds a few perks such as power lumbar supports in front, a powerful Alpine stereo system, and steering wheel-mounted controls for the stereo and climate-control systems. The Cartier gilds the lily with higher-grade leather, heated seats, chrome wheels and, of course, a Cartier clock.

The 2000 Town Car continues this tradition with a 4.6-liter V8 that makes 205 horsepower and 280 foot-pounds of torque. The Cartier and Signature Touring Sedan Town Car models are equipped with a dual exhaust system and deliver 220 horsepower and 290 foot-pounds of torque at 3,500 rpm. While not exactly a performance car, the Town Car will get you up to speed with little effort and even less drama.

The changes for 2000 consist of the same safety changes that Ford has implemented across most of its model line. The emergency trunk release allows people who are trapped in the trunk to release the hatch. The child seat-anchor brackets in the back seat provide parents and caregivers an improved method to buckle in their child safety seats more securely. The system secures child safety seats using tethers that attach to the anchor brackets, in addition to traditional safety belts. The Belt Minder system consists of a chime and an indicator light to remind drivers and passengers to buckle up.

The Town Car hasn't had any domestic competition since the rear-drive Fleetwood and Buick Roadmaster were canceled in 1996. Strangely enough, the 2000 Town Car might find competition from within the Ford camp. While it's smaller, the new Lincoln LS offers a considerably more refined and sporting character.