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The Town Car is
Lincoln's flagship. It may be the last surviving
domestic front-engine, rear-drive, full-size luxury
sedan, the kind that defined American luxury cars
for a generation.
 It
has changed to keep up with the times. It is
rounder, sleeker and more agile. It sill holds five
people (six in a pinch) in lavish trimmings, but it
feels smaller overall. Styling is dominated by the
large chrome grille, clear-lens headlights and a
roofline that tucks sharply into the trunk. The
look is leaner and more aerodynamic. Around back,
chrome trims the rear license plate and the
taillamps have multiple contours and clear lenses
that give them a jewel-like look. There are three
models: Executive Series, at $38,500; Signature
Series, at $40,150; and the Cartier, at $42,500.
Both the Signature Series, which I drove, and the
Cartier, cost less than they did last year. All
prices include destination charges.
 Lincoln
tackled the revision of its Town Car with care. Its
traditional buyers are in their mid-60s, and it
didn't want to alienate them, while at the same
time it was imperative to reach out to a younger
customer base. The result is a full-size four-door
that is elegant and stylish, Changes to the Town
Car are not just cosmetic. Improving the driving
dynamics was also important. A soft ride has always
been a part of what made big American cars so
attractive to our parents' generation. Lincoln
wanted to keep the cushy ride but provide more
responsive handling, and it has done that. A Watt's
Linkage rear suspension improves straight-line
tracking and counters the tendency for the vehicle
to squat under acceleration and dive under braking.
Mind you, this is not a BMW or Mercedes-Benz when
it comes to charging through turns or down country
lanes, but it does get down the road with much
greater assurance than the old model, yet there is
no significant penalty in terms of ride.
 The
steering has been improved but still needs
refinement. At times it felt numb and heavy, at
others like it turned too easily. When I took my
wife's parents for a ride they both commented on
the pillow smooth ride and couch-like seats. In
order for Lincoln to maintain a three-across
seating option for the front, it turned to a
40//20//40 design whose center section remains
fixed and has a large fold-down center armrest.
This armrest contains incidental storage space as
well as a spot for a cellular phone. Should you
need to put three people in front, flip it up to
create a wide bench seat. The Town Car's proven
body-on-frame configuration remains unchanged, even
though the frame has been redesigned and new
bi-directional body mounts keep noise and vibration
from penetrating the passenger compartment.
The completely
new instrument panel has a soft, leather-like
texture with wood appliques as accents. There is no
tachometer, and a large analog speedometer is
flanked by two bright green digital readouts, whose
style and size looked out of place with the rest of
the instruments. Once, when I put in some gas
without shutting off the engine, the gas gauge did
not show the new level until I turned the key off
and back on. The radio is located up high in the
center of the dash, but auxiliary controls on the
steering wheel make it easy to change stations or
adjust volume without having to take your eyes from
the road or your hands from the wheel.
Lower-powered dual airbags are present, of course,
but I was surprised at the absence of side airbags
since many luxury imports have them. Thicker side
glass is used to keep noise out of the cabin.
 The
4.6-liter, single-overhead-cam (SOHC) V8 engine is
used in a variety of Ford products, including the
Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and the F-150 pickup
truck. This engine is free from vibration and goes
about its business without being the least bit
intrusive. It has 200 horsepower, but in a car of
this size and weight more power would be
appreciated. Compression has been raised to 10:1
for better fuel economy. The on-board trip computer
recorded 16.6 mpg during my test drive, which was
mostly around town or on freeways. Traction control
and anti-lock brakes make rear-wheel drive suitable
for lousy weather. Folks who want a bit more
responsive model can select the Signature Touring
Sedan that has 20 more horsepower and a bit tighter
ride. A button on the end of the shift lever
disengages overdrive for extra power, and that is
handy when climbing hills or passing slower
traffic.
On the open road
the Town Car felt like it was suspended over the
pavement instead of actually driving on it. Now I
know why a lot of retirees buy Town Cars when they
plan to travel a lot. While the trunk has 20.1
cubic feet, the spare tire sits up high and blocks
access to the large opening below, which I
discovered when I tried to put a large box inside.
With careful packing it will hold a lot of luggage,
just don't plan on hauling home a television set.
Town Cars are
about tradition, and with the redesign Lincoln is
trying to create a new one while paying homage to
the original. For the most part they have been
successful. I'm just not ready yet to admit I'm old
enough for one.
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Vehicle
Type:
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front-engine,
rear-drive, full-size luxury
sedan
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Base
Price:
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$40,150
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Engine
Type:
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4.6-liter,
V8
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Power
(SAE net):
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220-hp
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Transmission:
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automatic
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Wheelbase:
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117.7
inches
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Length:
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215.3
inches
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Curb
Weight:
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4020
pounds
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EPA
fuel economy, city driving:
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17
city/25 hwy
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