Lincoln going global, wants to compete with Lexus, Audi, BMW

people in developing markets who don't know much about cars are actually perfect Lexus customers.

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 12:48:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It's about time Lincoln stepped up its game. Of course, considering its track record in the last few decades, I've got high hopes, but not so high expectations. Still, their recent leaps and bounds in design keep me optimistic.

— Kemic (View Profile)

Posted on 1/31/2008 11:10:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

But in Europe Lexus doesn't really matter, they have an insignificant market share.

Mullaly is wise not to send Lincoln into Western Europe, it fair worse than Cadillac....i.e. worse than terrible!

— maff23uk (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 6:21:35 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

"LOL at bimmer blind fanboys pretending Lexus don't matter.

silly troll boy- even BMW execs admitted Lexus is their biggest competitor along with Mercedes."

LOL at toyota fanboys crawling from the woodwork in defense of lexus anytime they read anything that's not blind, loyal gushing praise.

silly troll boy- this isn't a BMW vs. toyota debate, so stop trying to make it one. He's right, Lincoln could easily take on lexus with their current lineup. Taking on BMW, though, without a single RWD performance car or a V8=bigger challenge.

— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 9:56:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I get the feeling that maffuk3r, or whatever his name is, is our newest troll.

— Shredmo (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 1:07:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I agree. It's about time to have some reinvigoration in the Lincoln division. They're not my type, but I'm really starting to respect their newer cars.

— Monk (View Profile)

Posted on 1/31/2008 11:43:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

If Ford wants to take Lincoln globally then that's what they're going to do and I wish them the best.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 12:40:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I do not doubt that Lincoln could compete with Lexus very effectively.

Audi and BMW would be reaching too far for them. Get the designs and engineering right and they could be a player.

I am pulling for them.

— ICON (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 1:00:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

LMAO!

— Chaos29 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 1:23:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

the problem with lincoln going global is that they don't have global funds or even close to global funds. Former BMW ceo Wolfgang Reitzle was employed by ford in 2002 and asked Ford for 2 billion dollars to getr rolling, he got about 750 million and realized Licoln could not become a global powerhouse. Maybe focus on the rest of the world outside of Europe, better yet focus on the USA.

— Larry (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 2:16:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

yes lets heat up the competition

— c36amg (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 7:23:26 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

No one can compete with BMW.

— bmwfan1513 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 7:37:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

I've always thought that Ford could've competed globally with Lincoln but, Lincoln was always kept "under" Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover and wasn't allowed/ encouraged to compete on those levels. those "in the know" know that the Aston V-12 started out as 2 Taurus v-6s welded together, so the engineering and the technical aspect is up to par. I think the marketing/ bean counters tend to piss away opportunities to shine hence the stupid "Me Too" naming strategy. The LS was a very good car for the time but it had a bad name and bad marketing. I think that all of the MK.... names will only confuse potential/ new customers. Fix that then think global.

— d35442 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 7:46:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Lincoln will have to do better than warmed over Fords to compete in the world market. Hell it needs to do more to get its sales going here in the US. They need to improve their home sales and all first. Perhaps China next. But Europe? I think they would laugh at it unless it truly got serious about car building and design. Sure it has new design direction, however, what will it be able to do performance wise? That is where it will be proven if they can compete or not.

— atomicbri (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 10:23:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

To put it simply, their product lineup isn't strong enough. Lincolns are not that great to drive, nor are they nice on the inside, nor are they particularly stylish; they're not even priced very well. I certainly wouldn't buy one.

Sorry, Ford, but I'm rooting for Cadillac and GM.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 10:43:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

If Lincoln wants to compete, they need to really step up their game instead of making Ford carryovers. A SUV derived from the Edge and a sedan based off the Fusion. Basically they look identical with no features that stand them apart when looked at closely. So for $40k you can get a small Lincoln CUV, but for $30k you can get the same car loaded from the Ford Edge.

I would think they would be smart and go after Cadillac more than the BMW. Caddy kinda sets it's own classes. The CTS is the size of a 3 series in most respects, but the CTS-V competes with the M5 and such in power. The DTS is closer to a 7 series in size but competes more directly with the 5 series. They kinda made their own niche's which is good to see. But Lincoln really needs to figure out what their doing. For one doing a tasteful remake of the Town Car and keeping the name, give it some more edges and crisp lines and change the powerplants a bit.

They need to think back to when they had the LS with the optional V8. Fantastic car to drive and really quick, but it was never marketed right. Then you had the Mark VIII. Another great car and one of the first to introduce HIDs to the US market.

This is the problem with a lot of these manufacturers. BMW and MB only make BMW and MB. Audi struggles a little bit with making a notable difference from VW, as does Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, etc. So creating cars that don't have identity crisis' is tough as it is. So claiming that one car looks like another and comparing it to a 3 series is not valid. Comparing it to its look alike counterpart is completely valid, because you need to stand apart. If BMW made a general persons car like the Camry, I garuantee it would resemble the 3 in some aspects.

All in all it's a bold move for Lincoln but I think they need to work on their aesthetics first before just sending vehicles with the same powerplants as Fords with no tweaking, they are quick becoming the Buick of old.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 10:55:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lincoln can dream, it's ok.

— SHOWTIME (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 12:15:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

WOW ford is really backwards, so let me get this straight first Ford wants lincoln to go upscale they place them in the PAG start to seperate them from ford and mercury and the dew98 LS is born on a new platform. Than they decide to take it out of the PAG and put it back with ford and mercury. Now all of their vehicles are just luxed up Fords, and now they want to take those cars upmarket and global lol. The MKZ would be laughed at, the European market Mondeo is a much nicer car than the MKZ, especially on dynamics. The MKS appears to not know where it wants to be with its almost LIncoln Towncar size, but sports sedan intentions, and wanting to compete with the CTS with an interior that would have looked merely adequate in a top of the line Ford or Mercury. Lincoln its ok to dream, but hey lets be realistic thats pure fantasy

— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 12:21:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lincoln the car company will soon be as dead as Lincoln the president.

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 12:57:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Ford does not have the money to make this happen successfully. They are trying to mimic the success of other brands already firmly established in these markets for years with billions of $$$ in investent already made. They can't just waltz into China or Russia and expect the same kind of success as GM, Audi, MB and a few others. They just bet the farm and leveraged the assets of the entire company to pay the debts they already have much less coming up with the money to implement a plan such as this.

— Neverfollow (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 3:22:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I can't see this as a success. I mean, if Caddy is having such a hard time, it looks like Lincoln's ambitions of going international might be doomed.

— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 5:51:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

What is this? Joke of the month day? First BMWs make everything else look old. Now Lincoln is going to compete with who?

— Tour18 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/1/2008 8:57:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Nothing is impossible. I can say the same thing for Lexus being warmed up Toyotas which is a fact. Lincoln needs to improve their product line and make a profit in the US first. Once they have the extra cash and start to separate themselves from Ford while creating good cars then is when they should go global. For now just try to survive at home first.

— jt716 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2008 3:28:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

That is what I'm trying to say Lincoln needs to seperate themselves. I guess the new MKS is the only model which isn't exactly like a Ford.About Toyota: In other countries there is the Toyota Harrier and the Lexus RX. The Harrier is exactly the same like the RX which why many people re badge their Harrier's into Rx's. The interior is the only difference otherwise they are exactly the same. Only in the US they appear totally different, but that is because it is their best market.

— jt716 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2008 11:34:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1