SEDANS

Lincoln Axes the Continental

July 2, 2020 by admin 2 Comments

Ford’s luxury brand goes all-in on utility vehicles.

The last Lincoln sedan goes away this December.

The Lincoln Continental is one of the most storied models for Ford’s luxury marque, a big sedan with outsized styling, generous amenities, and class-leading comfort. In 2016, Lincoln resurrected the Continental to critical acclaim. Alas, its revival came as consumers eschewed sedans for utility vehicles, effectively ensuring that the latest Continental would serve only the smallest audience.

Production Ends in December

North American consumers will not see a Continental for the 2021 model year as Lincoln announced on Wednesday that production would cease by end of the year. Those models built this fall will be allocated exclusively for China where large sedans have a stronger following. Nevertheless, Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant will finish producing Continentals in December.

Lincoln revived the Continental nameplate by unveiling a concept with center-hinged doors at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. Just over a year later, the all-new Continental rolled out for the 2017 model year. It replaced the previous and comparatively anonymous MKS, sitting on a stretched and modified version of the platform underpinning the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.

An Outlier Among Luxury Sedans

With standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive, the current Continental competed in a segment dominated by rear-wheel-drive models. That said, customers could upgrade from the standard front-wheel-drive model with a naturally aspirated V6 engine and go with one of two turbocharged V6 engines with all-wheel drive.

We reviewed a Black Label model in 2017 outfitted with the larger of the two turbo engines and lauded its performance. Although we couldn’t call it a “Hot-Rod Lincoln,” its performance credentials were certainly noteworthy.

Sedans Give Way to SUVs

With the Continental following the MKZ to the defunct model playground, Lincoln will rely on its quartet of utility vehicles to advance the brand. These models are the full-size and traditional SUV Lincoln Navigator, a pair of midsize models – the three-row Aviator and two-row Nautilus, and the compact Corsair. We may yet see additional models although the planned all-electric SUV built with upstart Rivian will not happen.

Lincoln may point to the decline of sedans as a good reason to cancel the Continental, but its competitors aren’t giving up on them. Indeed Cadillac, its arch-rival domestic competitor, currently offers a trio of sedans although the largest of three, the CT6, is slated for cancellation. The CT6 is a near competitor to the Continental and rides on a rear-wheel-drive platform as do the smaller XT4 and XT5 models.

Hyundai’s Genesis luxury brand has effectively demonstrated that building quality sedans still finds a ready audience. It, too, has a trio of sedans for the offing (we’re currently reviewing the G70) and will soon at its first SUV this fall. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi are also deeply invested in sedans even as demand for SUVs soars.

Ultimately, it comes down to investing priorities – Ford has cast its lot exclusively with SUVs, following the pattern that has made Land Rover the respected brand that it is.

9 Winners and Losers of 2019

January 7, 2020 by admin 2 Comments

Ram Trucks
Ram Truck brand sales topped 700,000 units sold for the first time in 2019.

It’s a wrap: 2019 is in the books. And if you’re thinking we’re a bit late sharing this information, hold on: the U.S. auto industry finished reporting its annual sales on Monday, closing out an extended period of news releases hyping the details.

We’ll cut to the chase and look at the winners and losers for the past year.

Winner: U.S. auto industry. This was supposed to be the year the industry fell below 17 million new light vehicles sold. Indeed, last year was also supposed to fall short. But neither year did. Yes, sales were down slightly year over year, by 1.6-percent, but managed to finish around 17.1 million units sold for the year. That’s five consecutive years of topping the 17 million mark. Importantly, there’s a chance we’ll see a sixth year for 2020.

Loser: American consumers. Stop right there: purchasing a new vehicle isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What’s problematic is the loan terms, which are averaging 68 months. Worse, is the availability of long-term loans of 72 and 84 months, respectively. That means there are a greater number of consumers paying for their new vehicle for seven years. What’s not always apparent are consumers rolling over their loan balances into a new loan. That’s a costly decision and very concerning.

Winner: Ram 1500 pickup truck. Yes, the Ford F-150 is the indisputable pickup truck king for four decades running. Indeed, the Ford F-Series recorded 896,526 units sold, down 1.41-percent versus the year earlier. The big news is the Ram 1500, which notched 633,694 vehicles sold, an increase of 18.01 percent. Not only is the Ram Pickup a big gainer, but it has displaced the Chevrolet Silverado as the number two seller in the U.S. Though Chevrolet has egg on its face by losing its place to Ram, GM still builds more full-size pickup trucks, selling 807,894 units of the Silverado and GMC Sierra combined.

Prius sales are falling, thanks in part to new models such as this Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Loser: Toyota Prius Family. Hybrid sales continue to fall as fuel prices remain stable and well below historical highs reached in 2012 at $3.64 per gallon. With prices averaging $2.55 per gallon in December, models such as the Toyota Prius continue to lose appeal. Indeed, Prius sales fell by 20.84-percent in 2019 to 69,718 units. That’s less than half the Prius’ sold in 2012 and well below the peak 181K units purchased in 2007. Some of the sales have gone to other Toyota hybrid models as well as to new competitors, such as the Hyundai Ioniq.

Winner: Fiat Chrysler. The deal is all about done. That deal has Fiat Chrysler merging with the PSA Groupe to form the world’s fourth-largest automaker. FCA is a winner as it was the dream of its late CEO Sergio Marchionne to find a partner. The new company will realize economies of scale and be better positioned to work through vehicle electrification and autonomous driving, which are the two largest and costliest technologies of our time. Without a merger, FCA most likely would have been left behind.

Loser: Sedans. Remember when sedans (and coupes and convertibles) ruled the road? Sure, there were some pickup trucks and vans in the mix, but the family vehicle of choice was the sedan as well as its station wagon variant. Well, car sales continue to fall and now represent about one-quarter of the market. We said good-bye to the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Taurus, and to the Hyundai Azera last year. Other Ford and Chevrolet models are also gone and the Volkswagen Beetle is no more. Likely, car sales will continue to fall for a few years before finally stabilizing. Manufacturers that stay in the segment may find the remaining market too good to ignore.

2019 Nissan Altima SR — Sedan sales are declining but new models such as this Nissan Altima are keeping the segment fresh.

Winner: Carlos Ghosn. The former Nissan and Renault CEO is now a free man. At least he’s freed from Japanese confinement as he snook his way out of the country and found his way to Lebanon. How he got there is a story for the ages and one that isn’t quite clear just yet. Regardless, Mr. Ghosn should stay out of jail as long as Lebanon ignores an international warrant and public opinion aligns with the executive as he tells his story. On the flip side, Nissan may prove the biggest loser, especially if the details of how it all went down raise serious questions.

Loser: UAW. The UAW appears the winner following a protracted strike with GM. Organized labor certainly looked strong as it kept GM plants shut for more than a month, representing the longest strike in nearly 50 years. The settlement yielded several gains for the rank and file, including forging a pathway to permanent employment for temporary workers. Also, GM created a shorter route to top-tier wages, agreed to keep open and transform one assembly plant targeted for closure, and maintained its strong health benefits for employees. So, how is the UAW the loser? The union failed to organize Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant, it remains shut out of Nissan factories in the U.S. and continues to lose members. Then there is the matter of a corruption scandal involving union brass. Several leaders accepted kickbacks from UAW vendors and contractors, enriching themselves at members’ expense. At least 10 individuals were involved, giving the UAW a black eye in the process.

Winner: New models. We like new and updated models. And we show our approval (or disapproval) in the way we carry out our purchase decisions. Several new models enjoyed success in 2019, registering big gains or significant sales as they debuted. Among them were the Audi Q8, BMW Z4, Cadillac XT4, Genesis G70, Nissan Kicks, and the Subaru Ascent. Other winners included the Ford Expedition, Honda Insight, Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

The Audi Q8 debuted with robust sales to show for it.

2020 Auto Trends

We have a few predictions for 2020 to share, including our guess auto sales will narrowly top 17 million units for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year.

Further, we think the Chevrolet Corvette’s debut will be followed by announcements of even more powerful models. Moreover, Rivian Motors will get its first models to the market before the year closes, Ford and Volkswagen will form an alliance, and GM will not resurrect its Hummer brand. Lastly, Hyundai’s first pickup truck will arrive, Ford will keep the Mustang name on the Mach-E electric crossover, and Jeep will unveil its full-size SUVs.

Audi A6, A7 Revealed Ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show

November 14, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

First look at two refreshed Audi models.

There once was a time that car manufacturers would keep new product tightly under wraps until a big reveal such as at an important auto show. In recent years, manufacturers have been sending teaser shots out and in some cases revealing full products ahead of these shows.

Credit or blame the Internet with the change as anticipated news stories are often leaked anyway. As for German luxury make Audi, that means showing new 2016 A6 and A7 models a week ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show where both models will formally be introduced next week.

New Designs, Technologies and More Powerful Engines

Both models will receive upgraded designs, new technologies and more powerful engines beginning with the 2016 model year. The refresh brings in what Audi says is an “athletic, taut design” supplemented by new headlights, infotainment systems as well as higher levels of luxury and refinement.

The 2016 A6 and A7 model lines will continue to drive our momentum in the upper-premium market by elevating the standard for vehicle technology,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “These cars represent the perfect balance of beautiful design, efficiency and performance.”

Both sedans will receive new front and rear designs, including new LED headlights, a single frame grille and bumpers. To the rear LED taillights and new trapezoidal tailpipes will be present.

Inside, the sedans will have a broader selection of design combinations. For example, a new Arras red design choice brings in carbon fiber inserts and red-threaded stitching within. Ventilated seats with massage functionality is also new.

Turbocharged Gasoline and Diesel Engines

Under the hood, the Audi A6 will continue to offer a pair of turbocharged gasoline engines displacing at 2.0 and 3.0 liters each. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine returns.

The new base engine is rated at 252 horsepower and 273 foot-pounds of torque. It is available in front-wheel-drive with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. An eight-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission is standard with the quattro edition.

The turbocharged V-6 gasoline engine is now rated at 333 horsepower and 325 foot-pounds of torque and paired with the Tiptronic transmission. The turbocharged diesel will make 240 horsepower and 428 foot-pounds of torque. It, too, is paired with a Tiptronic transmission.

Audi S6, S7 and RS 7 Variants

For 2016, The Audi S6 will return making 450 horsepower and 406 foot-pounds torque. Permanent all-wheel drive is standard. The Audi S6, as well as the S7, will also offer an available sport exhaust system with black oval tailpipes.

Choose the Audi A7 and both gasoline and diesel engines displacing at 3.0 liters will be available. An RS 7 variant will also be sold, making a whopping 560 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque.

Both sedans will now incorporate start-stop technologies. The Audi A7 will also receive LED headlights; both models will offer various safety technologies including Audi Side Assist, Active Lane Assist and Secondary Collision Assist. Improvements have also been made to the available night vision system and to the head-up display.

Internet Connection and Wi-Fi Hotspot

Audi will also upgrade its infotainment package to include Internet access by means of 4G LTE and integrated hot spot, allowing for as many as eight devices to connect simultaneously. Internet radio streaming, online traffic information, and Siri Eyes Free integration are among the other improvements made.

Audi will debut both models at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The Audi TT will also makes its US debut at the auto show.

See Also — 2014 Audi A6: Surprised by Four

Photos courtesy of Audi of America.