BORG

I'm not sure "Quiet Luxury" is the message younger customers want to hear. And I know I'm an extremely unusual Lincoln customer, as I hear ALL the time from my peers. I'm a 30-something male driving an MKX primarily driven by older women or retirees. I do like the 'sleeper' aspect of Lincoln, I think it can be a car that surprises people when they see it or sit in it. Lincoln can look really frumpy, especially if you get a gold or maroon base model which seems to appeal to the majority of their customer base. But there are versions of each Lincoln that look very modern and upscale and are equipped with impressive features and power. I think the problem for Lincoln customers who buy those Lincolns (like me) is that they sell these frumpy cheesy looking Lincolns as well which just muddies their image among the majority of people who actually see them on the road. Sometimes it's a little like Buick, home of the Grand National and Buick LeSabre...what kind of brand are you at any given time? That's really one of the things I want cleaned up at Lincoln. Less cheapy variants, fewer dated colors and wheels, more exclusivity.

I saw this nearly a year ago now, I actually know some of the people working on the headlights. But somebody jumped the gun by posting this. The press reveal was today but was under an embargo. The grille is lower, wider and flatter which definitely makes a bigger impression in the flesh than it does on the screen. The entire front-end is much wider and lower so it looks more sporting and less hulking. I'm not a huge fan of it but I really like the new light fixtures and sharper details. Like the F-150, there is some welcome powertrain news coming as well.

I agree that Lincoln has a different struggle than others, they can't afford to gamble with design when they are trying to convince new customers to take them seriously. The previous design language, although unique and expressive, did not convey the appropriate message and wasn't universally liked. I think they made the right move to bring in some familiar luxury car design cues to make that communication clearer. And Lincoln isn't quite as afraid of its older clientele as other luxury makers, it's perhaps the only luxury marque that has no aspirational appeal among younger customers. Hopefully that eventually comes.

Everything looks the same today, and they have the same capabilities and features. The real trick is not giving them reasons to NOT buy the car. Unfortunately, Focus came up with plenty of reasons. Essentially I don't think styling matters that much anymore but it's good to have something that allures people more than usual.

I'm not a big fan of the S90 rear-end either. The only Volvo I would buy however would be the XC90, but the S90 is basically a sedan version of that. Volvo is a little like Lincoln right now, it's in the middle of a transition so there isn't much consistency going on across the lineup and some things are just really outdated now. I do think there is much more enthusiasm for what Volvo is doing in terms of design and technology however and they seem to be stumbling around a little less as Lincoln has suffered more failed turnarounds than just about anybody. Volvo has relatively quickly found the way forward which is remarkable considering they've been suffering far longer than Lincoln and it's also a lesson in finding a unique cultural voice in a crowded established market. As for Continental, it's definitely not my cup of tea but I still really like the look of the MKZ which still has one of the best looking rear quarter views in the business. I was admiring it while browsing the Audis which sit right next to the Lincoln exhibit. The new front doesn't look bad, I actually think it looks much more aggressive on the MKZ which helps to shed some of that 'retro luxury' look I really don't like on the Continental. Lincoln just needs something more distinctive up front, the shape of the headlights and grille have been a basic motif of car design since the early 90s and it's so anonymous now, it just doesn't look special. I will say however that it does give the brand a little more confidence and authority as a luxury car, but if you're already a luxury customer all your options are going to be more expressive (Japanese/Germans) or simply better executed by the originators (Great Britain/Audi). They just need to keep iterating, each product should keep changing the motif instead of just copy/paste.

A Ford Exec, I think it was Raj, did say that the Focus would debut the new Ford design so it may not be that similar to the Fiesta.

Overhearing people near the EcoSport many people seemed to know about it and a few thought it was the Escape (Most people pronounced EcoSport like EcoBoost). It didn't draw much attention as you can see in the photos but it's the first car you see when you walk into the North Hall entrance between Ford and Chevy. I don't really like the Sport model because it brings too much attention to the shape of the grille, the Titanium does a better job filling it out. The rear of the EcoSport is what might confuse people, it's so flat and square, it looks more like a micro van than an SUV. I think it will attract some Escape customers because of its glancing similarity. Also got to take a closer look at the Volvo S90 and the interior is just a stunning piece of design, great tech, and it's just something completely original which I really like. BTW the Black Label Continental was the Rhapsody theme and drew allot of attention, there's nothing else quite like it on the show floor. I still think the Continental exterior is too bland compared to everything else in the segment, but the details and experience make a difference. It's definitely a step in the right direction but a little more excitement or technology would be welcome. I get a little queazy when Lincoln gets nostalgic but I know it excites people who are into that mod mid-century vibe and everything seams to have been done thoughtfully with some compromise. The Lexus LS is lean and mean, very long and beautifully sculpted. It has to be one of the most striking vehicles in its class. I think the Japanese are doing a great job creating designs that are very expressive while remaining sophisticated. Infiniti and Lexus are certainly the most ambitious designers these days and the future of design is clearly in their hands along with Nissan and Mazda. Audi is on the other side of the spectrum which I also really respect and admire but only they can properly execute and I think there is some growing apathy in the current climate of more expresive design. I've often talked about the quality and craftsmanship of the German products. Yesterday when I was in the Audi exhibit, I grabbed the handle of an Audi S5 I believe and I was marveling at how perfectly fit and flush the door pull was to the door, which brought my attention to the extremely tight seams throughout the exterior. It's simply something I never see on Ford and Lincoln products in particular. There could be a good reason for this at Ford and it's easy for me to pick on them for it without knowing why their panel gaps are so much bigger or why everything seems to have big plastic gaskets around them. Lincoln is getting better very slowly now that they have their own designs and parts but I don't have any expectation that they are going to match that Germanic precision.

Correct. Like the MKX the Navigator may go on an extended production hiatus which they'll soften by increasing inventory by batch producing 2018s. Although it's possible both are arriving much later than originally estimated. I've been told not to expect Navigator to be available at all this year which is when my lease is up, ah well. The new Navigator is really sharp, I'm really excited for you guys to see it. The black label wheels alone are stunning. And yeah, it's going to be monstrously expensive if you want to go all out but I think it murders the Escalade.

It disappeared in 2016, so 2nd year without it.

Thanks, if I had time to spruce up the images they would look much better, but some exhibits just have really challenging lighting (Chevy and FCA) which is why I didn't take many photos there.

I'm 6'3" but all my height is in my legs.

I sat in the RX, first time in this generation. It's quite spacious, the MKX lost too much headroom for 2016 which is my big issue and why I want to look elsewhere. The last generation was noticeably more roomy for my dimensions. Of course the MKX also looks rather good because of it's lower greenhouse. I do like the spacious cargo area and backseat, but again as a tall person it's just not working for me this time. It's not impossible of course but over a year later and I'm constantly fidgeting with my seat because I can't find a position that works for my long legs, the short steering wheel and the low roof.

Just got back from opening day at the Detroit Autoshow which was good fun. Here are a ton of unedited photos: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B045VaUrziqiBw After the complete overhaul from last year, most things were carried over this year. It was busy and certain exhibits draw much more attention than others. By far the busiest attractions were the Lincoln Navigator Concept, Cadillac Escala Concept, VW Microbus concept, and the gigantic Lego Batmobile in the Chevy exhibit which was unveiled this morning. I think the biggest and most enthusiastic crowd was around the Escala, it's definitely my favorite concept at the show and the first Caddy design I've really liked. They are heading in the right direction with that design language and I hope Lincoln is planning something more dynamic soon. The Navigator concept is impressive on the inside, I like the production Navigator better on the outside. The Lincoln exhibit had a good crowd, everybody was playing with the Continental doors. Lincoln probably shouldn't put light interior colors on the show floor, they were all horribly stained (I have the same issue in my MKX). Blue was also the big theme for the Lincoln Exhibit. Always enjoy the Lincoln owners lounge which was busier this year, got a spicy mocha...nice! Ford exhibit is always quite nice but not much new to see, Ford's lineup is pretty old now but nicely spruced up. All the EcoSports were locked but it's not horrible to look at in person, but the the face is much worse from certain views. They had a stunning red GT in the center of the exhibit, the upper level was all Truck related. Mustangs were scattered throughout the exhibit including a GT350 which was hard to photograph because it was in a crowded area. I really like the Explorer Platinum, much better materials than other Explorers with more room than my MKX which is just too small for me. The seats are very comfortable. Too bad Lincoln isn't making one anytime soon. Ford interiors need some work, they need larger LCD instrument panels and nicer dash designs and materials to match up with brands like Chevy or even Chrysler. But on the flip side, Ford's Platinum Fusion and Explorer interiors are some of the nicest...it's an either-or situation but nothing quite in the middle. FCA has a lone Chrysler 200 on the show floor which was funny. I'm a big fan of everything Jeep is doing. Chevy Equinox looks great, I'm utterly bored by Traverse and so were the crowds. If that were a Ford I'd be burning it at the stake, it's so completely boring from it's architecture to its design. And the 'integrated exhaust' is really quite laughable. GMC Terrain actually looks very nice in person, I'm now a fan. I would definitely give it a chance, it makes an impression in person and is very distinctive. Toyota Camry has a few variations that look cheesy but nice. The shocker to me is how nice looking the Highlander has gotten, I'd even say it looks better than Explorer (at least it looks more modern), but Toyota interiors are just so bland even if they feel high quality and comfortable. I really like the new Lexus RX, if the tech was up to snuff I would consider it over the MKX. The interior is definitely a notch above and the exterior is far more striking. The Caddy XT5 dashboard is covered in suede, can't say I like that in person. I definitely prefer my MKX, much better quality materials, switchgear, and even the door pulls are higher quality. The thing that shocks me is how crappy and plasticky door handles are in most cars, I take that for granted in my Lincoln. I am absolutely floored by Mazda, they have some of the best looking Crossover designs and by far the best interiors of any mainstream carmaker. Mazda looks like it's transitioning to an entry level luxury brand, it's just stunning. I wish them huge success! Genesis is making some impressive vehicles, soft close doors and all. Still can't get excited by them but I know they are iterating very quickly. Lexus LS is probably my favorite new production car at the show, it's just truly special in every detail. The Kia Stinger is just weird, nice proportions but I have ZERO interest in that car. It almost looks like a cartoon Optima. VW Tiguan is spacious, wasn't expecting that but I like that crisp German design, nicely executed but a little dry on the inside. And of course, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi are always my favorites, although I couldn't find the Audi Q8 concept I was expecting to see. Sadly Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Tesla are nowhere to be found and the shrinking size of the show is growing more apparent with each year. Makes for a quicker walkthrough and more terrible filler exhibits to bypass. You'll see some of that in the photos. Hope you guys enjoy the photos!

I don't know how you do that to glass, haha.

The MKT once again absent from the Detroit Autoshow btw.

The next-generation Navigator is MY 2019 according to what the Dealers are being told.

Like most bullies on the internet, you're pretty good at attacking when somebody corrects you.

If you're going that far back than Contour is the most significant passenger sedan that Ford dropped without a successor (at least for 6 years). Taurus really had two successors (Fusion and Five Hundred) but not a direct successor. I also think it's a stretch to say LS was a successor to Continental since it was considerably smaller and was sold alongside it for a period. So yeah, Ford has a long tumultuous product history of just dropping products and getting back to them MUCH later. Nothing quite resembles Chrysler just exiting a segment like this, although Ford did it with minivans and small trucks.

Actually...that's exactly what I said. Facelift and new engines...what did I get wrong? As for lightweight, that can't be done without a complete redesign and it's actually far more complex because the you can't making the frame lighter. I think the bigger issue is that the Ranger is on the small side compared to the competition. So heavier and smaller isn't a great combo.

I'm not being smug, EPA is moving toward pro-busiess leadership under Trump rather than pro-envrionemntalism and regulation. FCA really has nothing to worry about and I think the celebrating in here is kinda silly. I think you'll see a dramatic shift away from regulation under the new administration especially since the entire EPA staff and their researchers are leaving for the private sector. They simply won't have the capability to run the agency from a research and envrionmental activism perspective. The rest will be up to the states and corporate governance. I think the primary goal of the EPA going forward will be to ensure energy independence and stability so completely dismantling it won't make sense from a stability perspective, but the environmental aspects will largely be reduced, especially those that target reduced consumption or increased expenses.

They have to do something to differentiate it from Buick...although I'm sure Buick would have preferred to do the Lexus thing. GMC wants to go with the the stuby version of those designs it seems.

No I'm quite serious. This was done last minute for a reason, it will be undone.

That was aggressively stupid! (The video promo)

According to Ford's own press conference and Press Release, the Ranger is just a facelift of the Ranger sold globally so the conversion is very minor. It will feature a new face and US-specific drivetrains which explains why we haven't seen any road-worthy evidence of development going on in Dearborn this close to production. I'm pretty sure the hold up is just freeing up the manufacturing space in the US to make it. I'm still very cautious on what the Bronco actually is, Ford doesn't need another midsize SUV so it has to be something like a Mustang...a niche product that only Ford can sell.

This is somewhat similar to the Explorer, the Escape and Edge have true panoramic roofs but the Explorer has a small roof over the driver and a big one over the back. From the front seats it really just looks like a standard sunroof because of the big roof section between them. This is actually the main reason I chose the MKX over the Explorer.