lol..
1. My Conti did have bench seats.. In fact, I like them so well I ordered it on my '16 F250 and my old '05 f350.
2. What I see in the '17 Conti is a makeover of the box looking MKS.
3. I have not looked at the specs on the two, but the '97 model seemed to have a longer and lower hood.
4. I hope the '17 sells well... but it does not beckon any passion from me to buy it. I like the MKZ much better.
Maybe the coup will look better... I hope so.