Lincoln’s LS and the Urge to Copycat

By Marty Padgett August 23rd, 2005

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So the writing is on the wall for the Lincoln LS - no big surprise, given the car's sales have slumped like a Mars bar left on a car dash in summer heat. Ford told workers on Monday at the Wixom assembly plant that LS production is ending early next year, leaving the plant to build the Town Car and the Ford GT.

Now, while the end probably means the death of the Wixom plant and also, the death of rear-drive-only sports sedans at Lincoln, I'm hoping that it also means the end of the latest phase of me-tooism in Detroit. The odd notion circulated that, if we graft on another car company's enviable image, we'll prosper.

The LS, as good as it was, was a copycat. Nevermind the fact that the LS handled pretty well and had a real V-8 engine - its wanna-BMWness oozed from every conservative line. It sold something north of 50,000 units in 2000 with the help of heavy incentives - but did it convince anyone, after a huge investment, that Lincoln really was the domestic version of the German sports sedan?

I put the Pontiac Solstice in the same category. Exactly what about a four-cylinder, two-seat roadster screams Pontiac? It sounds more like a Miata, and it sounds like the pie-in-the-sky rebranding dreams of GM's current management.

I say let car brands be what they will be. Ford's had lots of success buying Volvo and letting it be Swedish. I bet they'll have more success by replacing the LS with a Volvo-derived sedan with an all-wheel-drive and a Yamaha-made V-8 drivetrain, so long as they dress it up in a sharply chiseled American profile. The best example of success in today's auto world is the Chrysler 300/Magnum because they look and sound like American cars.

Honesty - it's not just the best policy, it's damn good marketing too.

Posted in : Enthusiasts, Industry News, Reviews |

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7 Responses to “Lincoln’s LS and the Urge to Copycat”

Did you do any research for this article? There were no incentives for the LS in 2000. In fact dealers for the most part were getting full sticker. Lincoln stopped advertising the LS after the first year. Dealers didn’t know what it was and called it a ‘baby Towncar.” Dealers refused to stock the 5 speed manual so nobody could test drive it. The car was designed to be sold overseas but then the idea was dropped, and the list goes on.

I am really sorry to see that Lincoln is dropping the LS. It is understandable that sales slowed on it because they never fixed the major criticism about the car; styling and interior. They had a great car, it just didn’t look that way. So instead of building off a great power train they kept it the same. So much for the old “best in class” approach.

Your kidding about he 300/magnum right? They scream pimp and gangster. If that’s american icon then we’ve fallen farther than Iraq.

Right on! I don’t know why it is that Americans think they have to build European or Japenese cars to be succesfull. Look at American trucks, the only segment were the big three had any succes the last decade. Why? They scream American. The Crysler 300/Dodge Magnum is the first car to come along in years that embraced American Style and performance and has reeped the benefits. As for the Solstice it will be further deluted by GM selling a version in there creepy Saturn division, guranteing its failure.
dsasso@stratageotech.com

Stephen (above) is correct; the Chrysler 300 does indeed look like a gangster/pimpmobile……the LS is beautiful in an understated way, much like the Continental of 1956-57….Ford never advertised it or pushed it enough….I have a V-8 LS Sport (2003), and I looooove the car……it can run and hold the curves with the best of them, and doesn’t take a “back seat” to BMW or anybody else, for that matter…..all 3 or Ford’s divisions make competent cars now—GMs Cadillac division is good, but they badly need improvement in the other divisions…..as for Chrysler, besides not really being an American company anymore, I’m from Missouri when it comes to them……their quality was so non-existent for so long, they’ve gotta “show me”……..

Nice try, but have driven the best out there and the Lincoln (LS) is still the one to beat. Chrysler? is this a comedy website..?

I agree with the comments about Ford’s failure to correct the flaws over the six year run of the LS. I love my LS V8. It has great power and handles as well as any car that I have ever driven. Ford should have put a bit more effort into marketing and correcting the flaws. This would have been one of Ford’s most popular models. I hope Ford wakes up and bring this model back to the American people. I would standing at the dealership waiting to purchase my 2009 Supercharged LS V8 Magnum Sport with a nvigation system and the Alpine sound system.