Lincoln is ending the run of the Continental large car (again). Reporting by the Detroit Free Press confirms the news, which has long been speculated.
But, before it goes, the model will have one last hurrah – it will be offered in China for the 2021 model year ahead of its complete removal from the Lincoln roster. Sales in the large car segment have been dwindling for years. The same is true in China, but the rate at which they are declining isn’t as quick.
The Continental was the wrong car at the wrong time for the automaker, which was looking to revive its image.Photo courtesy of Lincoln Motor Company
Lincoln builds the Continental at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. Production of the model will complete at the end of 2020.
According to a statement by a Lincoln spokesperson, there are currently no plans to use the name on any model and the name will go “back into the vault”, which thankfully means we won’t be seeing a Continental Cross subcompact SUV anytime soon.
With the end of the MKZ this year and now the Continental retirement, the Lincoln car line will be officially phased out. The company is working on developing an electric car. Lincoln says that it will focus on further development of its SUV line in the interim.
Lincoln recently cut ties with Rivian. The two were co-developing an all-electric Lincoln SUV together.
Rumors have been circulating lately that the company is looking to cull a model in its SUV lineup, the Nautilus. The Nautilus was recently developed as a replacement for the MKX. It, the Corsair (a replacement for the MKC), Aviator (new for the 2020 model year), and Navigator (redesigned for 2018).
