Lincoln Continental Concept Promises to Help Narrow the Gap Between U.S. Luxury Brands and Their Foreign Competitors

For a long time, American automakers have lagged behind their Japanese and German competitors in terms of offering a truly luxury model that would appeal to high-end consumers across the globe. Now, Ford hopes to change that, with the new Lincoln Continental that is supposed to be released in 2016. The Dearborn-based car maker showed a preview of the all-new luxury sedan at the 2015 New York Auto Show, touting it as a key part of the company's efforts to conquer the fast-growing Chinese premium-car market.

The Lincoln Continental concept was unveiled in New York last week, leaving an impression that if the production version remains faithful to it, it might well have a chance to threaten the likes of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes both in China's and the North American market. At first glance, it does seem to have everything a true premium car needs to have, both on the inside and the outside. Starting with the exterior design, it boasts several features that suggest that American automakers are finally starting to embrace the technology that is all-too common on German and Japanese luxury brands.

"The Continental Concept showcases the promise of quiet luxury from Lincoln going forward. It also is a strong indication of what's to come next year as we introduce our new Lincoln Continental full-size luxury sedan." said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company president and CEO.

The LED matrix headlights are undoubtedly some of the most striking features on the full-size sedan, complemented by laser-assisted high-beams, similar to those introduced by Audi a couple of months ago. The mesh grille is also pretty cool and quite different from previous models, with the Lincoln logo in the center, but it does seem surprisingly similar to Bentley's signature grille, which was one of the reasons that lead one of the British car maker's designers to call Ford on a potential attempt to copy Bentley's key exterior design features.

Light-through chrome technology was used for the taillights, and on the sides, there are electronic door handles that only require a light touch to pop out and open the car's doors. The 21-inch polished-aluminum wheels only add to the expensive-looking exterior.

As far as the interior is concerned, it is filled with high-tech convenience and infotainment features that will surely make for a very pleasurable ride. It is fitted with a touch screen mounted on its dashboard, which drivers can use to control the MyTouch Lincoln infotainment system, 30-way adjustable seats, with a fully-reclinable passenger rear seat, and a sunroof that can be tinted to prevent the temperature inside the cabin from rising by blocking direct sunlight. Venetian leather, satin, wood, and chrome trims make the cabin look incredibly plush, which is a must for any car that aims to compete with the best luxury vehicles in the world.

When it comes to the car's performances, Ford hasn't released any details other than the fact that is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost engine, which the company said will only be used on Lincoln models. The new Lincoln Continental is expected to go into production in early 2016.