Per media reports, Ford Motor Co. F is planning to re-introduce the Lincoln Continental with a 2016 version that will be showcased at the New York International Auto Show. With the re-launch, Ford aims to offer Americans a luxury sedan in addition to capturing the luxury market in China.
Ford plans to attract the new wealthy class in China with the new Lincoln Continental. In China, most buyers of high-end vehicles do not generally drive themselves. As a result, automakers need to emphasize on the rear seating area. However, the rear seating area design generally gets the second priority in America and Europe.
Ford has designed the Lincoln, keeping in mind the demand of the rear seat passenger. The back-seat facilities available in the vehicle include a laptop table, electric sockets to power the laptop and other devices, and a champagne cooler. The vehicle parts, including the ceiling, pillars and upper reaches are lined with silky-smooth satin. The rear seats, made of high-grade Venetian leather, are adjustable in 30 ways. In addition, the floor is carpeted.
Along with superb interiors, the Lincoln offers ample safety technologies. The vehicle includes a Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Enhanced Park Assist and a 360-degree camera that displays on the MyLincoln Touch screen. With the sleek and premium appearance, the Continental will provide competition to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS.
China offers the largest auto market in the world, with rising demand for luxury vehicles. According to IHS Automotive, sales in the luxury segment increased almost 22% last year to more than 1.6 million vehicles. It is expected that sales will increase by 13% this year.
Ford has three Lincoln dealerships in China along with 11 Lincoln retail outlets. The automaker expects to have 60 retail outlets in China by the end of 2016.
The Lincoln Continental was one of the best vehicles in the automotive luxury segment. The vehicle occupied a dominant position during the 1940s through the Cold War. However, Ford had halted its production in 2002 due to tough competition from German and Japanese luxury vehicles.
Ford currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked auto stocks include Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. ALSN, Gentherm Inc. THRM and Wabash National Corp. WNC. While Allison Transmission Holdings and Gentherm sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Wabash National carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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