Lincoln LS

Infobox Automobile


name=Lincoln LS
manufacturer=Ford Motor Company
parent_company=
production=2000–2006
predecessor=Lincoln Continental
Lincoln Mark VIII
successor=Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ
class=Entry-level luxury car / Mid-size car
body_style=4-door sedan
platform=Ford DEW98 platform
layout=FR layout
engine=3.0 L V6
3.9 L V8
related=Ford Thunderbird
Jaguar S-Type
transmission=5-speed manual
5-speed automatic
length=2000-05: Auto in|193.9|0
2006: Auto in|194.3|0
width=Auto in|73.2|0
height=2000-02: Auto in|57.2|0
2003-06: Auto in|56.1|0
weight=3692 lb (1675 kg)
wheelbase=114.5 in (2908 mm)
fuel_economy=18 mpg/city (13.1 L/100 km)
25 mpg/highway (9.4 L/100 km)
fuel_capacity=Convert|18|usgal|L impgal|0|abbr=on
assembly=Wixom Assembly Plant, Wixom, Michigan, USAThe Lincoln LS (for "Luxury Sport") was a mid-size, rear wheel drive entry-level luxury car from Lincoln. It shared the Ford DEW98 platform with the Jaguar S-Type and Ford Thunderbird. LS versions were originally to be dubbed LS6 and LS8 depending on engine choice, but those designations were replaced with "LS V6" and "LS V8", to avoid confusion with Lexus nameplate trademarks. The car is, however, usually referred to as simply the LS.

The LS was introduced in early 1999 as a 2000 model year vehicle, in part as the successor for the Lincoln Mark VIII coupe. It was the first Lincoln in decades to offer an optional manual transmission. With its available V8 power, rear wheel drive, and near 50/50 weight distribution, the LS was an attractive alternative to European and Japanese sports sedans.

Prices for the LS for the 2000 to 2004 model years ranged from just under $30,000 for a base V6 model in 1999, to around $45,000 for fully equipped Special Edition V8 LSE trims in 2004. In 2005 and 2006, prices ranged from $39,945 for a base V8 model to $49,100 for a top-of-the-line V8 LS. Elimination of the entry level V6 version produced the pricing level changes for 2006, moving the LS from the entry-level luxury segment to the mid-level luxury segment.

Production of the LS ended on April 3, 2006. All Lincoln LS models were manufactured at Ford's Wixom Assembly Plant which will be idled in 2007, as part of "The Way Forward". About 262,900 LS models were built. [ [http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/03/lincoln-ls-run-will-end/ Left Lane News - April 3 2006] ]

2000 - 2002

The LS debuted with a 3.0L V6 and optional 3.9 L V8. The 3.0 L V6 was a variant of the Ford Duratec 30 engine, and was available with either a manual or automatic transmission (both 5-speed; with automatic transmissions having a manual-shift option). Lincoln stopped production of the manual transmission model LS in 2002 due to low sales figures; only 2,331 were produced. The manual LS was the only model to have a 3.07 differential and a final gear ratio of 1:1.

The 3.9 L V8 engine was an all-aluminum variation of the 4.0 L Jaguar AJ-V8 engine. The LS was named "Motor Trend"'s Car of the Year in its debut, and was nominated for the "North American Car of the Year" award as well. Because of its sporting nature and driver's appeal, the LS garnered a great deal of interest among enthusiasts, resulting in the formation of several online clubs dedicated to the car.

The LS battery is located in the spare tire well in the trunk, because there was too little room for it under the hood. Moving the heavy battery and its interconnecting cables to the rear of the vehicle also had the benefit of improving the front-to-rear weight balance on the car.

Early 2000 LS models included a full-size spare tire. This was changed (starting in February 2000) to a space-saving spare tire, to reduce weight in order to keep the car in the midsize class to government specifications. The spare tire well in all LS models still has space for a full-size spare.

The powertrain control module in 2000-2002 automatic transmission models with the selectshift option originally would not allow the car to start in first gear when shifting manually (the car started in 2nd gear). It would quickly shift to first gear however if the throttle was depressed more than 60%. Second-gear starts were programmed in order to meet fuel economy regulations as required by the EPA. This was changed in 2003 when the regulations were amended and first-gear starts were permitted.

In 2002, the LSE (Special Edition) package was introduced in V6 and V8 versions, with a revised fascia including round fog lamp openings and a special metallic grille treatment, and with enlarged lower body rocker panels, special wheels, and twin-dual exhaust tailpipes.

2003 - 2006

The car was significantly upgraded for 2003 (concurrently with the discontinuation of the Continental), and the engines received a boost in power, with the addition of variable valve timing of the intake camshafts, and an electronic throttle controller and accelerator pedal, replacing the traditional mechanical cable-linked system. The exterior received a slight facelift, with HID headlamps, and a revised trunklid with new taillights. One notable addition was the electronic push-button parking brake, similar to the BMW E65 7 Series, replacing the traditional center console mounted hand lever (or foot pedal); another was a touch-screen DVD satellite navigation map system with a THX-certified sound system, the first in an automobile. Limited special edition LSE versions were also available, with revised fascia, body panels, wheels, all red tail lights, and exhaust tailpipe treatments.

Earlier LS models had a mechanical engine cooling fan that was operated with a hydraulic clutch, because the electrical charging system did not have sufficient capacity to carry the additional load of an electric fan. This was changed in the 2003-2006 models, when the fan was switched to an electric one as a result of an improved alternator design.

The 2003-2006 GPS navigation system uses a DVD player mounted in the trunk (under the package tray) to contain the map data.

For the 2006 model year, the LS received a minor facelift, which resembled the LSE fascia and body treatments used in previous model years. The V6-powered model was dropped from the lineup due to poor sales volume. As a result of this change in the lineup, the base MSRP for the Lincoln LS increased from roughly $32,000 in 2004 to $39,945, moving the LS from the entry-level luxury segment into the mid-luxury segment.

Ford announced that it would halt production of the V8-powered LS in April 2006 [ [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060203/AUTO01/602030367/1148 Detroit News - 3 Feb 2006] ] , making way for two new all wheel drive sedans. The Lincoln MKS is scheduled to replace the LS for the 2009 model year [ [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/AUTO03/706130320 Detroit News - 13 June 2007] ] .

afety

The Lincoln LS has received very high marks in occupant protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has rated the LS as a "Best Pick" with a perfect score in their frontal offset crash test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the LS almost perfect scores in its side impact and rollover tests. In fact, CNBC rated the LS as “one of the five safest cars of all time.”

Export plan

Ford considered exporting the LS to Europe rebadged as a Ford Scorpio to replace the Ford Scorpio MkII which was discontinued in 1998.

Model naming controversy

Lincoln originally intended to designate LS models as "LS6" and "LS8", depending on the engine size option. Toyota threatened a trademark infringement lawsuit, due to the similar naming scheme used on the Lexus LS, while at the same time, Ford threatened a lawsuit regarding the Toyota T150 concept, arguing that the name was too close to that of the F150. Lincoln settled on designating the cars as "LS V6" and "LS V8" and Toyota changed the name of their pickup truck to the Tundra.

Milestones

*1999 Lincoln introduces the LS as a 2000 model with a blend of luxury and sport to attract a new generation of buyers to the Lincoln brand
*2000 "Motor Trend" magazine names the LS “Car of the Year”
*2001 LS earns double-five-star frontal safety rating from the federal government
*2003 More than 500 improvements include a power increase, design changes and interior updates
*2004 LS earns “Best Pick” safety rating from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
*2006 LS production ends in April, after 262,900 are built over 7 years.

External links

* [http://www.lincoln.com/ Official Lincoln web site]
* [http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/ Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums]
* [http://www.llsoc.com/ Lincoln LS Owners Club]
* [http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=1288 Ford Media LS information]

References