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2017 Lincoln Continental Shows 400 HP, 400 LB-FT V6 in Detroit

One of the most eagerly anticipated debuts of this year's NAIAS was the 2017 Lincoln Continental. You don't even have to be in the market for a lavish (promise) sedan to follow the topic. Willing to know more about the future of Ford's plush division is enough to make one pay attention to the new Conti.
2017 Lincoln Continental 25 photos
Photo: Chris Doane
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However, the wait is not over yet. Sure, the 2017 Continental may have debuted, hence the live photos that sit below, but the press release accompanying the car only solves a part of the puzzle. We'll start with the tech side of the equation, since you can't have a valid luxury product without a solid base.

In a fashion that once again reminds us of Bentley and its Continental GT, the US carmaker talks about "effortless power" (the release mentions the word "effortless" six times). To be more specific, we are dealing with a 3.0-liter V6 that offers a projected output of 400 hp and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of twist.

The power is sent to the road with the help of an optional all-wheel-drive system that comes with a torque-vectoring rear differential. What is the connection between this system and the GKN-developed AWD on the 2016 Ford Focus RS? We don't know, for now.

What we do know is that the Continental allows the driver to choose between three driving modes, Comfort, Normal and Sport, with the help of the Lincoln Drive Control. We expect these settings to change the driving experience quite a lot, since they also affect the adaptive steering and suspension.

The list of features includes adaptive cruise control with stop and go traffic abilities, surround-view cameras and pre-collision warning.

Moving inside the 2017 Continental, we find Perfect Position 30-way adjustable front seats that can adapt to the weight and shape of the occupants, while offering heating, cooling and massage. As for the rear passengers, they're also treated with heated and ventilated seats, but their units can also recline, allowing them to make use of the hefty rear legroom.

In the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) area, the Continental packs active noise control and acoustic laminated glass. These are expected to generate silence that can be filled with the help of an optional Revel audio system.

The cabin can be had in three shades, namely Chalet, Thoroughbred and Rhapsody, with the Continental being the only Lincoln that offers the latter. Fine leather with well-studied stitching is accompanied by interior trim consisting of actual wood or aluminum.

Lincoln has been making luxury promises for years, so let's hope that, once we meet the 2017 Continental in the real world, the sedan will deliver.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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