2017 Lincoln Continental gets West Point welcome party
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The 2017 Continental has arrived, catapulting Lincoln back into the upper stratosphere of the luxury auto segment.
About 150 Houstonians attended West Point Lincoln’s Continental launch party last week to check out the car’s new levels of performance, comfort, technology and designer themes. “It was awesome,” said Bob Cesca, West Point’s general sales manager. “It’s the biggest turnout we’ve ever had for a party.”
Three Continentals wound up going home with new owners and orders were placed for two more of the swanky sedans. “The Continental is a great icon. A lot of people relate to the name,” said Cesca, noting that the excitement generated by the new model tops anything he’s seen in the 11 years he’s sold Lincolns.
One clue to the intense interest: several partygoers remarked that the Continental’s styling reminded them of a Bentley.
The 2017 Continental starts at $44,560 but multiple trim levels and options can quickly boost the sticker price into the mid-60s and up. The patented front seats can be adjusted up to 30 ways to adapt to its occupant. Passengers in the back can enjoy first-class treatment too with the available reclining cooled/heated and massaging seats. The optional direct-injected 400-horsepower twin- turbocharged V6 comes with all-wheeldrive that’s programmed to emulate the dynamics of rear-wheel-drive. Puddle, halo, and ambient lighting switch on to greet approaching drivers.
But those modern flourishes aren’t needed to win over Dr. Carlos Olmo. The lifelong Lincoln fan has owned several Continentals — including a Mark III, Mark V and Mark VII — since 1970. “I like them because they’re comfortable,” Olmo said. “I’ve been a supporter of this car even before they finalized the design,” he said of the 2017.
Olmo, who drives a Town Car, said he has purchased several Lincolns from West Point and plans to buy half a dozen next year, two of them Continentals.
Then there’s Stan Doctor, a potential Continental convert. Ignoring the food and drink and the smooth sound of The Painted Band, Doctor prowled West Point’s showroom examining the gleaming Continentals and poring over window stickers. “They’re good looking. They have road appeal,” Doctor said.
“I’ve pretty much been a Lexus man since 1989, but I have a friend who drives a Lincoln and says he likes them,” said Doctor, who is in the early stages of researching his next car purchase.
“I do want to look at the Black Label version with the 400 horsepower,” he told Marco Medrano, a congenial West Point sales consultant. “Everybody wants the most horsepower and the most comfort. I like a peppy car. Not that I need it. I just like it.”
The luxury brand is out to make sure the Continental’s appeal crosses over to women and Latinos, especially in Texas. Women will account for 41 percent of luxury vehicle sales in the Lone Star State in 2016, said Sam Locricchio, Lincoln’s communications manager. Latinos represent more than 17 percent of all premium vehicle sales. Lincoln has seen a 64 percent jump in sales to Latinos since 2013.
“Lincoln is out to create warm, personalized experiences for our customers in everything we do, in our vehicles, and in our services,” Locricchio said. “This is where folks like West Point Lincoln are critical to our success — it’s not just the product, it’s about the people, our customers.”