Lincoln LS
| Lincoln LS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 2000–2006 262,900 produced |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size luxury car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Platform | FR DEW98 |
| Related | Ford Thunderbird Jaguar S-Type |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 L V6 3.9 L V8 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 5-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 114.5 in (2908 mm) |
| Length | 193.3 in (4910 mm) |
| Width | 73.2 in (1859 mm) |
| Height | 56.1 in (1425 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3692 lb (1675 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Lincoln Continental (LS V8) Lincoln Mark VIII (LS V6) |
| Successor | Lincoln MKS (LS V8) Lincoln Zephyr / MKZ (LS V6) |
The Lincoln LS (for "Luxury Sport") is a midsize, rear wheel drive entry-level luxury car from Lincoln. It shares the Ford DEW98 platform with the Jaguar S-Type and Ford Thunderbird. It competes with the BMW 3 Series, Lexus ES, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Acura TL, Infiniti I35 and Cadillac CTS. 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. 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, effectively changing its closest competitors to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, BMW 5-Series, Infiniti M45, Acura RL and Lexus GS.
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. [1]
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). 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.
In 2002, the LSE (Special Edition) package was introduced in V6 and V8 versions, with a revised facia including round fog lamp openings and a special metallic grille treatment, and with enlarged lower body rocker panels, all red taillights, special wheels, and twin-dual exhaust tailpipes.
| Years | Trim levels | Engine type | Displacement | Power | Transmission | length/width/wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2002 | LS V6 | Ford Duratec V6 | 3.0 L | 210 hp | Manual & Automatic | 193.9"/73.2"/114.5" |
| 2000–2002 | LS V8 | Jaguar AJ-V8 | 3.9 L | 252 hp | Automatic | 193.9"/73.2"/114.5" |
2003 - 2006
The car was freshened for 2003 (mainly due to the discontinuation of the Continental), and the engines received a boost in power, with the addition of an electronic throttle controller and accelerator pedal, replacing the traditional mechanical cable-linked system. The exterior received a slight facelift, with new taillights and a slightly revised trunklid. The interior remained largely the same with only the steering wheel and center console receiving updates. One notable addition was the first electronic push-button parking brake installed in a production car, replacing the traditional center console mounted hand lever; another was a new THX-certified sound system, the first in an automobile. Limited special edition LSE versions were also available, with revised facia, body panels, wheels, and exhaust tailpipe treatments.
For the 2006 model year, the LS received a minor facelift, which resembled the LSE facia and body treatments used in previous model years. The V6-powered model was dropped from the lineup with the introduction of the Lincoln Zephyr. [2]. 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[3] that it would halt production of the V8-powered LS in April 2006. It is rumored that a replacement, based on the Lincoln MKS from the Ford/Volvo D3 platform, is scheduled for the 2008 model year.
| Years | Trim levels | Engine type | Displacement | Power | Transmission | length/width/wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2005 | LS V6 | Ford Duratec V6 | 3.0 L | 232 hp | Automatic | 193.9"/73.2"/114.5" |
| 2003–2006 | LS V8 | Jaguar AJ-V8 | 3.9 L | 280 hp | Automatic | 193.9"/73.2"/114.5" |
Safety
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.”
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
- 1999 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.
Trivia
- The LS's battery is located in the spare tire well in the trunk. This is because there is insufficient room for it under the hood, and by moving the battery and its interconnecting cables to the rear of the vehicle, the front-to-rear weight balance is improved.
- The 2000 to 2002 LS had an engine fan that was hydraulically powered because the electrical system couldn't handle the additional load. This was modified in 2003 when the fan was changed to an electrical one as a result of an improved alternator design.
- The 2003 to 2006 GPS navigation system uses a DVD player in the trunk (under the package tray) to hold the map data.
- Early 2000 LSs had 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 as per government specifications.
- The 2000 to 2002 automatic transmissions with SelectShift (manual control) would not allow the car to start in first gear when controlling the shifting manually. (the car did start in first gear when in automatic mode and when in manual mode, it would quickly shift to first gear if the throttle was depressed more than 60%). This was done to follow regulations on fuel economy required by the EPA. This was changed in 2003 when the regulations were amended and manual first-gear starts were restored.