Lincoln Town Car

Lincoln Town Car Models

There are three Lincoln Town Car models: the Signature Series, the Cartier Series and the Executive Series.

A 220-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 powers the Lincoln Town Car. A more powerful 235-horsepower V8 with dual exhaust is standard on the Cartier and is available with the Touring Sedan option package on the Signature.

In addition to the stronger engine, the Signature Touring Sedan package gets larger 235/60SR16 tires on unique 16-inch alloy wheels, a beefed-up torque converter in the transmission, a 3.55:1 rear-axle ratio for quicker acceleration, and revised springs, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars for a sportier ride. With more than 20 special parts designed to improve performance, the Touring Sedan package is well worth its $710 price.

Also available is the Cartier L long-wheelbase version. The body is extended six inches at the factory, providing a more luxurious ride and more legroom in the rear cabin. Wider door openings, heated rear seats, a folding armrest with storage bins, rear audio and climate controls, mood lighting and a cigar-sized ashtray make this a luxurious ride for those with chauffeurs.

Driving the Lincoln Town Car

The Lincoln Town Car we tested felt glued to the road in a way that no old-fashioned, American luxury barge could ever match. One reason is a steering system with expensive components that yields excellent steering precision and feel. The air suspension system has twin-tube shock absorbers, which keeps an even balance between confident handling and a superior ride quality.

All this adds up to a very pleasant ride. Handling is predictable in lane-change maneuvers, without any momentary indecisiveness. The big Town Car exhibits a bit more body roll and offers less grip than some of the European sedans, but overall it's quite competent.

This car is quiet. There's very little wind and road noise - the result of thicker glass and redesigned rearview mirrors and window pillars - and the engine emits a distant purr.

The Town Car lacks the acceleration of its fastest competitors, however. Its chief domestic opponent is the Cadillac DeVille with its impressive Northstar engine. A number of top-notch European and Japanese cars compete in the $40,000 luxury-sedan bracket as well, including the Acura 3.5 RL, BMW 5-Series, Lexus GS 430, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Even with the Touring Sedan package, the 3.55:1 rear-axle ratio and 235 horsepower on tap, it just doesn't deliver the punch you would expect in a $40,000 car. Cadillac's DeVille offers 275 to 300 horsepower, a palpable difference. In terms of its technical sophistication, the Town Car has not kept up with advancements from Cadillac, such as the Stabilitrak electronic chassis control system.

On the plus side, Lincoln's transmission is silky smooth, with quick, positive shifts. As with many automatics, the fourth-gear overdrive can be turned off for climbing and descending long grades.

Also, the Town Car comes with all-speed traction control, which helps the driver control the car by reducing wheelspin under hard acceleration. Traction control can be switched off for powering the car out of snow banks or other special situations.

The Town Car's brakes include big, thick front discs and twin-piston calipers, and are not likely to fade when they get hot. Its anti-lock brake system allows the driver to maintain steering control in panic stops.