For us in Europe, a Lincoln is of as much interest as a dried-up cheeseburger, being an American relic from the long-gone golden age of legendary limos. Dinosaurs like Lincoln therefore have to take action in order to avoid being made extinct by their troubled parent company Ford in these times of increasing environmental consciousness and global automotive crisis.
At their home game in Detroit, the Americans did indeed provide a first indication that they had observed the wind of change, by presenting the C-Concept. To be in line with Lincoln's proud heritage, the compact American combines the luxury of heavy gangster limos with the more human dimensions of a modern (and above all environmentally-aware) compact car.
The design is innovative throughout, yet somehow still reflects Lincoln (as long as you know what a Lincoln reflects). The basic proportions with a lower shoulder line and large, high areas of glass promise a lot of light and room inside. This may not be in line with current fashion but indeed that's no problem.
The lateral aspect with a wheel arch that is clearly placed well to the front with a climbing window line remind a little of the new Renault Megane. The front section, with its typically Lincoln radiator grille, looks statesmanlike and at the rear, a light unit reaching from side to side is a quotation from the past.
Even although a 180PS four-cylinder may seem economical by American standards, this noble little Ford could still provide better performance for Europe. But with the bright and comfortable atmosphere inside, nobody will be in a hurry anyway and too much muscle would not suit the 'wellness character' of the C-Concept (to say nothing of its benign intentions towards both environment and billfold).
While the flawless steering wheel and stacks of monitors on the dashboard can be seen as a lick of 'concept paint', the exterior appearance thoroughly sparks interest in seeing a series model. Particularly because this would mean a piece of American tradition successfully stepping into the 21st century.
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