Lincoln LS, Motor Trend's 2000 Car of the Year, Plays Major Role in Lincoln's Auto Show Lineup
10 January 2000
Lincoln LS, Motor Trend's 2000 Car of the Year, Plays Major Role in Lincoln's Auto Show LineupDETROIT, Jan. 10 -- When the Lincoln LS recently was named Motor Trend's 2000 Car of the Year, it capped off a banner 1999 for the California-based car company as Lincoln solidified itself as the premier provider of American luxury. Highlighting the recognition, Lincoln will showcase its award-winning LS and the world-famous Motor Trend caliper at this year's North American International Auto Show. "Research shows this is the automotive award most respected by consumers, so we were very honored to receive Motor Trend Car of the Year," said Lincoln Mercury President Mark Hutchins. "The LS had to beat out an international field of competitors, and that is as it should be, because the LS was designed from the start to go tire to tire with the best the world's automakers can offer." Receiving the 2000 Car of the Year award for the Lincoln LS holds added cache this year since it is the first time since 1975 that Motor Trend combined both import and domestic vehicles into one competition -- pitting the LS against 29 international competitors. Since it went on sale in June, the LS has been a "home run" for Lincoln. "Our dealers ordered up all of our 1999 production in the first two months," said Hutchins. "And the international motoring media have given it a lot of praise, describing the LS as the best American car they have tested." Lincoln last received the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1990 for the Town Car, the only time prior to this year Lincoln had won in the first 50 years of the award. "We don't intend to wait that long before winning again," Hutchins said, "especially looking at our future product offerings." A Company for the New Century The Lincoln LS was designed and engineered to balance American style and luxury with European driving dynamics. "The LS is an American original," said Charles Repp, chief program engineer for Lincoln LS. "It is the product of an international team, working together to bring the finest elements of the global carmaker's craft in a distinctly American luxury package." With the arrival of LS, and the Navigator before that, the company is charting a new course for Lincoln. "We will continue to provide our customers with upgraded and refined Town Cars and Continentals," said Hutchins. "And we will develop a new series of cars and specialty vehicles to grow this great brand globally." The LS, while initially launched in the United States, will help Lincoln take its vision of American luxury to the world market. "We believe our American luxury vision will resonate not only in Boston and Burbank, but in Tokyo and Toronto as well as Hong Kong and Helsinki," Hutchins continued. In fact, after testing the LS against the other 29 global competitors for Car of the Year, the editors of Motor Trend wrote: "The LS is a car that wholly changes the image of what an American luxury sedan can be." About the LS The LS, starting at $31,450, offers athletic and confident performance, while surrounding its occupants with comfortable, yet functional luxury. It comes equipped with either a V-6 or V-8 engine, producing 210 or 252 horsepower, respectively. Either powertrain can be ordered with an electronic five-speed automatic with overdrive, or an available dual gate SelectShift(TM) that gives the driver the choice of manual or automatic gear selection. In addition, the V-6 can be ordered with a five-speed manual transmission -- the first manual gearbox in a Lincoln since the 1951 Cosmopolitan. Lincoln Mercury, based in Irvine, Calif., markets the full line of Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. The Lincoln line includes Town Car, Navigator, Continental and LS. The Mercury product line includes Cougar, Sable, Grand Marquis, Mountaineer, Villager and Mystique. Additional information on the Lincoln and Mercury product lines can be found at lincolnvehicles.com and mercuryvehicles.com .